Ahhh the Quarantined life. Recently while working from home- although I was comfortable (yes, sometimes in PJ’s 🙂 ) I started to randomly feel neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain – and after a couple of days I realized why. And as soon as I made small easy modifications my body felt a big difference! Here I will share with you a few suggestions which I’ve often offered to my users- and by these few simple adjustments it has seriously improved how we feel at the end of the day!
Use props to raise your Laptop 😉
The Monitor should be at natural eye level and at arm’s length away. If you’re using a Laptop, raise the laptop, or add a 2nd monitor and add an external keyboard and mouse so it can remain at desk level while you type and navigate. This is essential to maintain proper posture.
Your Wrists and Elbow should sit straight at 90 degrees.
Adjust your chair height if possible so that your Knees be leveled with your hips, also at 90 degrees. Feet should rest flat on the foot to the ground, or on a footrest.
Sit with good posture, with your Back arch supported.
Tips: These modifications can be free of cost $, use props such as a box, paper ream or books to adjust the monitor height. Add a pillow to adjust your seat height or low back support.
Stand-up desks are also highly recommended. You can set props high enough to be able to stand while working. Studies show there’s a 32 percent improvement in lower back pain while standing with proper posture, so it’s worth the effort.
These simple ergonomics tips will allow you to work comfortable, and as a result be much more productive while pain-free. Also remember to adjust your Children’s workspace accordingly. Proper posture will aide in their bone & muscle development, help reduce being fidgety and assist their focus on schoolwork.
It’s easy to lose track of time, but remember to take periodic Breaks  (short breaks are more beneficial than waiting to take a long break). Stand up every hour, or during conference calls, Stretch & drink plenty of Water.
Social media is hazardous to your Neck! Proper posture is also recommended while using your Mobile device. Keep phone at “eye level”, hold up or use an elevated phone holder if possible. Use a handset or headphone if you spend a lot of time on the phone. Trust me your neck will thank you!
MY CLIENTS ASK…
What do you recommend?
Stacking books is the most economical way to raise your monitor. However for aesthetics I like to use a stand. (click on picture below) In addition, a Logitech Wireless Mouse & Keyboard is key.
Whether you’re working from home as a Telecomutter or SOHO (Small Office Home Office) business owner, the key to productivity is ORGANIZATION & DISCIPLINE.
Studies show: 28% of each day is spent on Distractions | 27% of office workers feel Disorganized | 13 hours on average per week is spent checking Email.
In a workplace enviornment there are many uncontrolled distractions, such as coworkers stop by your desk, engage in conversations, unplanned meetings and so on. So when you work from home its basically your availability, more formalized meeting schedules and planned tasks. But it requires self-discipine! Therefore every morning I plan out my day, put aside my phone, leave the Radio & TV off and I stick to my agenda. Unless I recieve a phone call, I only check my mobile device every half-hour to avoid distraction. This guarantees I won’t be tempted to take too many social breaks and fall behind on work deadlines. Believe it or not, you can be most productive at HOME then at work!
Also, having an organized and dedicated work area at home is essential. Apart from the common: laptop, printer and basic office supplies. I also recommend you ensure you have a High Speed Internet with a SECURE Wi-Fi, Dependable Surge Protector, Proper Data Backup and a Paper Shredder. In addition to the high-technical stuff- you need a Rocketbook Notebook! It’s not just a gadget, it’s a contribution to our environment!
MY CLIENTS ASK…
What items do you recommend for my home office?
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In today’s day and age every home needs a Surveillance system to protect your loved ones. We are often asked what we recommend. Unfortunately there’s no right answer, as it all depends on preference and the layout of every home differs.
But as a standard scenario, I recommend these 2 different camaras, but of course I’m a Techie why would I settle for just one 😉 LOL
The Swann system is great as it records 24/7, with DVR capabilities which allows you to return to a specific data and time. Although Wireless- it’s wireless for internet access. But you still need to have power to plug adapter. So I mount it on house siding to view driveway, yard, etc any area you desire to keep tabs on.
The Arlo system is also great as it’s totally wireless! Which means I mount it on a tree to view all the access doors, such as front door. Only downside is the battery is rechargeable so you may need to unlpug every 2 months or so. There is also additional Arlo plans to record.
No home should be without – one or the other – or both 😉
Nowadays having a Smart Home is possible, easy to install and most of all more affordable than in the past. There’s myriad ways with many added features that it becomes a battle of the choices. I personally recommend you stick to known brands, and consistantly add as you go along.
Security concerns are common, but knowing how to prevent being hacked is key. As you know Smart home devices require Wi-Fi, our tech tips:
Use “Smart” & Secure Credentials
Keep the devices on a private SSID different from the SSID you provide to your guests. (This way if you have any hacking aficionado friends you won’t go crazy trying to troubleshoot and reconfigure all your devices. Apart from pranking you by turning on the lights or radio in the middle of the night. No fun.)
Be sure to obtain software updates periodically
Recognized known brands are worth investing, as they tend to emphasize on the proper encryption to avoid interception.
The items featured below are devices I personally have used. We get mixed reviews on having a smart home enviornment, one may think you’re lazy when you ask Alexa to turn on a light- however its a great security feature when you can turn on the lights 100 miles away. Just another way to protect your home, plus its random so not on a basic timer as most thieves would know of. Besides all its glory, its definately a good conversation piece when you have guests over. 😉
