Anyone know about IT. Can you help me wfh more easily and comfortably

[metronome1]

Hi all,

I have been doing a mixture of working in the office, in the community and at home over the last few months of this pandemic.

So far I have managed by breaking up my time between all 3. In the office I have access to a monitor which I connect my work laptop to. I have wfh on and off, when I had deadlines etc throughout my whole career so this is nothing new to me.

Anyway obviously wfh is now making up the majority of my week (and could be for a long time) I need a better set up.
I have a mini work laptop. I'm finding it really hard to type long pieces of work on this now I'm doing it more often. I can sometimes be writing continuously for hours.
I'm struggling with my eyes getting tired/painful staring at the small mini screen and my back hurts from being hunched over.

I don't have a proper desk and no space for one in my house, but I have put up a shelf in the corner of my room and my laptop just about fits on there.

I'm thinking about buying a monitor and proper keyboard etc.
Would I need a certain type of monitor? What wire do I use to connect my laptop to it as I'd need to do that. Is it dependent on type of laptop or is there a generic one? Despite only being 30 I'm pretty useless at IT.

Has anyone got any other suggestions to make my set up a bit more comfortable so I can concentrate on my work?

Thanks

Some of the people from my office who’ve had to go and WFH were allowed to take their monitors and keyboards home with them, could that be an option for you?
It’s important to get your working area so that your chair, keyboard and screen are at the right heights for a comfortable working position - you should have lots of straight lines and right angles if you saw yourself side on while sat at your desk, if that makes sense. Also take lots of little breaks from your screen, to focus your eyes on something at a different distance, and make sure the light levels are suitable (probably less of an issue over the summer!)

Thank you for your suggestions.
I am not able to take a monitor from the office.
I'm going to look into buying one.
I feel like I'm hardly getting any work done at the moment (although my manager has not said this).
I have a large piece of work to do but i can't even get motivated to start it today as I'm currently sat on my living room floor working on my toddlers plastic play table. Not ideal but I needed to move from my little shelf as it was causing me pain and this is the only other space I have right now... Not any better but I'm taking breaks to help me.
I hope this is all over soon.

Thanks again

I am now full time working from home, my laptop has an hdmi port and 2 usb slots - check what yours has.
Do you have a dining table? I couldn’t work without sitting on a chair at a table, mine is in the bedroom and space isn’t ideal but it is working for me currently.
At the minimum I would use a laptop stand Amazon basic one is fine, then a wireless keyboard and mouse. This would be fine if I was just writing reports etc.
However as I need to have multiple windows open and manipulate data I also connect in a wide screen monitor using the hdmi port With a hdmi to dvi cable.

I'm a Smarter Working lead for my business so I can definitely advise you.

First of all, check the ports on your laptop and check what sort of connections you have.

A monitor will either use VGA or HDMI (post photos if you need help with identification).

You'll also need USB ports for a keyboard and mouse.

I have my laptop connected to a monitor via VGA, because it's not the newest of laptops. Then I have a USB bluetooth keyboard, mouse and phone headset. (They're attached via a USB hub because I want the other USB port to run my desk fan. )

The work out how big a monitor you want. I have a Dell widescreen that's a 19 inch and DH has a 27 inch (fnar) which is more like a telly. I do documents and spreadsheets; he does coding & stuff.

How robust is the shelf & how heavy a load can it take?

Also, what sort of chair are you using?

Your employer has a duty of care to you when it comes to safe work stations. That doesn't magically go away just because we're all working remotely.

Laptop stand
www.amazon.co.uk/Laptop-Computer-Riser-Compatible-Macbooks/dp/B07P7Q2B55/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?hsa_cr_id=2188304890402&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_td_asin_0&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8&aaxitk=BJvbsjrs.oRloUh9CRoyBg
Keyboard & Mouse
www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-Wireless-Keyboard-Windows-Connection/dp/B00CL6353A?pf_rd_p=cefd38fc-781b-5a7a-9dd1-3f25d7fba4fa&pf_rd_r=GJZMB229WSBEP7JF8PZT&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-10&pf_rd_t=BROWSE&ref_=s9_apbd_omwf_hd_bw_bT8bN9&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&pf_rd_i=430564031

I have a permanent desk similar to this
www.argos.co.uk/product/6172516

This might work also
www.argos.co.uk/product/4769141?clickSR=slp:term:dining%20table:3:4:2

Your employer should have an obligation to ensure you have a good wfh set up if they are expecting you to wfh.

In your shoes I'd take my laptop along to PC World and explain the issue.

I have my Mac connected to a monitor via an HDMI-USB cable and a bluetooth keyboard. nb the Mac has no standard USB ports so I have a USB-C multiport adapter which allows me to connect to my monitor (HDMI) and mouse (standard USB).

I also suggest you look at using dictate function in word or googledocs. Dictate your reports then tidy up with keyboard after main work done or do corrections as you go. Saves loads of time and RSI.

In terms of monitors and size, are you mainly working with one document open that you are working on, or would it be beneficial for you to be able to see two documents, or a document and another program at the same time? As a PP says if you are just working on one document like a report or spreadsheet then you may find 19" wide perfectly comfortable, whereas I spend a lot of time typing in one report or spreadsheet and also referring to an email or an internet tab, so having a 27" monitor allows me to keep them open side by side and easily work from both without constantly switching windows. The model number is S271HL - I bought it about 3 years ago for I think £150 and it's not available any more but that would give you an idea on size and what it looks like. I connect it to my laptop using a basic HDMI cable but it also can be connected by a VGA cable if your laptop doesn't have a HDMI input. If it's a Windows laptop I am confident you will have one of those two inputs!

It's not an old laptop so it does have hdmi and USB ports, I just looked.
The shelf will take the weight but its very thin so not sure I could fit it all on there.

I do have a dining table but I would need to pack away my work things every so often so my family could eat, play and do crafts at it. Obviously my work is important, but my child has SEN and needs to use that space too for her needs. I feel like I'm making excuses, I'm not. We are moving and il have an office space in the new house! woohooo, but thats not for a few months when it's all gone through.

So if I get a monitor with hdmi cable and a USB keyboard and mouse? That's right is it?

If I buy all this stuff then I'm going to have to take over the dining room just for now and we will set up a separate area for dd in the living room or the bedroom.

It depends on the laptop a bit, I would recommend a wireless keyboard and mouse but they aren't compatiable with all. My friend connects her laptop so it displays on the TV and then sits on the sofa with her wireless kit, a bit excessive but works for her, and it doesn't have to be more expensive than run of the mill stuff. Have you asked work or any colleagues if they have any other solutions? Happy to advise further if you're happy to send the make of the laptop.

I'm not using a chair, I'm sat on the floor or bed mostly.
If at my shelf il use a fold up chair I have but it's a basic IKEA one so not comfortable for long sits. The shelf is literally a normal shelf but it's all we had space for.

I would usually (in the office) have two screens so I can write the report and refer back and forth to other documents but I'm willing to forfeit that for now just to feel comfortable and to stop my eyes hurting.

Thanks again for the advice.
Might head to pc World later.

Not wanting to send a fortune mind you.

Has anyone got any other suggestions to make my set up a bit more comfortable so I can concentrate on my work?

Yes, telll HR you need a DSE assessment.

Laptops (any) are not designed to be used all day, you need a PC, Or a monitor, full size keyboard and mouse, at a suitable height and a suitable chair.

As for asking work I have told them my issues but as you can imagine they are extremely busy right now and I don't want to come across as creating problems and being 'that' worker. One who is never satisfied or complains during a pandemic.

Best of luck with getting everything set up. At least if you buy a wireless keyboard and mouse, they're easy to pack away at the end of the day of you use the dining table. When I worked permanently from home, my employer paid for all the kit I'd need, remember they do still have a duty of care to make sure you are working safely.

In my experience laptop stands are useless unless you have a large laptop screen and a separate keyboard; the screen and keyboard need to be at completely different heights.

I've got my laptop on a riser as one screen and the peripheral monitor as a second screen, so you can have 2 monitors going with this set up.

Bluetooth keyboard and mouse will give you more options to set things up as you're not restricted by cable length

and I don't want to come across as creating problems and being 'that' worker. One who is never satisfied or complains during a pandemic.

I understand that, but they'll be in difficulty if you develop back problems or RSI due to poor work set up.

If you write to them in a non-apologetic manner, just stating the facts you shouldn't come across as complaining.

They should at the very least pay for your equipment

Could you connect to your tv? It'll likely have an hdmi port that you can use to connect your laptop to - same as any dvd player/games console.

I connect my work laptop to my home desktop pc monitor, and use a usb keyboard and mouse, but in the past - prior to having the monitor option at home - I used the tv as a screen.

In regards to a desk, have you thought of a 'pop-up desk'
Hear me out!

shop.pallite.co.uk/products/pop-up-desk

They can be put up and taken down really quickly, so can be put away at the end of the day. It is at the right height for sitting.
Also, there is enough room for monitor, laptop, keyboard and mouse.

You can paint it any colour. But they are also recyclable when you dont need it anymore

@minou123 - what a brilliant idea!

If you don't go for the pop up desk I would just sit at the dining room table. God knows how you get any work done sat on the floor. Despite me having office space I prefer to sit in the kitchen and sit at my dining table. The monitor can be easily moved at the end of the day into a corridor or somewhere out of the way. If you have a fairly new laptop you can get a monitor for it. I have one and can't really work without it. I use both screens.

If you are going to pc world later take your laptop with you so you can check everything is compatible.

It's tricky. I am WFH and on the laptop for 9hrs a day pretty continuously
I do have a desk, a mouse and an office chair which has made a massive difference

www.xenarc.com/different-types-of-monitor-ports.html pictures of the common monitor ports. The main one to watch out for is the difference between HDMI and Displayport, they look super similar. But anyway you can normally use adapter cables between any of DVI, HDMI, and Displayport. I have HDMI on my computer and DVI on my monitor.

For a keyboard and mouse just check how many USB ports your laptop has. A wired KB+mouse will take up two ports, a wireless set can have a dongle using just a single port. If you're short on ports you could get a USB hub.

I’ve set up a corner of my bedroom with a standing desk (really just a small — but tall — table that has my monitor at eye height, connected to my laptop and a keyboard at typing height. A shelf could work for this too. Standing has been so much better for my back than hunching temporarily over the kitchen table.

(Btw, I bought my monitor on Amazon as they had the option to pay it off in interest-free instalments.)