Work From Home Tips: Boost Your Productivity With These Handy Tools

Work from home is a concept that's been around for a while. Some have been doing it for years while others are just being introduced to it now. With the COVID-19 pandemic, companies had to consider this set-up to help curb the spread of the virus. However, as the world settles into the new normal and lockdowns being lifted in different areas, will work from home for the workforce still be a thing? Apparently, yes.

According to Global Workplace Analytics, they see about 30% of the global workforce to be working from home by the end of 2021. With this figure, people need to start thinking about how they can best settle into their home offices.

Thinking about how to be productive at home? We have the answers.

Proven Work From Home Habits That You Should Start to Adopt

1. Set Work Hours

Work-life balance is a struggle when working from home. You might think that this only applies to people with children or are living with their parents. But with too many temptations at home to distract you, you could find yourself working on both home and office tasks at the same time. It might be productive for some, but that’s not the case for most.

Ellen Ernst Kossek of Purdue University recommends that boundaries be set when working at home. This does not only help with balancing life and work, but also helps in being an effective leader when managing others.

2. Have a Dedicated Space

It is tempting to just stay on your bed the whole day. All you need is a bed table and next thing you know, you finished your entire shift barely getting up. But this is not an ideal setup. It is essentially a trap for you to take naps or just watch some random cat videos online.

It's still best to have some semblance of transition -- from your bed to your home office table. This transition is similar to how you put effort in going to the office in the morning and brave the traffic and rush of people when heading home. Experts say it is best to have space where you cannot be easily distracted -- a desk facing the wall or a window is best.

3. Keep in Touch with Co-Workers

Thanks to technology, you can still keep in touch with colleagues. There are messaging apps, video conference apps and even project management apps -- all so you can make sure things are moving as needed.

But all work and no play makes life boring, right? So learn to switch it up sometimes and talk about something personal to catch up with your office friends. Not only will you have a good work break at home, but you’ll also be able to build better friendships even if you’re apart.

Equip Yourself With the Right Tech Tools

Now that you have an idea of how to be more productive while working from home, it is time to learn about tools that will help you in your day-to-day tasks. You may nned to invest to have the right equipment and make the most of your home office set-up, but these are worth every penny.

Here are some tools to get you started:

1. A Good Computer Set-up

FastTech positions itself as a one-stop-shop for all your gadget needs. It partners with independent sellers to be able to fulfill your tech requirements.

In need of a longer ethernet cable? FastTech has it. Your child’s Chromebook running low on memory? The site offers a variety of memory cards with various storage capacities. It also offers wired and Bluetooth-capable computer mouse, keyboards, webcams and router repeaters.

With how it is set-up, FastTech wants to be the most loved and trusted electronics marketplace online.

2. Remote Access to Your Work Computer

When you have the chance to go back to the office to bring home some essentials, why not install GoToMyPC on your work computer as well. You can easily access files remotely and throw worry out the window if ever you forgot to copy something. It’s a great way to easily connect to your work computer and still be productive while you’re at home.

3. Secure Network

As you may be handling sensitive work information, it is best to safeguard it against possible security attacks. Having a virtual private network (VPN) is one way to counter cyberspace threats. An effective VPN uses an encrypted tunnel to transmit files. It means you are protected against malware, viruses and other forms of cybersecurity threats lurking out there while you try to finish your work.

Ivacy VPN offers great value for money to keep your home network secure. It offers an annual plan that allows you to connect up to 10 devices at the same time. This package offers protection against malware, a smart connect feature, military-grade 256-bit encryption and unlimited bandwidth.