![]() ![]() The other non-negotiable is a decent web camera*. It’s got this feature on the cord where I can mute, unmute, and change volume with the press of a button, which is excellent on video calls when I need to mute quickly. This Logitech headset with mic* is plug and play and works really well. While I’m on the subject, you’ll need a decent headset. I currently have two monitors, a wireless keyboard and mouse, a webcam, and a headset plugged into this docking station at all times. I think it’s great because I can plug everything into it, and then “docking” consists of a single plug into my laptop. I didn’t want to have to change computers when I got home, so I got this universal docking station. Because I travel a lot, my primary computer is a small laptop. This USB-C hub and docking station from Plugable*. So I thought I’d share what works for me. Your mileage may vary, but if you’re reading this article, it’s likely you don’t have great tools for a home office. Now that we’ve covered the must haves, here are some tools you might want to have. (I can hear my husband now… “Jen, it’s 3pm and you haven’t eaten lunch yet!” It’s true that I don’t always practice what I preach.) ![]() At first, you may need to set a reminder on your calendar for these. So decide when your breaks will be, and get up and leave your “office” during those times. While this might make you very productive, it isn’t healthy. You may find without a co worker to pop by your desk to chat or to go to lunch with, that you miss lunch entirely. The key is to stick as close to a routine as possible. If you normally work out or meditate or whatever in the morning, keep doing it. Now getting “dressed” might just entail switching from pajamas to leggings, and rarely involves makeup, but just the act of changing clothes symbolically means I’m going to work. For me, I get up, brush my hair, get dressed, eat breakfast, and then “leave” to my office. If you’re working from home for the first time, it can be tempting to think those of us who do it full time roll out of bed and work all day in our pajamas. The key is that you designate that time as work time, and arrive and depart your “office” every day just like you would a regular office. But if you have to flex your time to deal with children or your spouse needing to work too (more on that later), then so be it. If you’re working full time from home for a company that normally works 8-5, then your work hours should be 8-5. You also need to determine what your work hours will be. The key is that you need to identify a space that is only used for work during work hours. Whether you have a house like I do, or a small apartment, you need to designate your “work space.” If you have the ability, a separate room with a door is your best strategy, but if you’re in a tiny NY studio apartment, even designating your fold out laundry board as your space is fine. You need to set up some space, some structure, and some rules to be successful. But if you’re working from home for a long period of time, sitting with your laptop on your couch while binging Netflix is not going to fly. Since that time, video conferencing has become a daily occurrence for most people even in offices, so to say the technology has improved would be an understatement. In 2006, I set up my first home office as I became the SEO Manager for an agency based in New York, who miraculously hired me even though I lived (and still live) in my home state of North Carolina. My friends are looking to me because I’ve been working full time from home since before video conferencing was even a thing. I’ve had this conversation more times than I can count over the last week as my colleagues shuffle their priorities and adapt to the new paradigm COVID-19 has brought. “I’ve just been told I have to work from home due to the coronavirus,” my friend says.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |