As the work-from-home reality has become our new normal, many of us have quickly evolved our home office over the last few months—from makeshift dining room table and couch “desks”, metal folding chairs and even beds to more comfortable ergonomic desks and office chairs.
Maybe you and your significant other have decided the kitchen is your place to work, the upstairs walk-in closet is theirs and the kids get the living room.
Whatever office hacks you’ve come up with, there are smarter ways to consider that could help make your workday as productive as possible. Here are our top four to consider:
1. The Bulletproof Connection You Need
Highspeed internet is a must for any efficient home office. But if you’re sharing your bandwidth with family members who are working, doing Zoom calls, streaming videos, gaming or video chatting with their friends, your old router may not be able to keep up.
Google Wifi works with your existing network and offers a simple, affordable solution to deal with zones and lags, providing true whole-home coverage. Plus, an easy-to-use app lets you see what devices are connected so, for instance, you can pause WiFi on your kids’ devices and prioritize your own.
2. Too Cold? Too Warm? No Problem
At the office, if your workspace was too cold, the only solution was a sweater but in your home office, you’ve got better options — like a Nest Learning Thermostat. It learns from you and your home, programs itself automatically and can help you save energy when you’re away. You can control it using your phone, tablet or laptop, and, because the Nest Learning Thermostat programs itself, it can help save you energy while you’re busy doing more important things.
3. Ding, Dong, Who’s There?
It’s probably happened to you: you’re on an important conference call and the doorbells rings. What do you do? With the Nest Doorbell, you can safely and conveniently see who’s at the front door. You can even check if a package has been dropped off and is waiting for you.
With this state-of-the-art smart doorbell, you’ll receive notifications on your mobile device or PC, and see crisp images of who is at your door, even at night. Plus, you can answer your front door from anywhere, including with prerecorded quick responses if you can’t physically get to the front door or you’re out. Nest Doorbell even recognizes your family and friends and sends you a special alert if they’re waiting outside.
4. Office Assistant? Yes, Please!
Your office receptionist was a lifesaver back in pre-COVID days, greeting visitors, keeping track of your schedule and reminding you of meetings. The Nest Hub is like a virtual personal assistant, allowing you to control your connected home and home office from one sleek dashboard — and a whole lot more.
With the Nest Hub, you can use your voice to control all your compatible devices, including your lights, security cameras, thermostat and TV. You can stream your favourite music, listen to your favourite podcasts, keep track of your schedule and see who’s at your front door.
Remember, with lots of devices and family members using them, often at the same time, it’s important to determine your home’s electrical needs, protect your electronics from power surges and make sure you have enough light to work effectively. You can learn more about checking your home’s electrical safety here.
Need some suggestions and guidance to improve your home office? Contact Reliance™️ to learn more about the Smart Home solutions we offer that include installation, set-up and in-home demonstration.
If you’re not tech savvy, no worries, our expert Smart Home Advisors and trained Smart Home Technicians will get you set up in no time!
Google, Nest Learning Thermostat, Google Wifi, Nest Hub, Nest Doorbell are trademarks of Google LLC.
Some features, including mobile notifications, remote control, video streaming and video recording, require working internet and Wi-Fi
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