Technology is changing rapidly, and even though nobody can predict what the future holds for many careers, working from home is most definitely going to be an option for much of the labor force. Many people work from home these days, but many struggle with a lack of knowledge of the capabilities of technology that is available to them to improve their home office. Here are five work-from-home tech upgrades that you might want to consider investing in by 2021.
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1. Invest in a High-Quality Headset
When working from home, you should invest in a high-quality headset that you can connect to your computer via USB, such as a Logitech headset. It is affordable, so you don’t have to break the bank to upgrade it. Consider a headset with a microphone and a two-year speaker when upgrading your headset.
Working from home presents numerous challenges, mainly when your family and children are present. As a result, upgrading to headphones with noise-canceling features is critical to removing unwanted background noises. Also, you’ll be able to adjust the volume and mute using the line controls on this headset, giving you freedom of control in your home office. These features are incredibly important considering noisy kids and pets, the sound of the lawnmower or weedwhacker outside, and even just the air conditioning or fan in your home workspace. These disruptions can be very distracting and can cause preventable frustrations that affect your work and annoy those on the other end of your meetings.
2. Add a Second Monitor for Multitasking
It’s essential to have the right tools to work smarter and not harder when working at home. One of those tools is a second monitor that can multitask with your computer. An additional monitor makes it so you don’t need to switch between windows or tabs on a single screen. This upgrade allows you to see two things at once without having to drag one window over another to compare them side-by-side. This can increase efficiency and prevent costly mistakes that can occur in the confusion of having to switch back and forth between different documents.
It also makes it easier for users who use their computers as virtual desktops. They can keep all of their programs open simultaneously, rather than closing each one before opening the next one up again. A second monitor for multitasking will make it easier to manage and organize tasks by giving more space and a better overview of what needs doing. It will also help reduce eyestrain as there’s less need to constantly move around trying to find the information you need on one screen.
3. Get Faster Internet with Fiber Optic Cable or Wireless Technology
You can work from home, but you need to have a fast internet connection. This can be a concern especially if you are just starting to work from home and have not yet experienced the competition for bandwidth against your spouse, roommates, and/or kids who all have multiple devices on the same network you plan on working off of. Fiber optic cable or wireless technology are the best options for 2021. Fiber optic cables deliver speedy internet with no slowdown at high speeds and distances.
Wireless technology is also an option because it’s easier to install than fiber optic cables and doesn’t require any wiring in your house. The only downside of wireless technology is that you might experience service interruptions if too many people use it near you.
Getting faster internet with fiber optic cable or wireless technology is a crucial tech upgrade for 2021 when working at home. Fiber optic cables are a great investment that is sure to provide ease and smoothness of connection. In contrast, wireless technology is also an option due to its ease of installation and the fact that less physical hardware is required to reap the benefits of upgrading your internet connection
4. Buy a new ergonomic keyboard and mouse set
Are you tired of the same old workstation? Why not try something new this year. The best way to make your workspace more comfortable is by upgrading your keyboard and mouse set. There are many types out there, but for a home office in 2021, an ergonomic keyboard and mouse might be just what you need.
An ergonomic keyboard and mouse set is essential for 2021 because it can reduce strain on your hands and fingers while working at home. This is more important to consider than most people realize. When you take into account the collective hours you spend at your workstation, the vast accumulation of hours spent in an uncomfortable position takes a toll. This can lead to wrist pain and cause problems at work that begin to extend into other areas of life. In addition to protecting your hands and wrists, with ergonomic hardware, you will be able to type faster with less effort when using one of these sets! In addition to this, this technology allows users to be more productive than ever before.
5. Upgrade your computer’s RAM
Upgrading your computer’s RAM will help you work on multiple projects at once. For one thing, it’s going to require a significant tech upgrade for your laptop. That’s because the average person isn’t just sitting in front of a desktop anymore. They’re on their computer or tablet, and they need all the speed and power that those devices have to offer.
To meet the needs of people who work from home, you’ll want an Intel Core i7 CPU with 32 GB RAM and a 500 GB SSD for storage space. You’ll also need a monitor with 4K resolution – preferably one that can pivot into portrait mode, so you can read documents while using Skype or another video chat service. Capabilities like these are not as widely adopted as they should be, as many are unaware of what is available to them for a home office.
Technology has changed how people work and live, so it’s no surprise that many of us are considering a remote working lifestyle. It’s time to start thinking about how you can improve your work-from-home setup with upgrades that make you more efficient and productive right now.
Author bio:
Tracie Johnson is a New Jersey native and an alum of Penn State University. She is passionate about writing, reading, and living a healthy lifestyle. She feels happiest when around a campfire surrounded by friends, family, and her Dachshund named Rufus.
Looking go get a new monitor soon. Nice post.