With the growing trend of remote work, many companies are encouraging their employees to work from home. This shift not only helps maintain social distancing but also offers numerous benefits, enhancing productivity and work-life balance. If you’re new to working from home, the question is: are you ready for it?
Here are some essential tips to help you get prepared:
A Quiet Place
If you don’t have a dedicated home office, your bedroom with a suitable table will suffice. However, it might not be as quiet or comfortable as your office workstation. Ambient noise, such as a neighbor’s dog barking, traffic sounds, or children playing, can disrupt your concentration and be heard during phone calls. To minimize these noises, use heavy curtains to cover windows and doors, which will absorb sound, and consider placing a soft carpet on the floor. This will help soundproof your home office.
Ventilation
Good ventilation is crucial, whether or not you have an AC unit. If you’re handy with tools like an electric jigsaw and drill, you can install a small portable exhaust fan in the ceiling or by a window. This ensures a constant flow of fresh air, providing you with much-needed oxygen. For those without AC units, an exhaust fan will help regulate room temperature by moving air, drawing in cool air from outside, and expelling hot air from the room.
Lighting
Right Light, Not Bright Light – Too much light can be distracting and cause migraines, just as using the wrong type of lighting at your workstation can. Improve lighting by using an LED bulb with a neutral to daylight color temperature (4000 to 5000 kelvins) for your desk lamp. If you use fluorescent light fixtures, use a diffuser or filter to reduce eye strain. A light diffuser softens the light’s intensity and lessens the harsh contrast between light and shadow. You can find many DIY light diffuser tutorials on YouTube, such as using a piece of white paper or cloth to cover the desk lamp.
Connectivity
Most employers or remote work platforms (e.g., Upwork, Freelancers, PeoplePerHour, Fiverr) require stable internet connections like DSL, Cable, or Fiber. These connections offer wide bandwidth and stable downstream and upstream connectivity. Depending on your region, you can subscribe to internet services from PLDT/SMART, GLOBE, or CONVERGE with a minimum 12-month contract.
Some argue that 4G-mobile or LTE connections are sometimes faster than DSL. However, 4G or LTE depends on cell-site service availability. If you plan to use 4G or LTE as your primary internet connection, consider a postpaid plan from a reliable provider like SMART, SUN, or GLOBE. This will be more affordable and less inconvenient than a prepaid connection, which requires monitoring daily data usage due to “Fair Use Policy” restrictions. A 4G or LTE connection can be a good backup if your primary connection fails. Simply load your prepaid SIM card with a mobile data promo, set your smartphone to WIFI-tethering or hotspot, connect your laptop or desktop, and you’re ready to go.
Computer (Desktop or Laptop)
Your computer’s specifications depend on your work. For general back-office tasks, an Intel Core i3 with 4 GB RAM running Windows 10 may suffice. However, with the widespread use of cloud computing and resource-heavy browsers, at least 8 GB RAM is recommended for efficiency, especially if you need to research online with multiple browser tabs open.
Graphics or video editors need a powerful machine capable of rendering graphics and videos while multitasking. Some prefer AMD APU over Intel CPU due to cost-effectiveness, but AMD APU may require significant cooling. Desktop users should consider reliable GPUs like Nvidia GTX 1650 or AMD RX 5500 XT. Investing in good SSD storage and 16 GB RAM will also boost efficiency. Compare performance between M.2, NVME, and SATA SSDs to decide which suits your needs best. A budget-friendly SATA SSD can provide high read-write throughput.
Most remote employees use Windows 10, which needs to be activated to receive updates and patches from Microsoft. If you still use Windows 7, you can upgrade to Windows 10 by downloading Windows Media Creator.
Benefits of Working from Home
- Flexibility: Working from home offers a flexible schedule, allowing you to manage your work hours more effectively and maintain a better work-life balance.
- Cost Savings: Save on commuting costs, work attire, and daily lunches.
- Increased Productivity: With fewer office distractions, you can often accomplish more in less time.
- Comfort: Enjoy the comfort of your own home, setting up your workspace to suit your preferences.
- Health and Well-being: Reduce exposure to illnesses and maintain better physical and mental health by avoiding stressful commutes and having more time for self-care.
Conclusion
Working from home offers great convenience, helping you avoid heavy traffic, expensive transportation costs, and ensuring safety during health emergencies. However, it also comes with responsibilities. Ensure your internet connection and utilities are up to date, maintain your computer to keep it in top shape and free from malware, and manage your daily chores to avoid distractions. Once everything is set and running smoothly, you’ll find working from home both enjoyable and productive.