Maximizing Productivity: 5 Work From Home Setups
The year is 2020, a phrase that is bound to stir up plenty of memories, emotions, and more for years to come. It would be an understatement, and I wouldn’t be treading any new ground by saying 2020 was a doozy of a year for the world. From a turbulent political landscape, to civil unrest, and a global pandemic there has been a lot to process this year. Amidst all of that many people were and are trying to start their careers and find new jobs. For many this meant virtual interviews and dealing with the mishaps of Zoom, WebEx, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and so on. Then, for those lucky enough to find new employment this year, comes settling into your new company. Time to set up your new desk!
Not so fast though, I did mention the global pandemic, didn’t I? COVID-19, coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus disease 2019, or whatever you call it sure made working in 2020 a brand new challenge. Instead of settling into your new desk or office, shaking the hands of your new co-workers, and figuring out where the bathroom is, new hires in 2020 got to become acquainted with their desk at home, that is if they had one! From 30-minute commutes brushing your teeth on your way in, to 30-second commutes and not brushing your teeth till noon, for many people, the workweek drastically changed.
So with all of that new time spent at home looking at laptops cooped up in the house, it’s only natural we started to get bored. What did we do with that boredom? Well, we started spending money of course. Amazon is only a click away and without the prying eyes of your manager, who is going to stop you from buying a brand new Rachel Ray cookware set? You’ve watched enough YouTubers teach you how to cook by now that you’re practically Julia Child, you just need the tools! But once we got bored with our new cookware and we had been sitting with our necks craned staring at our laptops for 3 months our eyes begin to move past the proverbial Amazon kitchenware aisle, to home office supplies. You swore that if you just had another monitor you would be more productive, better make it 4k too, you can finally watch The Mandalorian how Disney intended!
Now I must admit I am guilty of this as well, I bought a cheap monitor on Amazon in April and by December I had a dual 4k monitor setup with a wireless Apple Magic Mouse and a fancy new mechanical keyboard. Did I need all of this? Most likely not, Shakespeare wrote circles around me and this article with just an inkwell and some paper. But could he watch The Mandalorian in 4k, and does he have a keyboard that goes “clack-clack-clack”?
While I have quite the setup now, not everybody is going to put as much time or money into their work-from-home setup as me, but it is evident that people are still putting some time and money into it. According to research from Second Measure, there has been a dramatic increase in office supply spending, with both Office Depot and Staples reporting steep growth from February to the end of March. Additionally, of close to 800 Americans working from home surveyed in April of 2020, 65% reported buying paper, pens, ink, or other consumables in the last 30 days while ~25% reported purchasing a computer monitor, desk, chair, or other furniture.
It is clear people are spending money to improve their work-from-home setups. With the effects on the traditional office from this pandemic seeming to be here to stay, with more and more people and businesses reporting their preference for working from home, investing in your home office is proving to be a worthy exercise. According to a Gallup Panel conducted in April of 2020, 59% of American adults would prefer to work from home if given the opportunity, and another 82% of employers according to Gartner plan to allow employees to work remotely when the world can return to work. So what does that mean for you? Should you purchase two 4k monitors, a new keyboard, a mouse, and a desk chair like I did? Maybe not, but it may be worth upgrading some things to help maximize your productivity. So without further adieu here are a few work-from-home setups that should help you make working from home a bit more productive.
My setup
Let’s start with my setup, if you are a bit of a techie, don’t like wires, and enjoy dual monitors, this is a perfect setup for you. It is simple, clean, and offers a great space to work out of if you do any sort of digital graphic work. The monitors offer a lot of real estate and vibrant color accuracy, while the peripheral accessories keep your desk clear so you can focus on getting your best work done, and so you can watch The Mandalorian!
1x - Apple Magic Mouse 2 (Silver)
1x - Keychron K1 V4 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
1x - Razer Pro Glide Mouse Pad
1x - CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock
2x - AOC 4k Monitor
1x - DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable
1x - Thunderbolt to DisplayPort Cable
1x - Homall Gaming Office Chair
Just the basics
This setup is perfect for 80% of people working from home. It is a simple setup that offers high-quality products at an affordable price while maximizing desk space. You can use your laptop screen as a second monitor or if you have a desktop or prefer one screen the AOC 21.5” screen is a great size. If you choose to go this route you certainly won’t break the bank but it will be a massive upgrade from your current setup I’m sure!
1x - Logitech MK720 Wireless Keyboard Mouse Combo
1x - SteelSeries QcK Gaming Mouse Pad
1x - Acer 1080P Monitor
1x - Capshi HDMI Cable
Just a bit more
If you want to spring a couple of extra bucks for an upgrade in hardware you will really start to feel the difference in some of these products. The Logitech MX Keys keyboard and wireless mouse combo take your standard-issue setup and upgrades it to a silky smooth experience that you will never turn back from. The larger ultrawide curved AOC monitor offers a beautiful workspace that has plenty of area for you to compartmentalize and optimize your day to day tasks. If you don’t want to break the bank but want to splurge a bit, this is the sweet spot.
1x - Logitech M705 Wireless Mouse
1x - Logitech MX Keys Wireless Keyboard
1x - VAVA USB-C Hub
Way too much
If you watch a lot of tech YouTubers and are a fan of spending too much money on things you don’t need this setup might be for you. This is the only setup that isn’t completely wireless and for good reason, the Corsair K100 offers a beautiful mechanical typing experience that you can’t find anywhere else. Paired with the exceptional Logitech MX Master wireless mouse, this is one of the best mouse and keyboard combos money can buy. Connect it all to a gorgeous LG ultrawide curved monitor and you might just feel a little guilty about how nice these gadgets are. At any rate, this setup is expensive, but it is immaculate.
1x - Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse
1x - Corsair K100 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
1x - Razer Goliathus Gaming Mousepad
1x - LG 38” Curved Ultrawide Monitor
1x - Capshi HDMI Cable
Apple or bust!
Listen, some people just love Apple and their products. I’ll raise my hand and admit that I am a big fan, I am typing this on a Macbook Pro, however, not everyone can swallow the price tag of some of their products. The greatest example of that is Apple’s Pro Display they released this year. It is gorgeous that is not up for debate, but is it necessary? That is up for debate. However, if you are committed to Apple and all of their products this is the setup for you.
1x - Apple Magic Mouse 2 (Space Gray)
1x - Magic Keyboard (Space Gray)
1x - Apply Pro Display XDR w/ Stand and Mount
1x - USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter
1x - Capshi HDMI Cable
So whatever setup you decide upon or if you mix and match one thing is clear, the world is changing and more and more people need to make sure they are ready to take it on. Although it can be overlooked it is important that your workspace offers you the ability to excel. So whether you are buying just the basics, or spending your last paycheck on a new monitor, one thing is clear, working from home is here to stay. So go ahead and buy yourself a Christmas present or two and have some fun doing so in 2021!
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