So that’s it…the world of work has changed, and for many of us it’s unlikely to go back to how it was.  Remote working in some shape or other is here to stay.

So in what way is that going to be different?

And what sort of ‘stuff’ do you need to make this new way of working work for you?…

A Different Way of Working

So now we have the ability to work wherever and whenever we want.  The tech to allow this has been around for a while now.  But although some companies were making the most of this and encouraging employees to work in places other than their main standard office desk, many have only really embraced the shift to more ‘agile’ ways of working because Covid-19 has meant that they’ve had to.

There will inevitably be some that can’t wait to get back into the office environment, or companies whose business just doesn’t suit remote working.  But the vast majority will likely be seeing some sort of shift towards a more flexible approach to work in the years to come.  And this doesn’t just mean home-working – co-working spaces, pubs, coffee shops etc are all potential places of work – even if just for part of your day or week.

So what sort of ‘kit’ are you going to need to make this work for you?

Let’s take a look at what you might need depending on whether you’re working at home or ‘on the move’.

Your ‘chair’

1st things 1st – you need to be comfy!  You really can’t sit on your dining chair at home forever, but who wants a standard ‘officey’ chair in their dining room?  

So how about one of these little beauties?…. Super comfy, proper ergonomic chairs, beautiful, upcycled, and and planet saving all in 1 go:

But we don’t all have the space for a proper office chair – the Ongo seat is worth a try in this case.  A stool rather than a chair, but with plenty of movement in the base and small enough to pop under the table at the end of the day.  We like the orange one!

And for some of you the dining chair is your only option right now.  But there’s no reason why you can’t get comfy on that too.  Use cushions or pillows to pad the base and get you to the right height and if you’re really struggling then a memory foam cushion with a coccyx cutout might help take the pressure of your tailbone.

There’s loads out there to choose from, but this is the one we used at the beginning of the 1st lockdown to good effect:

And if you’re needing some additional lumbar support then the Restaback is worth a look – simply hang it over the back of your chair and, unlike many back support cushions, it’ll stay in place and give you support where you need it – right in the small of the back.

Of course don’t forget your feet!  They need to be supported.  So if you can’t touch the floor with your feet then either pop them on a cushion, pillow, or box, or check out this height adjustable footrest cushion that could do the job and get stored away at the end of the day.

Keyboard, mouse (mouses?!, mice?!) and laptop stands 

But the chair is only part of the problem in terms of getting comfy on a longer term basis.  Tempting as it is to just work on your laptop all day, leaning forward and hunching over your laptop isn’t going to do your posture any good at all.  And will ultimately lead to aches and pains that none of us want or need.

The solution is to raise your laptop and plug-in a keyboard and mouse so that you’re replicating a desktop type situation and your posture is greatly improved – not just at home, but on the move as well.

But laptop stands that have enough height to replicate a desktop screen are not that easy to find.  This one may do the job though if you’re not planning on carrying it around with you:

But if you need it to be portable then you’ll be needing something far more lightweight and compact.  So why not check out this one from Ergonomic Cafe:

Or our personal favorite – the Nexstand – height adjustable, lightweight and compact.  Just slip in your bag and off you go:

But of course you will need a keyboard and mouse with all of these options, and again if you’re planning on moving around at all then you’ll need it to be lightweight and compact.  The ultimate keyboard, mouse and laptop raiser bundle will give you just that.  Everything you need, including a carrying case that fits everything including your laptop.

Or if you’re looking for a temporary budget version then this recyclable cardboard desk in 3 different sizes is a great idea:

And of course you probably can’t go too far wrong with a standard Ikea desk such as this one which is not only compact but height adjustable so you can get some variety in your working position:

So who said that variety is the spice of life?….not sure actually, but we definitely would agree that changing your position throughout the day is a good thing.  Standing for some of the day is one of the ways you can do this.  If you’re not looking to replace your desk but want a standing solution then a desk adaptor could be just what you need:

But many of us don’t have the space for a full and permanent desk setup so this portable version that you can pack away at the end of the day works a treat:

But if the budget won’t stretch to that beautiful/last forever version, then how about this one – definitely won’t last forever, but will do the job for a while.  It’s height adjustable, and we reckon you’ll get a good 6 months out of this one.

But remote working doesn’t just mean home-working.  As the world opens up again many of you won’t want to just stay at home.  You’ll (hopefully) be popping into the office some of the time, working from a coffee shop some of the time, the pub! even some of the time.  That’s the beauty of these new ways of working.  So what else will you need to facilitate this?

Bags for your gear 

What you need now is a fabulous laptop bag to carry your laptop stand and keyboard/mouse combo.  We’d always recommend a backpack over a messenger style bag, and best to carry on both shoulders rather than slung over just the 1.  We love this casual style one in red.

Or if you need something a little more ‘businessy’ then the Knomo backpacks might be a little pricey, but they always look good:

The Tech

But if you’re actually going to be productive then you’ll need decent, lightweight and portable devices to work on, communicate with your colleagues, and not run out of charge along the way.

Apple or Microsoft??….  Microsoft or Apple??…  It’s a constant battle here at Phlex HQ!  Thankfully both sides are well served, and although there’s many many to choose from, our 2 go-to devices have to be the Macbook Air, and the Microsoft Surface.

Beautiful and lightweight and powerful – what’s not to love with these 2:

But make sure you have plenty of charge to keep you going til you’re able to plug in again.  Anker products have always served us well, and this 3-way charger is definitely worth considering for your daily charging needs:

And finally….none of us can work in a vacuum – we all need to communicate with our friends and colleagues at least some of the time.  Or at the very least listen to our favourite tunes or podcasts as we move from place to place.

And of course you could stick to your trusty Apple Airpods, but why not check out the Sony version voted top wireless earbuds by Tech Radar in 2021:

But our personal favorite has got to be the Beats Flex wireless earphones.  No they’re not completely wire free, but nowhere near as easy to get lost as the earbuds, quality earphones, at an affordable price, and in ‘sunny’ yellow they definitely fill the brief for us.

So that’s our simple guide to all the gear you’ll need to make remote working work for you.

Wherever you go, wherever you work, and whatever you do – you’ll have all the gear that makes you comfy, happy, and productive.