It’s a well-known fact that growing numbers of people are now working from home in some capacity. That might mean someone working as a w-2 employee or running their own independent business from home.
Amid pandemic restrictions, many have been thrust into a remote working situation with no warning. That probably required setting up a make-shift home office in a corner, a closet, or a spare room. If you find yourself working remotely, especially as a freelancer, there are a few key things you should have. Intentionally setting up a home office is a definite must for those working from home.
Office Environment
When working from home you need to put some thought into setting up an office. Even if you only have a tiny corner in your apartment, it’s critical to make it as comfortable and functional as possible. That might mean investing in a corner desk that folds up when you aren’t using it. Or it could involve buying an actual desk chair that’s more ergonomic than that old folding chair you pulled out of the closet.
If you’re fortunate enough to have an entire spare room for an office, make sure it has what you need. That could include adequate lighting, plenty of desk space or perhaps even a second computer monitor to make your work life a little easier.
Here’s an easy way to ensure your office is functional and comfortable — take a moment to review any regular complaints you have about your workspace. This will highlight the things you need to change. The good news is that you don’t have to make the changes immediately. Just keep a list and make upgrades as you’re able.
Business Software
If you work remotely for a company, your employer has probably already supplied you with the necessary software. But if you’re working for yourself, then you want to consider some key pieces of software to keep you organized and on track with your computer work.
If you have multiple projects to manage, try out project management software. Tons of options exist and you’ll find free as well as paid programs. For those who are a team of one, try something like Asana or Trello to start with. I personally like Trello and use it every day as I manage projects for multiple clients.
Email is critical to business communication these days, and you’ll want to make sure you have an email program you’ll use. Microsoft Outlook is a popular one and might be something you’re used to if you’re transitioning out of an employee role and into a business owner role. Google offers up Gmail for free and has Gsuite as a paid option. The paid option is great because you can use your own domain name for a more professional-looking email address.
Google also has text documents and spreadsheets which are free. A lot of people also use the Microsoft Office Suite, which is generally paid and has different tiers for a variety of business sizes.
Antivirus Software
A huge consideration for freelancers or anyone using an internet-connected computer (so…all of us) is antivirus software. It’s not even an option in today’s world of hacks and data breaches and ransomware.
Norton provides antivirus software that’s pretty popular. And they are on board with cryptocurrency, which is fantastic. They offer up a way to mine Ethereum on Windows devices. Basically, when your computer is on but you’re not using it, it can earn crypto for you.
Norton provides a digital wallet as well, so you can store all of that newly mined digital currency. And they’ll provide tracking so you know exactly how much crypto you have in your wallet.
If you want to transfer your crypto out of Norton’s digital wallet, they allow you to do so. They do require that you use Coinbase.
WFH Necessities
Working from home is likely here to stay. Why not make sure your office is comfortable and your business software is up to date? You can even earn some crypto with your antivirus software if you’re so inclined.
