Getting Things Done: 7 WFH Tech Essentials

The right technology can really elevate your home office set up and boost productivity.

I’ve picked out seven of my favorite work from home tech essentials that have helped me stay connected and do more, especially as I’m working from home most of the time with occasional visits to the office.

Whether you want to improve your workspace, or find gift ideas, these tech essentials have worked for me, so maybe they can also enhance your workspace and productivity.

MacBook Air M2

The center of my home office has long been an iMac. I had a first-gen Intel 27” model and it worked like a champ for more than a decade! It was hard to part with it, but needless to say, it was time for an upgrade.

Although I considered a new iMac, I couldn’t wait for Apple to introduce another large screen version of its latest generation all-in-one. Plus, I kind of wanted something I could take with me when I’m traveling. So, I picked up a 32” monitor and paired it with the new MacBook Air M2.

This laptop is thin, lightweight, and gorgeous. But thanks to the M2 processor, it’s practically Pro.

I had considered a MacBook Pro 13” with the M2, but discovered the MacBook Air M2 offered a better webcam, nicer speakers, more modern looking display, fast-charging support, all in a lighter package. It was a no-brainer to go with the Air M2 and I couldn’t be happier, especially since I felt it was a better value over the Pro model.

CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub

Naturally, there are multiple devices in my home office and I needed a way to tether everything together. One challenge was that I also had two laptops – one personal and one for work – that I needed to toggle between seamlessly.

The solution: CalDigit’s Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub. Harnessing the power of Thunderbolt 4, this simple dock provides an incredible amount of flexibility for my home office set up.

I use the dock to connect my 4K monitor, laptops, a couple external SSD drives, a keyboard and mouse, plus charge devices like headphones and my mobile phone.

As mentioned, I togged between work and personal laptops, and this dock makes the process simple. I just unplug the one Thunderbolt cable between them, and I’m good to go.

Audio Technica ATH-M20xBT

One of my newest tech additions are these over-ear headphones. I had been in the market for premium headphones for a while and was so close to pulling the trigger on a pair of $299 cans that offered premium design and sound.

But then Audio Technica introduced these bad boys…

They’ve got a no frills design and don't have fancy features like companion apps or carrying cases. But in terms of sound, they really deliver.

While they may not look like $299 headphones, they’re super lightweight. I usually wear glasses while I’m working at the computer, and still the lightweight design of the ATH-M20xBT headphones make them comfortable to wear for long periods.

The 40MM drivers crank out Audio Technica’s unique sound signature that’s tuned for clarity. Everything is clear, and you’ll never hear anything too crazy. These deliver deep bass, excellent mids, and bright highs without harshness.

For just $80, these hit well above their weight class. I’ve also been using them for all of my calls and the mic does a great job of picking up dialogue while reducing ambient room noise, even without ANC support. Plus, they have a crazy battery life of 60 hours so I don’t have to worry about plugging them in constantly. You can even listen to music wired or via Bluetooth, so they’re super flexible.

eero Mesh Wi-Fi Routers

The key to productivity is good Wi-Fi. So for me, eero’s mesh Wi-Fi routers are essential.

Mesh Wi-Fi routers like eero help to eliminate dead zones by using multiple pods that work in unison to blanket your home with fast, stable coverage.

Unlike traditional routers, eero is super easy to set up and is controlled by a powerful, yet easy to use app. I also subscribe to eero Secure which adds an extra level of security to my network.

In addition to supporting my WFH activities, eero supports all my smart home’s needs. From my TCL TV, to my Nest doorbell, Sonos speakers, or smart lights in my backyard, having Wi-Fi that’s fast, stable, and keeping everything connected in every corner of the house (inside and outside) is pretty awesome.

I’ve also upgraded to eero’s latest generation of routers that support Wi-Fi 6. So, as I add more devices around my house supporting Wi-Fi 6, I know that my WFH set up — and my smart home in general — is future proofed.

Litepro Laptop Stand

I’ve got a hybrid schedule where I bounce between my home office and work office. However, I’m at home most of the week and discovered that a laptop stand is essential.

Litepro’s laptop stand is pretty basic, but it raises your laptop about five or six inches to improve ergonomics if you’re using your laptop’s screen as a second monitor, like I do.

