If you’re a tech specialist working from home, it’s extremely important that you set your office up in a way that maximizes your productivity. As a tech specialist, there are some things you’ll want to make sure you have in your home office space that other professionals may not find as essential.
For example, you’ll have to think more about the technology you need, and how to integrate that into your home. You may also have to think more about security. And since you’re likely to be seated during most of your workday, it’s also essential to think about your comfort. If you’re just getting started setting up your home office, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed, and wondering exactly how and where to start.
The good news is you can keep reading this article to find out the best way to create a home office space that is specific to your needs, maximizes your productivity and is comfortable to boot.
Desk
Especially if you’re just starting out working from home, you might be really excited by all the latest developments in desks in the tech world. But you may want to hold your horses for just a little bit. Try out the home office life for a few months before you go big. In the meantime, start with a DIY palette desk.
OK, you’re a tech specialist, so you might not be the craftiest. But you’ve got a crafty friend, right? Have them show you how to make an eco-friendly desk from a used pallet, and simply add some cylindrical metal legs to it. Voila! You’ve got a desk that has built-in storage. You may even like it so much that you don’t find you want to upgrade, even after you’ve been at it for years. In fact, some of the best home office desks are the results of simple DIY projects.
Computer
As a tech specialist working from home, you’ll want to start by considering your most essential piece of equipment: the computer. You may be wanting to save some money if you’re just starting out, but really, you need the best computer you can find. The latest model laptop is a crucial investment here. You’ll also want to invest in a reliable desktop, so you can get that double screen action. If you aren’t using two screens let, you really don’t know what you’re missing. Once you use two screens, you’ll likely find it difficult to ever return to just one.
Internet and security
Since you’ve saved money on your desk, that means you can go all out on fast internet. As a tech specialist, you know that fast internet connection speed is vital to the success of your business.
Once you’re connected to your high-speed internet, make sure that you get a VPN. This will reassure your clients that you’re committed to their security and confidentiality. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money on your VPN either. There are plenty of free versions that offer secure connection.
Communication
Working from home doesn’t and shouldn’t mean that you are disconnected from the outside world. In fact, many tech specialists they find that they can stay quite connected with others who are freelancing or employed at the same company. You may also need to stay connected with your clients. So whether you’re working solo or with a team, frequent communication is a must.
This doesn’t mean you need to go all out for the highest end video conferencing system, (although you certainly can). But it does mean having a proper mobile or landline that you reserve for your professional calls. That way if a client calls you, they won’t end up listening to your silly answering machine message and getting the wrong impression.
If you are working with a team, Slack is a great option that many remote workers claim they really couldn’t live without. With programs like this, you can set up daily goals, record your workflow and keep track of chats with other members of your team.
As far as video calls go, as long as you splurged on the best internet connection, you shouldn’t have any trouble connecting with your monitors built-in camera.
You may also want to purchase a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones. That way you can talk to your clients without being distracted by the neighbors’ kids playing outside. In general, if working at home, noise-cancelling headphones are a good idea, because there might be more outside noise that could distract you.
Canteen
It might sound silly, but staying energized is imperative if you want to keep your production levels high. And that means keeping fueled with the proper food and hydration. As a tech specialist, you’ll probably find that you are glued to your screen or screens for the greater part of the day, and you might get so focused that you forget to eat. And who wants to have to interrupt their workflow to walk all the way to the kitchen to grab a snack.
Plus, who knows who you could encounter along the way to distract you? Kids home from school, a dog that wants to go for a walk, a friendly neighbor? No, it’s best to keep a store of food and drink easily available in or near your office. That way you can refuel without breaking your groove.
The chair
If you’re a tech specialist, chances are that you’ve already got a totally awesome gaming/office chair, fitted with all of the accessories you could ever imagine. But just in case that’s not your situation, you need to invest in a comfortable office chair. Your chair should have adjustable height, rolling castors and adjustable lumbar support. It should also have a mesh back for breathability, so you don’t end up with a sweaty back—ew!
Keep to a schedule
It may not be part of your physical office space, but sticking to a fixed schedule is extremely important when working at home. Many people who work at home make the mistake of not sticking to a schedule and end up having to work at night and on weekends! That’s not the life you imagined for yourself when you dreamt of working from home, is it?
Pick an eight-hour window every day and stick to it. It can be eight to eight, nine to nine or ten to ten, whatever matches you best. You should set an alarm for every hour, or every two hours, and when that alarm goes off you should make sure to get up and stretch for a couple of minutes.
Additionally, make sure to let friends, families and neighbors know that just because you’re working at home, doesn’t mean you’re any more accessible than you were when you worked in an office.
If you’re taking the plunge and deciding to join the millions across the globe who are choosing to work at home, congratulations! There are so many benefits that outweigh the potential cons of leaving the office. Many people who work at home are happier, more relaxed and actually more productive.
However, as a tech specialist who’s planning on working at home, there are definitely some things you’ll need to consider as you set up your office. But with the right internet connection, workspace, and communication abilities, you should be more than prepared to start your new life as a remote professional, without breaking the bank!
