Most of us have been working from home for almost a year now and as we find ourselves in an extremely fluid situation given the growth rate of the pandemic, we’re also stuck at home churning eight hours of work and trying to balance professional and personal life sans the office. Most employers have also shifted to a #WFHForever, which can also be a double-edged sword: working from home has a lot of perks, but productivity can take a hit with plenty of distractions around you.
Given your not-so-new-found freedom in managing your own time and tasks, it is essential to have a functional and comfortable environment and equip yourself with the best remote working essentials. In this article, we’ve corralled a list of our favorite tips and work from home tools to keep you on top of your game!
1. Delineate a dedicated workspace
Your home office setup or working area should be separated from your personal and relaxation space. As much as possible, don’t work from your beds as it is a gravitational pull towards sloth-like behavior. Tired from sitting all day long? FlexiSpot PH standing desks and FlexiSpot PH desk bikes are great alternatives to keep you moving when you’ve been glued to your chairs for more than 8 hours. Curble Chair ergonomic lumbar support cushions can also correct your posture! Who knew that cycling while working can also increase your energy and focus?
2. Gear up with the right work from home tools and essentials
It’s easier to get your tasks done on time if you have the proper resources at your disposal. Prepare everything that you need. Remote working tools include laptop, stable internet connection, a dedicated web cam for your Zoom calls, sticky notes, and a planner to scribble your top tasks and priorities for the day. What tools do you need to work from home? Logitech K380 Wireless Keyboard, Logitech Pebble M350 Mouse, and Stance Philippines height-adjustable laptop stand are great, functional add-ons to your workspace! Plus points because they are super chic! Don’t forget that your workspace should be well-lit (with a good desk lamp, or better yet, natural light!), well-ventilated, and free from clutter.
3. Don’t forget to take mini breaks
Since it’s easier to lose track of time with the work-from-home setup, don’t forget to pause and set reminders for your lunch breaks and time-outs. On days when you feel unproductive or out of focus, step away from your laptop and take mini breaks in between. Home office essentials also include activities and tools that can ignite your creativity and increase your focus!
Calm your frazzled mind with some guided meditation and yoga as this remote setup gives you more personal time. Brew and enjoy a good cup of coffee, listen to an interesting podcast or play some upbeat music with JBL Tune 500BT Wireless Headphones. Learn from SHOOR’s online classes on how to level up your confidence and communication skills, read a chapter from a book or write in your journal some ideas for inspiration. A great breather can be visiting your garden or balcony for some fresh air too. Studies show that these small things can shake up your perspective, refresh your mind, and boost your mood.
4. Stay connected
Sometimes, the isolation, loneliness, and lack of drive-by connections can also be despairing for many. We’re so used to popping into our colleague’s desk to discuss work and life plans, we’re excited to meet our friends for drinks after work, and we’re giddy to plan our travels with our loved ones. While this pandemic has put everything into a halt, we can still find ways to connect and feel connected. It’s also important to have a support system to help you get through this year as this is also a work from home necessity.
Do regular check-ins with your teammates through FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, Google Meet or other video conferencing tools. Host weekly lunch meetings online and share personal stories, or try online activities with your friends and colleagues on SHOOR!
Go on a VR360 adventure with Breakout escape rooms to bring everyone close—quite literally—as you solve challenging puzzles, unlock chilling mysteries, and escape before the time runs out! These are great ice breakers for team building, and you can choose your kind of fun: from Hollywood-inspired horror nightmares to spy thrillers to fantasy worlds!
SHOOR also has fun online experiences best experienced with your crew—Quiz Nights, Fitness Classes, Cooking Class, Coffee Masterclass and a lot more—to give you stories to share and memories to last a lifetime!
Working from home effectively—staying productive while still maintaining work-life balance—is possible with the right tools and mindset. With the independence and flexibility of this remote setup, it also unlocks new ways to work, gives us more time to work on personal pursuits, and allows us to reconnect with ourselves and with our friends wherever they are in the world!
Don’t forget to share with us your work-from-home setup and tag us at @shoorph on Instagram and Facebook!
