5 Must-Haves for Your WFH Office

It’s been over two years since the pandemic forced many businesses to move from an in-person work environment to a virtual one. And with new variants continually popping up, working remotely doesn’t seem to be going away. Not only do work-from-home arrangements keep employees healthy, but they can be more convenient for the worker and business.

Since remote work is likely here to stay, you might want to finally create a comfortable and efficient home office. Whether that means investing in adaptive Wi-Fi or a comfortable chair, here are five items you need for the perfect WFH setup:

1. Strong Wi-Fi System

The last thing you want while working from home is a spotty internet connection. While ISPs offer services with different download speed options, sometimes even top speeds have no impact on the different issues that can cause spotty Wi-Fi. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had a Wi-Fi system that took that, and more, into consideration? Consider utilizing adaptive Wi-Fi. This covers every device in your home and monitors your usage on those devices to make real-time decisions on your behalf.

For example, let’s say you work from home all day. Your kids come home from school and start using the Wi-Fi for homework at around 3 p.m. Adaptive Wi-Fi will learn your family’s schedule and provide coverage to the devices being used at the time.

In this case, it will learn the habits of your work computer and your child’s school iPad. Adaptive Wi-Fi ensures there’s sufficient network bandwidth for the devices needed, rather than on devices not being used at that time.

2. Designated Home Office

Having an office likely wasn’t at the top of your list when you were looking for a place to rent or buy. That’s probably because you worked in an office. But now that you’re working remotely, having a study probably doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Don’t worry — we’re not suggesting you move. You can find a comfortable space to work regardless of where you live.

While not every room is suitable for office space, you have more options than you might think. For example, if you live in a one-bedroom apartment, consider setting up a small desk and chair in the corner of the living room.

If you have more space, you could set up a home office in the basement, dining room, or second bedroom. Maybe you have a walk-in closet that you barely use; you could put a desk and chair in there. What’s important is that you find a quiet area with good lighting where you won’t be easily distracted.

3. Comfortable Chair

Research has found a direct correlation between pain and individuals who spend their day sitting. In fact, according to research, over 50% of Americans with back pain spend a majority of their day at work seated. Chances are, you spend anywhere between seven to eight hours a day in your office chair. That’s a lot of time sitting, especially in an uncomfortable chair.

You might think every office chair is largely the same, right? Wrong. Some chairs are fashionable but don’t offer much support, which not only causes discomfort but can impact productivity.

A good chair provides proper pelvic and lumbar support, which takes the pressure off your back muscles so they don’t tighten up. Unfortunately, not many run-of-the-mill chairs offer this kind of support. You might need to consider an ergonomic office chair.

Ergonomic chairs are known to reduce back pain because they provide support in the pain point areas. These chairs also offer seat depth to take the pressure off your hips. They are easily adjustable, so you can recline, add height, or lower the arm rests to suit your specific needs.

4. Communication System

If you work for a company, they probably require you to download communication software like Slack or Google Hangouts. These platforms let remote workers message, call, and video chat regardless of where they are located. That said, these platforms are usually internal-facing instead of being intended for client communication.

If you own your business or work closely with clients, consider adding a business phone to your home office. Or you could opt for a voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) phone service that lets you make and receive calls from the internet. This eliminates the need for a second phone or having to contact clients on your personal phone.

5. Wireless Headphones

Whether you want to listen to your favorite podcast or communicate with a client, good wireless headphones will keep you productive. Thankfully, there are many options to choose from based on the type of headset and features you want.

Regardless of what you choose, make sure the headphones work with your office setup and consider every factor. For example, say you work all day in your kitchen. Noise-canceling headphones will help block out your kid’s laughter as they play or your partner working from the other room.

Chances are employees will be working from home well into the foreseeable future. Now is the perfect time to make updates to your home office. From finding the right place to work to choosing the right noise-blocking tech, the tips above will ensure your home office is productive.