A lot of states in the U.S. have been in lockdown for almost half a year now. This leaves employees like you with no choice but to work from home. While some people prefer working remotely, others find they’re more productive in the office. The U.S. continues to have the highest number of cases in the world. A vaccine still hasn’t been officially released to the public.
It’s safe to say that you’ll be working from home for a few months more at best. Why not make the experience more convenient and comfortable? Here are essential gear you should definitely use for remote work.
An Adjustable Ergonomic Chair
You spend most of your days sitting on a chair. Don’t let it be the floor or a dining chair with poor support. The improper posture they force you in can lead to neck, back, and shoulder pain. They also pinch the veins and nerves throughout your body, leading to poor blood circulation, headaches, and even breathing difficulties. Get a chair with a backrest that curves with your spine. It should also have a recliner and adjustable height.
The University of British Colombia recommends a height that aligns your knees with your hips. The Mayo Clinic recommends having your hands align with your elbows as well when you rest them on your desk. If your feet are hanging from the floor, get a footrest or stool to support them. With a chair that puts you in the best possible posture every time, you’ll feel less tired at the end of every workday.
Surge Protector and UPS
Unlike your office, your home may not have a built-in generator to keep lights on in case of a blackout. And even if you have a laptop, a sudden jump in power after an outage may create electric surges that can damage or outright destroy the devices plugged into your outlets.
Protect your expensive gadgets with a surge protector. It looks like you use regular power strips to provide power to multiple devices. The difference is that they have components that detect excessive voltage and route it to the grounding wires, protecting everything plugged into it from harm. Your home needs to have proper grounding connections. If your surge protector’s grounding light isn’t on, consult with a local electrician to inspect and repair your wiring.
If you have a desktop computer, you can add an extra layer of protection to your surge protector with an uninterruptible power supply or UPS. This has an internal battery that keeps your desktop PC on for a few minutes after an outage, allowing you to save your work and safely turn it off.
A Great Pair of Headphones
If you live with roommates or getting home improvement work done, you’re bound to get distracted by them. Keep yourself in focus with a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. What’s great is that these aren’t as expensive as they were a few years ago. You can get a great pair like the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 for just under $60. Just connect them to your computer and play some great tunes.
If you want to get in the zone, experts suggest listening to classical music, no matter what task you’re doing. It helps you relax and improves the way you process and remember information.
You may encounter a lot of complications and annoyances when working from home. For one, sitting in an uncomfortable position all day, every day, could lead to health issues. Plus, the various noises and distractions in your household could throw you off your a-game. Get these essential remote work gear to keep yourself comfortable and in the zone throughout the lockdown period.