The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way millions of Americans work. Close to 60 percent of U.S. workers say their job can be done almost entirely from home, and most of them are doing exactly that.
It took a crisis to shift how employers felt about remote work, but now many of them have recognized all the benefits, and are continuing this arrangement. In these uncertain times, one thing that is certain, hybrid work is here to stay.
Now that so many people are working from home, a home office is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. They want to make their office space as comfortable and efficient as possible. A smart home office is one of the best ways to work from home. It uses less energy, it boosts productivity, and it’s a lot more fun to work in.
If you are a hybrid worker or just want to upgrade your office, here are a few tips on how to design the best smart home office.
1. Reliable, Professionally Installed Wi-Fi Networking is a Must!
When you started working from home you may have taken for granted the internet service you had at work. Although we’ve all had to deal with a slow connection before, when you work from home you need your internet connection to be fast and reliable.
Unfortunately, when you have a residential home office you may not have all the options many commercial businesses have. If you don’t have a professionally installed network, you may find that your Wi-Fi network just isn’t adequate. For example, if you need to download or upload large media files or presentations, your home wifi network may not be nearly as fast as you once thought.
If you’re not a networking expert, your first thoughts may be that you need to get a better internet plan. But, a reliable high-speed internet provider is just one aspect of a fast network. If you have a large house or your office isn’t located close to your router, you may have splotchy coverage. One minute your computer will be zipping along and the next it’s slow as molasses.
If you want to have the fastest connection possible, you need to call a professional. At SmartVolt we can configure your network so that you get the fastest speed in your home office and throughout the rest of your home.
2. Smart lighting & Blinds Save Energy and Make You More Productive
The lighting in your office may not be the first thing you think about, but great lighting is important when you work from home. First of all, if you are working in a poorly lit room, you will be less productive, and it can cause other issues like eye and neck strain. To improve the lighting in your office, try moving your desk close to a window and keeping the blinds open during the day.
Installing a smart lighting system will make your office even more efficient. You can use smart lights to automate your home office so that you are more productive, more energized during the day, and your office uses less energy. For example, you can automate your lights to turn on when you enter your office and off when you leave the office. This way you are not using energy when you’re not in the room.
If you have smart blinds installed, you can automate them too. Program them to open when you start your day and close at the end of the day. This way you’re getting natural light in your office while you work, but they close automatically when you’re done for the day.
3. Smart Speakers Make Your Home Office More Fun to Work in And Reduce Distractions
In-ceiling speakers are a great addition to any smart home office. We know what you’re thinking — listening to music while you work? Isn’t that distracting? While noise can certainly distract you and interfere with your productivity, great music has actually been shown to boost your productivity. Who knew?
A great sound system can take your home office to the next level. Considering that you spend most of your day there, why not make an investment in making it more awesome! If you really need a distraction-free atmosphere, you can always play white noise from your speakers to tune out any noise coming from other rooms.
4. Home Office Automation Makes Any Office Better
Setting up some automation in your home office allows you to get the maximums benefits of a smart home office. There are so many things you can automate in your office to make your daily routines easier and help you stay productive.
One problem people have work from home is that they skip lunch breaks and work “off the clock”. You can use automation to make sure you take stretch breaks and that you don’t work day and night just because you’re at home. Set up the speakers in your office to play a song like “Working Nine to Five” when it’s time for you to quit working or take a break. It’s a fun little way to keep on track and make your smart office fun to work in.
4. If you Zoom or Video Conference, You Need a High-Quality Camera and Microphone
Maybe you Zoom and maybe you don’t, but almost every smart home office can benefit from a high-quality camera and microphone. Your laptop or desktop camera is just not equipped to make high-quality videos.
If you conduct webinars, client intake meetings or any other web-related conferencing having a high-quality camera intended for taking and storing high-resolution video files will make all the difference in the quality of your conferencing. Add in a noise-canceling headset with a built-in microphone and your home office is set!
These are our top recommendations to help you design the best smart home office. A professionally configured Wi-fi network is crucial in today’s smart homes. If you’re frustrated with your home office network or would like to make your home office smarter get in touch with us today at 505-903-6911 to find out how to improve your network and make your home office smarter!