Make Your Home Work for You

First, it was weird, then it was rare, now there is an emergency response. But as the end of the year looms, and the COVID-19 pandemic continues, working from home (WFH) has become a regular part of life for more people than ever.

Jennifer Oladipo

Several months have already passed since Shopify’s CEO Tobias Lutke tweeted the company was officially “digital by default” and “office centricity is over.” Facebook, Twitter, Square, and countless other small and mediumsize businesses came to similar conclusions. The future of work is officially here.

So, where does that leave the workforce? Unfortunately for some, it has meant sitting hunched over a laptop in a corner of their home, but that’s not sustainable, or very much fun. It’s time to think bigger. Get your laptop off your knees and own your space. Make it work for you.

Owning your space doesn’t mean recreating a cubicle, bland office, or open plan workstation either. We reached out to tech employers, manufacturers, and dedicated gearheads to find out what technology can help you stretch beyond the boring desk and laptop setup. Everything else is changing, so why not shift your thinking about what the WFH experience can look like?

Whether you’re working at home or planning to stay for the long term, you’re going to need the right gear. It’ll keep you sane and make it possible to reap the benefits while reducing the friction.

Here are some changes you can make to own your WFH space — and the innovations that will help.

Gamify It

Why not let gamers guide you while sitting at home on your computer all day? The market has responded to them with a slew of options that boast substantial back and neck support and incredible comfort.

Now, you could choose a respectable, low profile, all-black chair. But why not go for something space aged like Anda Seat Assassin King, or an AKRacing Master Series Pro that looks like it was designed for a racecar driver — because it was?

While your gaming chair wraps itself around your body, you can let your screen wrap around you as well. Acer’s Predator X34 is marketed for the immersive experience it provides for gaming and viewing, but curved screens also have practical benefits. A single large curved display is more ergonomic than multiple flat displays.

They’ve also been shown to reduce eye fatigue, especially if you’re working in a poorly lit environment — a high probability if your home workspace was originally designed as a bedroom or basement.

Work It Out

As a result of the pandemic, WFH may be just one part of a general reduction in the amount of time we’re getting up and getting out. But that’s no excuse not to take care of yourself. Even the smallest space can be enhanced with a few health tools to help you stay productive.