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With much of the country still on lock-down due to the spread of COVID-19, working from home is the new normal. New York State recently announced that the stay at home order will be extended to May 15, so nothing is going to change for at least another month. So if you have been working remotely from home, that will be going to continue. Which means that is imperative that you have everything you need to stay productive.

Working from home presents new challenges and some obstacles. This is new for many people, who may be uncomfortable and feel unproductive while working at home. Everyone who works from home has different challenges, but there are some simple ways to stay productive during the work week. MSEDP can help you successfully work from home and be the best worker you can be! We offer many great web services that you can take advantage of! Set up e-commerce with your site and start selling online. Or better utilize your remote workstation. You can also give your site some needed upgrades, so when things do get back to normal your website is ready to go! Contact us today for more details. We are here to help!

In the meantime, here are some helpful tips for becoming the most productive remote worker you can be!

Maintain Regular Hours & Create Routines

Set a regular schedule and stick to it. Having a clear timeline for working hours enables optimal productivity and allows for remote workers to maintain a nice work-life balance. There is a delineation between working hours and hours for daily life. Keeping them separate while at home is important. Also, we all have our own routines and structures that get us through a workday, so maintaining that at home is key, too. Come up with some routines throughout the day, like you would in the office. Make that cup of coffee, or take a quick walk outside. Try to stay as regular as possible. And good routines can keep you focused and happy.

Schedule Break & Utilize Them

You know your company’s break policy, so use them accordingly. Again, like you would if you were in the office. And use your breaks for their full duration. If you have an hour lunch, take that break for an hour. This allows you to regain some normalcy in your day. Also, it is important just to get away from work. A good break should refresh you for the rest of the day. Don’t waste it.

Keep A Dedicated Office Space

In an ideal world, remote employees would have not only a dedicated office, but also two computers, one for work and one for personal use. It’s more secure for the employer, and it lets you do all your NSFW activities in private. But not everyone has a separate office in their home, and keeping two machines isn’t always realistic. Instead, dedicate a desk and some peripherals only for work use. For example, when your laptop is hooked up to the monitor and external keyboard, it’s work time. When it’s on your lap, that’s personal time. You may want to go as far as partitioning your hard drive and creating a separate user account for work.

Socialize With Your Co-Workers

Loneliness, disconnect, and isolation are common problems when working remotely, especially when you are used to seeing everyone at the office. Utilize chat channels and socialize with your co-workers. Discuss common interests, what you have been doing, anything really. This sort of interaction will help you feel connected with the people you work with. Remember, everyone is in the same situation as you, so you are not alone. Regain some normalcy and see what they have been doing to get through this tough time.

Be Positive

This last one is easier said than done, but it is important to stay positive right now. This is an unprecedented situation, but we are all in this together. Be positive when you are working and interacting with your fellow co-workers. This ordeal will not be made any better by being upset and down about it. Carrying a positive attitude will help everyone move on.

Much of the world is on lock-down right now due to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). So, working from home is the new normal now. It remains to be seen how long this will last, but the fact is much of the country is working from the safety of their own home. This presents new challenges and some obstacles. Of course, many people are not used to this approach and may be using equipment that is not up to par. There are some simple tech elements to help set up a remote workstation in your home. Attach that tiny laptop to a full-size keyboard, a 22″ monitor, a standard mouse. Get a webcam. Get a small (portable) printer. Set up a home “office” (don’t use the bedroom, the kitchen, or the dining room). And much more can be done!

MSEDP is here to help those making a transition for working remotely. We sell monitors, keyboards and other equipment to help you work from home during this period. We also offer remote tech support and can get everyone in your office up and running from home in no time! So please, if you need help with anything regarding your remote work, get in touch with us. Give us a call! The number for our office is (631) 761-7600. When you call, we can provide you with a no-obligation consultation on how to get started.

Here are some tips to further help you get started on creating a comfortable remote workstation.

Buy The Right Monitor

It’s easy enough to connect multiple displays to your laptop if you have the right equipment, but that is easier said than done sometimes. But there is not much more you can do that has a better immediate impact on your productivity than having the right monitor. Attach a couple of 4K displays at 27 inches or larger and your laptop becomes a powerhouse of productivity.

There are endless options for how to set up the layout for your laptop, so do what is best for your individual situation. You can prop it up on a stand for easier accessibility. Purchase a vertical laptop stand and you can leave your laptop closed while using it, which allows for a cleaner workspace.

Working with split screens can also increase your productivity. Get familiar with how Windows 10 works and you can split screens and multiple displays. Mac also has this capability. Your display might also have its own built-in tools for carving up the screen real estate to make it easier to manage multitasking. MSEDP can help you set up a remote workstation and get you on your way to increased productivity!

Your Keyboard and Mouse Are Important, Too

The monitor is one thing, but it is also important to invest in a good external keyboard and mouse, too. These input devices more versatile than your laptop’s standard built-in options. And when set up properly, these devices also allow for a more comfortable workspace, which is crucial when working remotely. You can upgrade to a mechanical keyboard to make typing easier. There are different keyboards with different functionality. At MSEDP, we sell keyboards and can help you select the best one for your remote workstation!

Use Zoom For Video Calls

Video calls make a remote workday feel more connected, since you can see the person you are talking too. We know how couped it is to be isolated, so seeing other people at this point is a plus. Basic Zoom accounts are free and are a great way to connect with your co-workers. You can upgrade to premium packages. Zoom is packed with great features. It is fast and offers clear audio and video. You can also record the calls, so anyone who cannot attend can listen to it later.

Collaboration On Slack

Slack brings together messaging and is a single place for files, attachments and more work-related tasks. You can create a free level plan and invite people into it. This way you can make collaboration simple and easy. This isn’t a replacement for email, but is a quicker way to communicate with your co-workers on the fly. Oh, and you can send funny emojis and gifs simply, which is a fun way to spend some time.

Added Home Network Security

Working from home means needing added network security. It is important to make sure that all of the devices on your home network, including the ones you use for business, have the latest software updates. Also, update any anti-virus software. MSEDP can help you set up your remote workstation and ensure a safe working environment.

Helpful Tips For Working From Home