It's lightweight and sturdy, plus it’s super easy to move around your desk. The forward tilt and open design also allows for improved airflow to keep your laptop cooler.

Since there are two laptops on my desk, what’s great about the design is that I’m also able to tuck my personal laptop underneath my work laptop to keep my workspace organized and tidy.

TCL 20 Pro 5G

TCL is known for creating products that punch above their respective weight classes, with a level of performance that usually belies their price tags. That can certainly be said for the TCL 20 Pro 5G which is why it’s still my daily phone of choice.

Although specs alone won't suggest a major leap forward, I can attest to the TCL 20 Pro’s reliable software, incredible build quality, and gorgeous design.

First and foremost, TCL’s expertise in display technology is evident in the 20 Pro. The display is bright, colorful, and is easy on the eyes, no matter what I'm watching or reading. The processing also makes it buttery smooth while jumping between apps or scrolling through long pages.

One of my favorite features is the SmartKey. It's an extra button on the side that can be programmed to do quick tasks. Unlike other manufacturers, TCL makes it easy to quickly launch just about anything with SmartKey. I personally use it to close background apps in a pinch.

The phone is fast, smooth, and shows no signs of sluggishness moving between apps or while browsing the web. Even the camera processing for modes like Portrait and Super Night photos feels fast.

Something that might get lost in reviews, but that I really appreciate as a former Pixel user, is the lack of bloatware. Beyond some basic software like TCL's excellent NXTVISION technology, or theme improvements, the phone isn't too far off from stock Android.

Sonos One

There are many multi-room speakers available these days, but in my opinion you still can’t go wrong with the Sonos One.

I’ve got one in just about every room of the house because they make multi-room listening so easy. For work, it’s satisfying to quickly cue up some ambient music on Spotify and play over the One.

Sound quality is excellent. Every time I listen I can’t believe how much detail and rich bass can be achieved in such a small package.

With both Alexa and Google Assistant built in, not to mention AirPlay support, Sonos has also made it easy to control music and incorporate the One into any smart home ecosystem.

On Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is an important topic in this always-on, digital world we all live in. The last couple of years has also given new meaning to the idea of balance as we’ve all adapted to “new normal” conditions. 

Heavily focused on how people structure and manage their days is Balance the Grind, which hosts conversations about work, life, and balancing the two. The editors talk to people from all over the world, in different careers and backgrounds, to give readers insight into what work-life balance means and how it can be achieved. 

There are always some incredible conversations at Balance the Grind, plus explorations of daily habits, schedules, rituals and routines of successful world leaders, artists, startup founders, business executives, writers and world class athletes. I was honored to be featured to give my two cents on an important topic for young professionals.

Shout out to Hao Nguyen and the editorial team for taking the time to chat, and for building an amazing community.

How to Stay Productive While Working from Home

The spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has drastically changed the way we live, work, and play. We will perhaps be forever changed by this unprecedented world we now live in.

In recent years, remote work has become popular and fairly commonplace. But today, as the pandemic continues, working from home has become something entirely different. It has become the only way that work gets done. 

For traditionally office-bound professionals, working from home means taking advantage of the many perks that come with being remote. You’re able to save time and money by avoiding the daily commute to the office. You can create your own work environment and tailor your office space to your needs. No longer are you confined to one desk or one dedicated space; you can work wherever you want so long as it’s at home. 

Despite the convenience, there are certainly challenges of working at home. There are increased distractions from kids and spouses that are also forced into the same shelter-at-home situation. There are no physical boundaries between work life and home life, which means you have to stay focused, even while knowing there’s beer in the fridge and a gaming console in the next room. And, working with colleagues now requires a little more formality without impromptu brainstorming sessions by the water cooler or meeting follow-ups in the hallway.

Although there are certainly challenges to working from home, the benefits of greater autonomy and the promise of more hours in the day have overwhelming upsides. Here are a few tips I’ve come across that make some of the challenges easier to master and help to boost productivity: 

Stick to a Schedule

Just as you’ve done in the past, get up at the same time each day and start your morning routine. Set aside important tasks and goals the day before so that when you sit down in front of your computer you know exactly what you need to address first. 

