In the past year, many of us have reimagined our day-to-day routines as we began to work and learn online. We saw a rise in remote teaching as 1.2 billion children were shut out of their classrooms. Universities reached students in all corners of the world with classes taking place online, and 86% of workers in the UK changed their commute from a drive to the office to a short walk across the house. This experience has been unique, and personally, I have found a lot of enjoyment in my new-found routine in the past couple months.
I have been 100% online since January 2021 as a full-time student. It was scary at first: I had three papers to finish with only my laptop, tiny desk space, and single ceiling light in my bedroom. My body ached as I hunched over my computer, and I found it difficult to focus.
I quickly found that if I wanted to be productive, I needed to make my workspace productive. Even on a student budget, I was able to buy a laptop stand, keyboard, and mouse. This new setup created a practical and comfortable place to work, and I found myself wanting to sit at my desk instead of dreading it.
Toward the end of my semester I started an internship with Targus and saw the extent of how great home offices can get. I am lucky to now have a full-size monitor alongside my laptop, creating a two-screen setup that can increase efficiency by up to 25%. On top of this a docking station keeps all my cords tidy so I have more space for work, and a blue light filter on my screen keeps me free from headaches.
As people start to return to the office, 39% of Europeans hope to see increased levels of trust to work from home. Targus has put this trust in me, and I am especially thankful for it as it allows me to easily balance my time between my role as an intern and my duties as a student. I am able to save time by not commuting each day, allowing to be more productive in everything I do.
Although I have started to appreciate this routine and the benefits it brings, I am excited for the office to open back up so that I can meet my colleagues face-to-face. Luckily for me, my tech accessories are portable, so my desk at the office will be just as productive as my desk at home!
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Writer: Erica Szulc
The future of work and learning is here. Learn more about Work and Education Reimagined.
