How to set up a healthy home office for remote work?
Typically, your working efficiency depends highly on the quality of the gadgets you use — from your monitors to your headphones and mic. Therefore, it is better to invest in top-quality devices that help you set up a home office and achieve a smooth remote workflow.
Here is our buying guide for home office gadgets:
1. Notebook and display
When choosing a computer to set up home office, several factors come into play to help you make the best choice based on your specific need. For instance, you’ll need to consider your type of work and what it requires, as well as other details such as whether your work is a fully remote or hybrid arrangement.
Once you’ve answered these questions, you can examine the specifications of various computers to see which one works best for you. Here are the top specs you’ll typically have to consider:
- Processor
- Storage capacity
- Memory
- Security
- Display
Remember, the trick is to pick a combination that’s perfect for you. For instance, a software engineer will lean toward a computer with more RAM, while a video producer may be more particular about storage and display.
2. Laptop lift bracket
You’ll typically spend extended hours working when you get into your workflow. Unfortunately, this can really stress out your body, especially if you’re not in a comfortable, natural position as you work.
If you find your neck exhausting after a few hours of work, then a laptop lift bracket may be what you need for your home office. Or you need to switch out your old one for a new one.
Some laptop stands conveniently let you switch between a sitting and standing arrangement for a much better experience.
3. Liftable standing desk
While we generally recommend working at a desk, we also understand it can become tiring sometimes, and you’d want to stretch your muscles. Or maybe just switch positions for a while.
So, does this mean you have to head to your couch or bed? What if you want to keep working?
Thankfully, there’s a convenient compromise — a liftable standing desk.
With an adjustable standing desk, you can easily transition from sitting to standing without breaking your workflow (only to adjust the desk). In addition, you can also change the height of the desk until it is comfortable for you!
4. Webcam and conference equipment
Seamless communication plays a critical role in remote work. Therefore, your setup must be up to the task. This means investing in conference equipment to help you communicate clearly without losing information or detail.
On this note, one of the first things you need to invest in is a 1080P webcam, as you’ll have to jump on a video call sooner or later.
Understandably, there is always the tendency to rely on your laptop’s built-in camera. But, except you’re using the top-grade stuff, there’s every tendency you’ll have to settle for grainy, unclear video images.
On the other hand, with an external conference camera, you don’t have to worry about low video quality.
5. Backrest chair
Sitting for several hours a day will strain the body — good chair or not. However, a chair that does not let you assume a more natural position and good posture may be setting you up for several issues, including body pain and deformation.
This is why you need to invest in an ergonomic office chair that is both comfortable and allows you to assume a good posture at your home office.
However, finding the right office chair for you can be tricky as there is no one-size-fits-all model. So, you may have to explore various ergonomic office chair options to find the one that’s perfect for you.
6. Noise-canceling headphones
With remote work, it is sometimes impossible to guarantee the quality of the environment in terms of ambience noise and foreign sounds. For instance, what if your home is close to the city traffic? Perhaps, you have kids.
The good news is you don’t have to stop your kids from playing every time you have to work, or you need to attend a meeting. Noise-canceling headphones can do the trick!
With the right noise cancelling headset with mic, you can have meetings even in noisy environments as the headphone’s mic will pick out your voice while AI tech will try to remove some ambient noise to ensure your voice stands out.
Besides, the noise-canceling feature of this headset can also help you focus when there are too many sound distractions around you. It also leads to a more immersive meeting experience.
7. Ergonomic wireless mouse
While a mouse does not seem like a gadget that can cause stress if it is not perfect, experts have discovered that the wrong mouse can lead to significant muscle strain and fatigue. This is particularly true if your job requires a lot of mouse or cursor action.
Thankfully, technological advancements have led to more ergonomic computer mouse designs. You also have the option of a wireless mouse, which means you don’t have to hug your computer before you can move your cursor around.
Prioritize your hand and wrist comfort today and your body will thank you!
The equipment we've discussed above is of high importance to set up a healthy home office, and so is your working status, to which you should pay attention. Remember to take good care of yourself anywhere.
