Tips from a from a long-term Work@Home geek.
I’ve spent a large portion of the last 16 years or so working from home much of my week and have picked up quite a few techniques that work for me over that time.
Fair warning, these work for me, may not work for you, and some of these are going to run contrary to what a lot of people are trumpeting as “The Path and The Way” in today’s world of copy and paste advice.
Having said that, here’s some unsolicited opinion.
I’m going to assume you have a company issued laptop. If you don’t – that’s a whole another kind of crazy – some of these tips may be helpful to you but working from home without a laptop is probably beyond the scope of this post.
(It can be done, but so can at-home dentistry. It doesn’t mean it’s easy…)
Let’s dive in.
Your Laptop
You’re not going to be able to survive staring at a 13 to 15-inch, high resolution video screen for 8-10 hours per day very long without having glasses, a chiropractor, and a mild case of masochism.
Let’s talk about what you’re going to want to consider augmenting your experience into something more livable on an extended basis.
Note: You’re working from home – probably for a reason – I highly recommend an Amazon account and a fully armed and operational credit card in order to make some of these recommendations magically appear on a timely basis. Having said that, there’s unlikely to be anything on this list that you couldn’t find at your local Walmart, BestBuy, or Office supply store if you’re willing to put in the legwork.
The Gadgets
- Mouse and Keyboard
- Get a full-size mouse and keyboard. There is no “right” or “wrong” configuration here for you. Find something that fits your body, temperament, and budget. With or without cables, 10-key pad, wires, mechanical keys, blinky lights, whatever. Point being, you want something that you are going to be able to work with.
- You can probably spend as much or as little as you like here. Most modern laptops are going to rely on USB connectors, so anything you have laying around with the old PS/2 green and purple plugs may need an adapter to work.
- (However, it will probably still work…)
- If you do get the blinky lights keyboard, I will make fun of you.
- A *modern* Bluetooth headset
- I say “modern” because newer Bluetooth headsets can be paired to more than one device at a time. This is called “Bluetooth Multipoint” and is a game changer! Specifically, you’re going to want to pair one connection to your computer, and one to your phone. Two active connections, one headset. It’s a lifesaver.
- You might need a Bluetooth adapter if your computer is really old, or somebody cheaped out. Those also can be purchased for a USB connection for not too much money.
- You may have noticed I keep mentioning USB, but most “modern” laptops only have 2 or 3 USB ports available. You’re going to want to get either:
- An USB “hub” or
- An USB “port replicator”
- There are two main differences:
- Video Capability
- Price
- An USB hub expands the number of USB ports you can use – it basically gives you more plugs to plug things into. Simple, right?
- An USB port replicator costs a decent amount, but it usually lets you have additional USB ports, video output ports, and sometimes act as a power connector also.
- If you can, get a compatible port replicator for your laptop – its going to position you for a lot better versatility.
- You may need to elicit the advice of the dark lords of the internet, or your I.T. Department, in order to score the right compatible port replicator for your laptop needs…
- There are two main differences:
- Monitors
- Displays are cheaper these days, get two.
- Not kidding.
- You absolutely do not need the latest and greatest 4K billion MHz refresh rate thing. You’re not playing professional eSports; you’re doing email for gosh sake.
- A nice 22- or 23-inch monitor at 1920×1080 is going to give you lots of desktop space to work with at a size that isn’t going to cripple your vision.
- NERD TIP: Try *rotating* one of your monitors and setting it to “Portrait” mode.
- Portrait Mode is basically making the monitor Up-and-Down big instead of Left-to-Right big.
- Park your email on the extra monitor, or your chat client, or both!
- Point being, something you look at all the time, but is not in your primary workspace!
- Displays are cheaper these days, get two.
- Adapters
- These aren’t the most expensive things in the world, but – especially with monitors – they’ve become a necessary evil these days. There are 3 (or 4) main types of monitor plugs these days:
- VGA – usually blue colored. Oldest tech, not a deal killer, but not the best.
- DVI – usually white colored. Not the oldest, but not the newest either.
- HDMI – usually black, similar to your cable box, DVR, or DVD player. “Current Tech”
- DisplayPort – looks like HDMI at first glance, BUT IT ISN’T.
- This is what you may need an adapter for, to convert VGA/DVI/HDMI to DisplayPort.
- These aren’t the most expensive things in the world, but – especially with monitors – they’ve become a necessary evil these days. There are 3 (or 4) main types of monitor plugs these days:
- Webcam
- I’m not a big fan of webcams in the work from home environment. They feel intrusive, there are some privacy concerns, people can be voyeuristic bullies about them, etc. That being said, I have one. They’re something that falls into the “When I need it, I need it.” Category. But I don’t use it often, and I generally keep it physically covered up. Your mileage may vary.
- A couple of things:
- Again, you can spend as much or as little as you want in this area.
- First make sure you don’t already have one – most laptops do these days.
- USB is going to want another port, again.
- If you want a “nicer” one – you’re generally not going to go wrong with Microsoft or Logitech as brands.
- I would strongly suggest AGAINST using it as your audio source for calls or conferences. Use your headset for audio and limit your webcam to video.
- If you are doing video, lighting is everything. Experiment with different illumination in your workspace until you find something that works for you.
- Don’t forget your background – and what’s visible (or may be) visible in it.
- Don’t forget your angles – if I had a nickel for every video conference I spent staring up people’s noses, I would put Ear Nose & Throat doctors to shame.
- Printers/Scanners/Fax
- You probably don’t need one.
- Really, you don’t.
- If you manage a lot of hard-paper physical documents, you *might* need one, and I bet somebody sent one home with you.
- I probably print 2 or 3 times a year, then sign something, turn around and scan it (or photograph it) and send it back electronically.
- Also, many I.T. departments don’t allow personal printers for security concerns these days – to the point where you may not even be able to connect to your home printer at all.
- If you think you need it, ask for one, or how it’s going to work.
There’s probably a whole another post regarding chairs, desks, angles, positions, etc. I’m probably not going to write that one, as its been done to death. Try not to slouch too much and get up and move around every now and then.
Your back will thank you.
-MO’B