2020 was the year where Covid-enforced working from home hours shot through the roof with flexible working becoming increasingly the new norm in most workplaces across New Zealand and overseas.
Many people are finding working from home to be far more accepted and valued by employers and with this in mind, designing the most effective home office workspace is more important than ever before.
Wireless home office options are a great way to go, they allow you to have a far less cluttered work space and they’re a great excuse to upgrade your tech – after-all, no-one likes having a tangle of wires to manage and hope that the kids don’t trip over.
This means investing in a wireless printer, wireless scanner, a wireless mouse, wireless keyboard and we advise buying a two-in-one laptop. A two-in-one is basically a Personal Computer that has the features of both a laptop and a tablet. Two-in-ones often have a 360-degree hinge meaning they can be folded right back upon themselves so that they essentially become a tablet. Some two-in-ones incorporate a touch screen with a stylus which provides you a very nimble and easy way to take notes. This flexibility will allow you to spend an hour outdoors working in the sun (and who doesn’t from time-to-time, vitamin D is great for our energy levels) with your two-in-one propped up in front of you like a tablet.
You’ll need an ergonomic monitor stand and while you’re at it why not get one that includes a wireless charging pad and of course a decent sized monitor that suits the nature of your work. For most people a standard 24 – 32 inches screen is perfectly adequate for internet browsing, tapping away in Microsoft Office and sending emails. For those in professions where they need to consume a lot of detail on their screens; such as financial services, web development and graphic design, a 43 to 49 inch screen is probably the way to go.
A high screen resolution is recommended for a larger size monitor – there are many different options and it is best to speak to a salesperson at your nearest Harvey Norman store to get the right advice.
The item that often gets forgotten but is still very important is your home office computer chair. It is crucial to get something that is comfortable and ergonomic and forces you to maintain healthy posture while you work.
Lastly, and on a non-tech note – adopt a minimalist approach to your workspace. The less clutter the better, the less decorations the better. It’s ok to have some colour, a photo from a very enjoyable vacation for e.g. can help keep you efficient, but generally the less distractions the better. Stick to having only what you really need and do whatever you can to ensure that your room is quiet and has plenty of natural light.
