When the pandemic hit, many workers were forced to work remotely. In fact, even before this, a 2018 International Workplace Group (IWG) study found that 70% of employees were working at least one day a week outside of the office. For most, this means setting up an efficient workspace that is both secure and multifunctional. Here are five tips to make the most of your home work space.
1/ Update your equipment.
Purchasing a new laptop computer with powerful processor, that is light enough to move around the house and portable enough to carry in and out of lockdown is crucial.
At only 2.9 pounds, Dell XPS 13 9310 is small with a 13.3-inch width FHD (1920 x 1080) InfinityEdge Non-Touch Display, yet powerful with 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-10510U Processor. It is high performance as multiple applications are a breeze and its slick design looks very much like another well-known maker circa the mid-aughts.
The built-in webcam is ideal for zoom meetings, and sound quality is intense for both movie watching and online classes. While the slim ports, few USB ports (especially for a home workplace) and battery life could be improved (CSL maximum clocked in at less than 7 hours), this is a great all-rounder for both students and adults.
Bottom Line: Dell XPS 13 9310 is small, lightweight, powerful and offers great performance overall. dell.com/en-ca
2/ Maintain up-to-date applications.
As employees become their own pseudo-IT department, becoming well-equipped for regular security maintenance including data backups, as well as software/hardware upgrades is essential. Ensure that your O/S system is updated with the latest version (Windows 10) for smooth performance of applications. This also goes for Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
3/ Keep and eye on your eyes.
All that screen time means updating your eyewear and getting your eyes checked. The global leader in ultra-light, solid, state-of-the-art frames, Silhouette classic Titan Minimal Art Must Collection features chic rimless specs which seamlessly blend into the face for a timeless fashion forward look.
Silhouette TMA; The Must Collection; silhouetteamerica.com
4/ Up your PPE (personal protective equipment).
With the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), advising that a three-layer non-medical mask should worn (two made from woven material cotton or linen and the third, middle layer should be a filter-type fabric, like non-woven polypropylene), and the emergence of new Covid-19 variants to Canada, it may be a good idea to double mask and up your protective gear.
Layer a surgical mask under a well made exterior one, and wear a set of safety goggles to protect eyes when indoors for prolonged periods.
Under Armour Sportsmask (available in five colours), $30; underarmour.com
Home Hardware Workhorse Hobby Safety Glasses, $6.99; homehardware.ca
Curad Nitrile Powder Free Exam Gloves – 100, $15.99; londondrugs.com
Premium Face Shield – 2s, $14.99; londondrugs.com
5/ Don’t neglect nutrition, eat your fruit and vegetables.
Did you know 2021 is the U.N. General Assembly’s International Year of Fruits and Vegetables? When working from home, it can be easy to forget to take frequent breaks. As a reminder, fill a bowl with pre-washed fruit and vegetables near your work space, so that you can grab them any time throughout the day. Zippy citrus fruits, like lemon, orange, mandarin and grapefruit are great sources of vitamin C, squeezed into a juice or eaten as a snack. Red and orange bell peppers are another powerful source (they carry three times the amount of an orange) as well as containing beta carotene and antioxidants.
What better way to reboot your health than with immunity boosting ingredients that can be easily incorporated into your diet like garlic and ginger.
Ginger can soothe the stomach and decrease inflammation while adding warmth to food and tea. A plug-in kettle near your desk makes tea a cinch – just grate some fresh ginger, steep and strain.
Just a teaspoon of garlic, packed full of allicin, an immune boosting compound, can also assist with reducing blood pressure and boost flavour. Take some time to prepare a more elaborate lunch than you would normally have at the office like stir-fry, hummus, or grilled meat with chimichurri (all of which call for garlic). Or, just grate a little into your salad dressing.
This original article first appeared in the Spring 2021 issue of City Style and Living Magazine.
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