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    How to ensure optimum productivity even while working from home

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    It cannot be denied that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some serious losses to many industries across the world, but in return, it has taught us new ways of living. As the crisis began to unfold and tighten its grip, global conglomerates adopted new methods of working such as ‘work from home’, wherever possible, to accomplish routine office tasks. The trend soon caught up and today, a large chunk of the global workforce, especially in the corporate and IT sector, is working from remote locations by using various kinds of collaboration and productivity tools.

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    Remote working has its pros and cons. Data suggests that 12% remote workers experience distractions at home, 20% find communicating and collaborating a challenge, while 18% report not being able to unplug. On the other hand, some pros of this system include saving money and time spent on commuting, better work-life balance, working right from your comfort zone and more.

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    Despite being the need of the hour, most of the companies do not have adequate infrastructure to implement a work from home system successfully. To make it a beneficial practice organizations/individuals need to have the proper hardware, software as well as a conducive environment.

    Now, let’s take a look at some tech, tools and tactics that can help us work from home the right way.

    Increasing productivity when working from a remote location

    ● What ergonomics experts suggest
    Dr Alan Hedge, PhD, CPE - Professor, Ergonomics, advises keeping your desk and environment neat can help in improving work speed, volume and quality. He further advises decluttering your work desk by raising up the monitor using an adjustable arm to avoid neck and back pain. If using a laptop or phone, ergonomically angle it to reduce chances of aches and tension. Other methods such as working from a stand-up desk, sitting on a swiss ball or walking on a treadmill can also be helpful.

    ● Mitigating damages caused due to blue light emissions
    Today’s high paced work environments demand optimum productivity which requires processing various kinds of data and handling multiple tasks at the same time. Therefore, using a large external display or using multiple displays might sound like a feasible solution in such situations. But the problem is that these displays come with a major disadvantage.

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    Be it your phone, television or computer screen, they all emit blue light. This kind of light has one of the shortest wavelengths and too much exposure to blue light can disrupt your natural sleeping patterns, cause irritability and inhibit concentration.

    To reduce damage caused due to blue light, always adjust the blue light settings in larger displays such as those in PCs. Most Lenovo devices have Lenovo Vantage settings which enable users to activate Eye Care Mode which reduces blue light emissions. Their ThinkVision S28u-10 monitor comes with an anti-glare panel accompanied by Eye Comfort and Low Blue Light certifications that mitigate the risks caused due to screen emissions.

    There are some other techniques that can also be used to combat the adverse effects of blue light. Ensure that your eyes get ample exposure to natural light as it helps you reset your sleeping pattern. Take a stroll during the lunch break and reduce the screen brightness when you come back. Look away from your screen every 5-10 minutes to refresh your eyes.

    External hardware that can help you win at work
    Today, the preferred workstation among professionals is laptops as it provides flexibility along with the required computing power. But, when working on something complex or crucial, using an external keyboard, display or mouse can help you enhance your effectiveness. Devices such as the ThinkVision L27q QHD high spec display or the ThinkBook Bluetooth Silent Mouse with noise-free features can give you more clarity and help you concentrate better while working.

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    Stay connected, collaborate no matter where you work from

    Choosing the right devices for collaboration
    When working remotely, you need to ensure that you collaborate with your teammates and other colleagues, as need be, to fulfil your job responsibilities. This involves a lot of web calls and conferences. Apart from high-speed internet, such collaborations require high levels of audio-visual clarity as well.

    For proper audio, PCs with directional microphones can be used as they eliminate background noise and improve clarity. Though, for best rsults, use a noise cancellation headphone such as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 ANC Headphones with Acoustic Noise Canceling to reduce echo and block background noise.

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    For further auditory astuteness while collaborating digitally, use speakers with Dolby Audio™, use dual-array mics and choose a quiet room without much echo or reverberation. Apart from that, in such scenarios, speak clearly (not loudly), mute your mic when you’re not speaking, and ensure you’re properly connected at all times.

    Now, when it comes to clear video, use a display with features such as anti-glare screen, Full High Definition (FHD) and Dolby Vision™ display, use a high-resolution web camera, etc. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s comes with several advanced audio-video features which make it an ideal choice for digital conferencing.

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    For further visual clarity, make sure you’re seated in a well-lit place (preferably face a window or a light source), your background is clutter-free, the display is at eye-level, etc.

    Software solutions for effective (digital) teamwork
    Web conferencing goes way beyond verbal interactions. It involves sharing presentations, audio or video files, private messaging and much more. Therefore the app/software being used for web conferencing should also be functional enough to handle the requirements of the modern-day workforce. Microsoft Teams is one such collaboration tool that brings together an array of features to help professionals achieve optimum results from online meetings.

    With an easy-to-use interface and high-quality audio and video, the Teams app lets you seamlessly control your microphone and camera while conferencing. The app comes with features such as screen sharing, private messaging, multi-language support, whiteboard tools, third-party recording tools, cloud storage and more. The app also allows users to blur their background to prevent distractions.

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    Next, software solutions such as Lenovo Vantage can further aid users with features such as Keyboard Noise Suppression which allows you to take notes silently during a web call, and Acoustic Echo Cancellation which reduces echo and feedback.

    Unplug, unwind, restart
    Be it home or any other remote location, keeping work and personal life separate is very important. Activities such as taking periodic breaks, having a hot beverage, browsing through your social media accounts or involving in other rejuvenating exercises can help you further enhance your output. With the right tools, tech and environment, professionals can stay motivated and be resourceful no matter where they work from.
    ( Originally published on May 11, 2020 )
    (This article is generated and published by ET Spotlight team. You can get in touch with them on etspotlight@timesinternet.in)
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