Take Breaks

Working without breaks can lead to burnout, but admittedly this is something I’m really bad at when I’m at the office. However, working nonstop at home poses an even greater risk of burnout because I don’t have the luxury of “going home” at the end of the day. To avoid burnout, and feeling like I’m chained to my desk, occasional breaks throughout the day are essential. 

Move

Exercise is always something I try to do regularly, but while being cooped up it’s absolutely essential. Getting the heart rate up works wonders for both physical and mental health, especially while in confinement. Without a commute, there’s more time in the day so make use of it! For once I’m actually able to carve more time out of the day for exercise. It’s been such a treat to get up early and break a sweat before hitting the emails. 

Stay connected 

“Self-isolation” doesn’t have to mean you’re always on your own. Use technology, like email, instant messaging, and video conferencing services, to keep up relationships with friends, family, and colleagues. 

Control Communication

Don’t let the technology mentioned above control you. Set specific times to check in with your manager or co-workers so that you don’t get overwhelmed or distracted. When setting meetings, schedule them around the times that make the most sense for the way you work so that they don’t prevent you from other solo tasks that require more focus.

Get Fresh Air

Eat lunch outside, go for a walk, or simply open your window. Sunlight, fresh air, and the sounds of birds chirping can have a powerfully positive effect and prevent cabin fever. 

Use To-Do Lists

Whether you’re at home or at the office, there’s only so much time in a day so you’ve got to prioritize. Keep a running list of your tasks to prevent any distractions from getting in the way. I like to use Google Keep to organize my to-dos. Layout everything you need to achieve before the workday is done so that you know where to pick-up the next day. 

Set Clear Finish Times

In the past, whenever I would work from home I would end up putting in many more hours than I normally would at the office. Now, without ever physically leaving the “office” it’s more important than ever to set boundaries to achieve proper balance.

Are Open Offices Killing Productivity?

Business leaders have always sought ways to boost the productivity of their employees. In the 20th century, the open office was considered to be the smartest design to boost the productivity of desk-bound workers. In 1906, the opening of Frank Lloyd Wright's Larkin Administration Building was considered to be the first modern office, embracing an open office plan for the first time. The open-office concept continued throughout the years, but it was really popularized in the 2000s by tech giants like Google, Apple and Facebook.In 2012, Mark Zuckerberg hired famed architect Frank Gehry to design Facebook's new headquarters, which would ultimately be "the largest open floor plan in the world." The campus is actually a single room stretching 10 acres.These layouts were praised for their ability to encourage productivity, collaboration, and creativity. Architects and business leaders believe that open design focuses on mobility, empowers individual boundaries and encourages chance encounters. But, so employees who have to work in these spaces share the same sentiment?

Less Focus, More Distraction

In 2015, The Washington Post published an article that sated this design trend “is destroying the workplace” at places like Google because it’s too “oppressive.” In 2017, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple's open-office design was producing to be too noisy and distracting for programmers.A recent study by students at Harvard also noted that open designs are effectively hindering face-to-face communication, rather than building those "chance encounters" that Facebook had hoped. Rather than prompting collaboration, open architecture appeared to trigger a natural human response to socially withdraw from officemates, and interact instead over email and instant messaging, particularly through services such as Slack.

A Closer Look at Office Interaction

While open offices remain the trends, more studies around office interactions are showing that these spaces tend to yield employees who are more un-collaborative and unfriendly. Moreover, a study in 2016 by the Auckland University of Technology found that people who work from home or share a space with just one or two others enjoy better relationships with colleagues.Additionally, some argue that openness creates a sense of transparency, and therefore motivates people to work more because others can see what they're doing. Columbia professor and productivity expert Cal Newport suggests that this simply fuels busyness as a proxy for productivity and that it fails to foster quality work in favor of the perception of working more.

Alternatives to Openness

There are alternatives to designing a new workspace that isn't reliant on open layouts. Hub and Spoke is just one approach that's a hybrid of an open office and a closed office. While there are central spaces and hallways that are open, there are still individual offices. MIT’s Building 20 is an excellent example of Hub and Spoke.Ultimately, businesses need to design spaces that are more likely to encourage great work. One thing that should be avoided at all costs is the notion that a space that's swanky or impressive, offering a football-field of openness, is going to be the sliver bullet that leads to the next great idea. Chances are, according to research, it probably won't.