For those reading this with their work minimised and procrastination turned up to maximum, it’s a well-accepted truth that working from home can be both a blessing and a curse. The case for the former camp; you have the flexibility that most people can only dream of and an ability to be in full control of your schedule and work/life balance. On the flip side, you often have deadlines just like every other working person, but these are hindered by the many more distractions that exist inside the domestic office space.
Luckily, there are ways and means to make working from home productive, comfortable and efficient. It just takes a little nouse, a lot of willpower and a few small investments. So with that in mind, here are 5 IDEAL gadgets that every home office needs.
A STANDING DESK
Most people don’t realise that sitting at a desk all day can negatively affect your weight and health. But a sedentary lifestyle doesn’t necessarily need a personal trainer and hours in the gym to be abated.
On average offices workers put on a whopping 8lbs in their first year of work, and also sit for around 16+ hours a day, including commuting and watching television at home. That’s basically the entire day except the time spent catching those Zzs.
Standing desks like Varidesk, it seems, could be the answer, helping to burn off calories and keep those limbs nimble. Getting your blood flowing and increasing your metabolism can only be a good thing, and when combined with a light exercise regime, can give a big lift to your physical health.
THE CLOUD
By now even the least tech-savvy of us will know that ‘the cloud’ doesn’t only refer to those big fluffy items in the sky that seem so intent on dropping rain. Yep, data storage is a vital component of a productive home office, and by using the cloud, you eliminate the costs of hardware, maintenance, and upgrades. And digital nomads, rejoice; you can also have access to your files from anywhere in the world which is great if you travel or change workstations frequently.
A HOT WATER TAP
Procrastination is the antithesis of productivity and those of us who work from home will be all too familiar with the temptations that exist around the house, seemingly willing us to do anything but meet our next deadline.
In and amongst all those delaying tactics, one stands head and shoulders above all others; making a cup of something hot and refreshing. According to research, British workers rack up over 100 hours per year making tea, coffee and other drinks. A separate piece of research suggests we lose up to half an hour each day making hot drinks. A hot water tap greatly reduces the amount of time we spend standing around, waiting for the kettle to boil. If productivity is the aim, it’s a no brainer.
A RELIABLE PRINTER
A trustworthy, sturdy printer is another must have in the home office, saving the hassle (and incremental financial burden) of having to go and print fax or make copies of documents outside. Though in the past, home printers tended to take up an unnecessarily large amount of floor or desk based real estate, these days they come in a much more manageable size.
You can usually find deals on office printers if you check online and in local stores, so there’s likely no need to splash out full whack on a brand spanking new one. When buying a printer, be sure to check that it’s Bluetooth compatible so that you can print from different devices with ease; super handy for those home offices without a fully fledged tech support team behind them.
SOFTWARE AND APPS
If you are the office manager, tea maker, I.T buff, cleaner and P.A of your home office operation, then you may find you’re trying to carry out a million and one tasks in one day. This is where targeted, specific software really comes into its own, as you can use it to help you carry out tasks that are repetitive and don’t require much brain work. Mail Chimp, for instance, is of great help if you have email campaigns to organise on the regular. Apps like Trello can also help you streamline if you happen to be working with a small team. And we can’t recommend Grammarly enough as a time-saving device; not only will make you a better writer in the long run, but it’s also like having a second pair of eyes on your work.