Smart Tips and Tricks While Working from Home

Like many Americans, you may be working from your own house. Many of us have transitioned to a home office, either seamlessly or with twists and turns.

Making technology work for you helps you keep up with responsibilities and your quality of life. Adjusting to change takes time, but soon it becomes second nature.

Try a Virtual Commute

While there’s no feeling like the open road, it’s important to give the mind free rein. Microsoft introduced a virtual commute to give workers time to be creative while ramping up or winding down. Make the most of minutes between work, meals, car washes, and homework.

Disarm Your Alarm System

Disarming your home's alarm system can keep you from accidentally setting it off. Motion sensors and other intrusion detection devices can be triggered, especially if you programmed your alarm to detect movement while you were at work.

If you have kids at home during the day, hopefully they're getting plenty of time outside in your yard. But the constant in-and-out can trigger your alarm over and over, disturbing your workflow. Consider disarming the alarm during the day.

Make use of Your Smart Speakers

We can’t stress this enough. A simple voice command can take care of multiple actions at once, saving time and disruptions to your workflow. Consider setting up Smart Home Scenes to change lighting, locks, or thermostat levels in seconds. And then, ask Alexa to play classical music while you tackle your to-do list.

Reset Your Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat saves you money on your energy bills, and many homeowners adjust the heating and cooling while they're out of the house. Being at home 24/7 changes your needs for heat or air conditioning. If you're concerned with raising your energy bills, consider opening windows for fresh air or wearing extra layers when it's chilly.

Save Costs Elsewhere

Smart plugs can automate your appliances, lamps and even gaming consoles to reduce energy costs. They're easy to install — put the smart plug in an outlet, plug something into it, and control your newly smart appliance through an app on your phone.

Did you know that even if you aren't using your appliances and devices, they still use energy when plugged in? Passive energy adds up quickly, and while you might choose to reduce energy costs by unplugging everything, plugging everything back in every day can quickly become inconvenient.

Using smart plugs helps reduce the cost of energy vampires and lets you turn things on and off when you're away from home. When you're working from home, you may be using your electronics more often than usual, so reducing the costs from extra use is important. If you're trying to offset higher heating or cooling costs in your home, smart plugs may be the way to go.

Reduce Unnecessary Errands

We’ve all rushed to the grocery store before it closes. But do you need to? Believe it or not, there are alternatives aside from pricy takeout.

Consider a weekly produce box, or a grocery delivery service to save time spent in traffic. Meal kits can take care of planning, and offer new recipes you’d never have thought of before. They range from premium to economical and accommodate a wide variety of palates, health outlooks and dietary restrictions.

A video doorbell can help you manage all these deliveries, so you get notified of their arrival from your desk. Plus they can keep an eye out for porch theft and let you know when other important parcels arrive.

Make Use of Your Smart Indoor Cameras

Your indoor camera may become your best friend if you're working from home. Video conferencing with your work colleagues or talking on the phone with a client can be difficult with kids underfoot. Your home cameras can help you keep an eye on your kids while you're working in another room.

If you aren't used to remote working, learning how to set up a home office can be a little tricky. Make sure your home office has a door that you can close. If you're repurposing a corner of your living room or den, find a way to create a privacy screen to let you focus without distractions.

Small children can get curious about your workspace. When you aren't working, put your materials in a box or bin and store it out of reach of little fingers.

Make Smart Investments in Your Physical Wellbeing

Speaking of settling into your home office, don’t let desk-bound meetings lead to sitting all day. Set an alarm to get up every 30 minutes and move around. Even if you can’t physically get up, you can still stretch your shoulders and neck, or rotate your wrists and ankles. While typing, keep your wrists below your elbows and in a neutral position.

Activity benefits your eyes as well. Remember the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, take a look at something at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds or more. (Take a deep breath while you’re at it.) Plus, your back will thank you for investing in a chair you can comfortably sit in for eight or more hours.

Not Sure It’s For You? Try It Out

If you’re not sure this smart life is for you, try a few different tips and tricks and see what works. Every home, family and career is different, and you know what’s best for you.

Ready for smart home security? Our self-install kits come with a 60-day money-back guarantee. Interested? Call us at 877-505-1473 for more information.