Everyone can do with a productivity boost. It’s essential for remote professionals who are working from home, but it’s just as important for people who work in office settings. Fortunately, there are numerous accessories and gadgets that can make you more productive, which will motivate you and increase your confidence on a professional level.
Laptop Mount
Using a laptop mount has the potential to make you more productive in more ways than one. It offers stability, which is essential if you ever find yourself needing to work in your car. That’s something that plenty of work-from-home people have to deal with currently. A mount can also bring your laptop up to eye-level, which reduces neck and eye strain because it saves you from staring down at the screen at an uncomfortable angle. As an added bonus, a laptop mount can also help to keep your laptop from overheating, especially if you spend a significant amount of time with the computer in your lap.
Next-Level Flash Drive
Flash drives are helpful for providing you with extra memory, as well as giving you the option to take important files with you wherever you go. Stocking up on flash drives is a sure way to boost your productivity, but you need to think about taking it to the next level. Consider switching over to a wireless stick, which is an updated flash drive that allows you to access files across all of your devices, be it your laptop, phone, or tablet. The ability to reach or share files from all of your devices is incredibly convenient. It’s a time-saving option that also goes a step further to protect your files.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
Whether you’re working from home or in an office, it gets noisy. Noise, of course, is a huge distraction. It’s difficult to tune out dozens of conversations, dogs barking, neighbors walking by, colleagues chatting, and phones ringing. You can’t ask other people to be silent because that’s not your job or your business. You have to solve the problem yourself. Noise-canceling headphones are the solution. You can listen to music, podcasts, or videos for work, or you can simply shut out the rest of the world so you can concentrate on your tasks.
A USB VPN
With many people working from home, a VPN is a must. VPNs allow remote workers to access their workplace network from any location, which is extremely helpful, particularly when they need to access or share files on shared networks and with their colleagues. Just as flash drives are evolving, so are VPNs. For example, you can now find USB-based VPNs that make it easier to connect when you’re traveling for work or if you have to work in a remote location that may not have the most secure Wi-Fi connection.
Bluetooth Keyboard
If you have a tablet, you can easily turn it into a laptop. That’s helpful if, say, you have an iPhone, an iPad, and/or a Mac laptop because everything syncs, letting you access files, photos, and other media across the board. Bluetooth keywords are convenient even if you only have a tablet, as well. Tablets are smaller than laptops, but just as powerful when you simply need to access the internet and use a word processing program. You can effectively work no matter where you are, including areas with limited space.
Second Monitor
With a second monitor, you can be twice as productive. Extending your screen to a second monitor is like a revelation. If you’ve never done it before, then you don’t know what you’re missing. Being able to have research material open on one monitor and your Word documents, spreadsheets, or other programs open on the other allows you to work faster because you don’t constantly have to scroll or resize your windows. It helps with eye strain, as well. Keep in mind that you can also use your laptop as a “tower” or hub and connect it to two larger monitors.
A Wrist Rest
Although a wrist rest is a small thing, there’s no denying that it increases your productivity. Taking the stress off your wrists makes it easier to sit at the computer and type all day. Your hands and fingers don’t get as tired and your wrists don’t get sore, meaning you can take fewer breaks to rest your hands. It also guards against carpal tunnel syndrome, which has long-term benefits.
A Comfy Chair
You can’t underestimate the importance of a comfortable chair. Again, it doesn’t matter whether you work at home or the office. When you have to spend most of the day in a seat, you want something that’s comfortable. Not only that, but you need a chair that won’t make you feel achy and sore at the end of the day. It’s worthwhile to invest in an ergonomic chair, but if that’s out of your price range, then at least select a desk chair with ample lumbar support.
Boosting your productivity will have a positive effect on both your professional life and your personal life because getting more accomplished throughout the day allows you to relax once you’re off the clock. Do you have any accessories that you can’t live without while you work?
