Tips for home office & wfh

[moveoverhogger]

I'm changing role in the new year & it's 100% remote so am busy turning our spare room into a home office. I have a desk, comfy chair & have ordered new monitor/keyboard/mouse.

What other things should I get for the home office to make working from home easy?

Might be a silly question but what do others wear on their feet? Normally at home I just walk about barefoot or in socks, not sure this is suitable for the majority of my time though 🤣

The mouse jiggler would be a security concern for me, computers lock out after activity not just for environmental reasons but security reasons, you shouldn't be leaving your computer unlocked unattended, even if at home on your own. It's basic security practice to lock your screen before leaving it.

@M4857493

LOL re not leaving you laptop unlocked in your own home! Where do you live? You forgot security cable for the laptop too.

OP - mouse jiggle v useful, mean you can also walk around the house with the laptop and stick on the side while you do chores.

Also take notes of all IT support numbers, your machine name, login details when not logged in so if you can't login then you know who to call and what systems you are trying to access.

If it's 100% remote i.e. you don't have a contractual office base, definitely worth checking what your employer will provide in terms of office equipment etc before you spend too much of your own money kitting out your home office.

I didn't know there was such a thing as a mouse jiggler. In a previous job our screens locked after 10 minutes and even though I worked from home, IT refused to allow me to change it. So I got into the habit of moving the mouse every time I walked past to stop it locking.

You don't need to worry about security if you are at home alone. I do lock my garden office when I am away from it for any length of time though, just in case. I think my current laptop locks the screen after 30 minutes.

@ChristmasPlugholes

mouse jiggler ! Keeps you logged in when away from your desk so the connection doesn't drop (if you are logged into a remote machine). Also makes it looks like you are there when not. Very handy:

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My goodness there are so many of them! I had no idea these were a thing.

I work in cyber security. If you look at your IT usage and remote working policies I'm sure many of you will find something around keeping computers locked (or dictating following training which will have this in it).

Being at home alone still comes with security risks, what if your home is broken into? If you are dealing with customer data and sensitive business data you should be being especially cautious.

But no sure prioritise "looking busy" so you can shirk off

@HairyScaryMonster

I've got a web cam, and a foot stool because I'm a shorty. And a blanket. I've got an app that stops be getting distracted.

Which app please?

Definitely separate monitor, keyboard, mouse and riser for the laptop - as you've already mentioned.

I used wired and wireless headphones - and tend to use the wireless for meetings where I don't contribute (ie, training sessions, company wide announcements etc). That means I can leave my desk and still listen to what's going on.

Also if you have a chair with wheels, get a floor protector, as the wheels really knacker the carpet and hard wood floors!

@Moiraroseswigs

I've a Deskboard Buddy that I find helpful, it's an organiser for pens/post its etc and the lid is a glass whiteboard with a phone/tablet stand.

I have a thing for storage solutions and this looks really good... very tempted to get one, even though I don't really need it (have minimal pens etc already kept in a small plastic box). My partner is pretty messy so he actually might benefit from one!

@noeyeidea

Heated coaster for keeping drinks warm so I’m not running up and down stairs all day Heated back pad and oil filled radiator to keep warm. I also run the hoover around a couple of rooms if I get cold. Gets me moving and a chore done. SAD light which I also use to light my face for video calls and look a bit less tired Lots of house plants Free online yoga classes on YouTube. Some are only 15 mins long so ideal for a quick break. A dog getting away from the screen and going for a walk makes me much more proactive for the rest of the day

Can you recommend a good heated coaster? My drinks are constantly going cold as I can take really long phone calls unexpectedly.

I like it a lot. I work in a room we sometimes need so it makes it very easy to pack my work stuff away as it's compact, houses all the fiddly bits and I've no separate whiteboard or phonestand.

Sorry the last post was meant to quote chatwoOo's post about the Deskboard Buddy!!

Set boundaries, or else people who cannot plan or respect yours will take advantage.

@M4857493

I work in cyber security. If you look at your IT usage and remote working policies I'm sure many of you will find something around keeping computers locked (or dictating following training which will have this in it).

Being at home alone still comes with security risks, what if your home is broken into? If you are dealing with customer data and sensitive business data you should be being especially cautious.

But no sure prioritise "looking busy" so you can shirk off

It's not about shirking, I just found having to put my log in details all the time (every 10 minutes) tedious. And I imagine most thieves are after valuables, not business information.

@BarbaraofSeville you're dead right not looking for any ways to skive 🤣, it's a role I'm really looking forward to taking on so I hope to keep busy.

Really like the desk board buddy & the heated coaster.....who knew such a thing even existed!!

@JuergenSchwarzwald

The best thing I ever bought, it works so much better than a USB mug warmer. I've had it for two years now and couldn't do without it.

tinyurl.com/czrz5e48