Working remotely has helped Africa in a variety of ways. Many people prefer to work from home rather than going to an office every day and wasting time driving or waiting for a meeting to start. According to ICT Pulse’s research, 42% of all employees undertake some activities outside of regular business hours regularly. The figure is considerably higher in Nigeria, where 62% of workers do so.
More individuals are working remotely than ever before, with estimates putting the number of remote workers in Africa at around 80 million. Many of these employees work from home at least one day a week.
Working from home can increase an employee’s productivity and allow them to work more flexibly. However, working from home has downsides like laziness, poor motivation, inability to stick to a routine, etc. A productive workspace is conducive to combating procrastination and lack of motivation. These six desk setup tips can help you achieve more productivity while working from home.
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1. Introduce an Ultra- widescreen monitor to your desk setup
With most of the office work done by computers, a good monitor is a significant investment. When compared to a smaller monitor with the exact resolution, a large monitor screen will appear foggier when working too closely. That’s why most people go with a 27-inch monitor. A bigger screen is not always the best, but it has its perks.
If you are multitasking or have a large and deep desk, you can opt for a 34-inch. But, it would help if you placed it four feet away. A super-ultrawide screen of 49 inches is a good alternative for a two or more monitor setup.
You need to think about its resolution as well. Higher-resolution offers crisp images, and you can adjust the content size to suit your taste using the scaling features in macOS and Windows. 4K resolution is not only affordable, but it is also available on multiple monitor sizes like 27-inch or 32-inch monitors.
2. Mechanical Keyboard
Mechanical keyboards provide a more pleasant typing experience compared to membrane keyboards. They facilitate quicker typing and more accuracy. The backlighting feature improves visibility, particularly in dim environments or at night, allowing you to type comfortably without turning on the lights.
They also have a longer lifespan than regular keyboards. The mechanical keys can have up to 30 to 100 million key presses, while membrane keyboards are tested only for 5 million key presses.
Using a mechanical keyboard after a year or two feels as good as it did the first time you used it. There are no rattling sounds or jammed keys. They are heavier than a typical keyboard, making them stable on your desk. It is perfect if you love the typing sounds.
3. Standing Desk for a desk setup
Studies have revealed that sitting for long hours can lead to health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and more. With people getting conscious about their health, standing desks are getting popular. A sit-stand desk can easily alternate between a sitting and standing position. Standing also keeps your blood circulating, which helps your brain function better. This can affect your concentration and imagination.
Some models also come in L-shaped desks that allow you to accommodate equipment like a printer. The Uplift V2 is one of the finest standing desks in the market, with the excellent build quality and a focus on stability. It has built-in stability braces, which makes it very steady. The desk also has some pretty cool additions, like a hammock under the desk.
4. Ergonomic chair
Working from home means using chairs and sofas that aren’t designed for working. Getting an ergonomic chair is the best upgrade you can make. Sitting for a long time can cause long-term joint and back pain.
An Ergonomic Chair is one of the best ways to avoid bad posture. It can minimize tension on your spine and improve your posture by allowing you to adjust the chair for your height and weight without having to switch chairs. The FlexFit Hyken Mesh Task Chair is affordable but sturdy with a mesh fabric. The X2 K-Sport Mgmt Chair supports every part of your body and is very adjustable.
5. Speakers
While your office conference rooms have dedicated speakerphones, you may have a problem adjusting to doing meetings at your home without them. Companies have developed new advanced portable speakers that are easier to install and use at your home office. If you have a small workspace, use a compact speaker. You can use them as a Bluetooth speaker or with a USB cord. Some speakers also come with features like integration with skype, 360-degree microphones, echo cancelling, and noise suppression.
6. Smart Bulbs
Make a productive workspace with lighting that makes the atmosphere comfortable and stress-free. Technology has come a long way. You can now manage the lights, create timers and schedules, and change colours with your smartphone. Smart bulbs are a fantastic place to start if you want to make your workspace a bit fancy. They are inexpensive and straightforward to set up. Brands like Nooie Aurora and Philips Hue provide a variety of pleasing tones, predefined themes and the possibility to create your own. It offers a regular on/off schedule and wake-up and sleep programs with dimming and brightening capabilities. You can place them near your desk setup. With smart bulbs, it can feel like Savannah in the middle of a blizzard.
Although a bit of clutter may inspire you to start your day, the truth is that messy desks are counterproductive. It might make you alter your focus, overload your senses, limit creativity, and induce stress during work. Your desk setup should be upbeat, creative, and productive. Optimizing your desk using these desk setup tips can make you more effective and productive.
Also, read 5 Technologies for Africa: 2022 and beyond.
