*This is a collaborative post
If you’ve recently decided to take advantage of your workplace’s hybrid work arrangements or are just interested in the idea of working from home, then there are a couple of ways for you to prepare yourself for the change of pace. There are a number of things that you might think about such as how to plan your day for working from home and how to communicate with your clients and colleagues. However, a lot of people seem to overlook the importance of preparing your computer.
Isn’t my workplace supposed to give me a laptop or computer?
This question really depends on the employer. Some employers might give you a laptop to work from while others might only give you some software. It really depends on your circumstances and the type of job that you have. For example, a freelance writer is still considered someone that works from home, but they’re not going to be funded by their clients unless there is some kind of special arrangement. In most cases, a freelance writer will typically have their own computer or laptop that they work from.
However, if you’re lucky to have an employer that is willing to buy you a work laptop, then you don’t really need to do much in order to prepare your computer. You might need to download some proprietary software, but there’s a good chance that your employer already has a set of instructions for you to follow once you receive your new device. Just keep in mind that it’s a work device at the end of the day. No matter how powerful it is or how much you want to use it for personal things, you have to remember that it doesn’t belong to you and you shouldn’t abuse it for your own gain.
What does it mean to prepare your computer for working from home?
So what exactly does it mean to prepare your computer to work from home?
To start, you might be asked to install some kind of software on your computer that helps you get work done. For instance, some companies may use a Virtual Private Network which gives you access to company files on your main computer. Some employers might also ask you to use remote desktop programs so that you can access your work computer from home. As such, the very first step is to usually follow whatever instructions your workplace has given you.
You should also be diligent about clearing your computer of any unnecessary files and programs that might interfere with your work. A good start would be to resolve any cache problem that might hinder your web browsing experience, and you might also want to uninstall any programs that you won’t be using for work. It may also help to keep your computer free of viruses and malware because you don’t want to be responsible for leaking information due to a compromised system.
Lastly, you’ll want to ensure that you have all of the necessary peripherals required to work from home. This usually means a keyboard and mouse for most people, but some might require a graphics tablet, a separate laptop for testing purposes, or even an ergonomic keyboard because of how much they type.
Do you need a separate computer to work from home?
While a lot of people have no trouble working from home with their existing computers, some people actually prefer to have a separate device that they work from. This is usually because they want to keep their work separate, especially if their main computer has a lot of programs on it that might distract them. For example, someone might be tempted to browse the internet and listen to music or watch videos while they work if they’re using their main computer with all of the bookmarks saved and programs on it. However, if you use a completely separate laptop or computer, then it likely won’t have all of those links and programs that could distract you.
Another good reason to use a separate computer is if there’s ever a situation where your computer stops working or breaks down for whatever reason. This means that you can still continue working on your work laptop or computer which has a slightly lower chance of not working or being compromised because you only use it for work purposes. And lastly, some people just enjoy using another laptop or computer because they want to be in different locations when they work. They might find that their chair is a little too comfortable or their desk has too many distractions which result in lower productivity.