Top 5 Tech tips
Remote working has taken the global market by storm with a record breaking 16% of all companies in the World now offering 100% remote working to their staff. By contrast 44% of companies in the UK still won’t allow their workforce to work remotely. With the 2020/21 Covid lockdown forcing the issue staff who are able to work remotely rate their productivity levels as 77% more productive than when working in an office (Figures released by latest Think Tank online trends)
How can you use technology to ensure your working environment is as productive as possible? By having a specific work area as opposed to working on the dining room table, you will ensure there’s a clear division between home and work. The permanence of remote working can also have a detrimental impact on family life if there are inadequate ‘virtual’ boundaries in place. Best security practice suggests not allowing family members access to work devices and using a third party password system for added protection. Popular options include password protection software Lastpass which acts as a virtual black book containing all your passwords, with a master password required you can add an extra layer of security to your device.
Familiarise yourself with up to date internet safety technology, by utilising a VPN and endpoint protection you can ensure you're not a target for cyber criminals. Your work may not be in a particularly technical area but if you manage sensitive data using ‘human firewalls’ will add an extra layer of protection.
By ensuring family members are aware of your working hours and daily expectations you can have a more fluid working day. Consider using an online calendar such as Outlook and a Work Operating System (Work OS) such as Monday.com to ensure the household are aware of any important meetings etc. Utilising such a system will enable you to manage your projects with other team members as well as providing a virtual organiser that’s vital for a successful home/work balance.
Follow good housekeeping rules, we’re not suggesting you start hoovering the office but by setting aside some time for monthly virtual ‘housekeeping’ you can create a more efficient working device. Updating the software on your device, installing firewalls, clearing your computers cache, removing unused programs and ensuring you have the latest virus patches all help improve the efficiency and security of your work computer.
Finally remember to switch off regularly throughout the day. Creating a solid structure to your day will enable you to take regular breaks that fit in with the household routine. By managing breaks to ensure they fit in with any quiet times of the day you can maintain a degree of calm outside the office space. Remember not to feel any guilt in taking a break from the office zone. By physically switching your device off at the end of the day you will be less inclined to work outside of your structured office hours.
Technology can be utilised to ensure you have a great home office environment and cut out the need for a lengthy and stressful commute. By adopting a common sense approach and keeping abreast of the latest technological advances you can have a productive home office.