We spend a lot of time in the office – a reported 3,515 full days over the course of a life time in Britain according to a report on AccountancyAge. Meetings, travel and the stresses and strains that come with sitting in one place for long periods of time can take its toll on anyone.
But the good news is that there are some really nifty gadgets out there that can improve or working life. Many claim that they will help to boost productivity, but we think that some may even increase the level of joy in the workplace.
So, while you’re shopping around for your Secret Santa workplace gift, why not take a look at some gadgets that could help you work smarter and improve your comfort at the office. Here we identify five that could make you look forward to coming into the office or boost productivity as you work remotely:
- Helpful chargers
We may live in a very connected world where we can all work remotely if we so choose, depending, of course, what our profession is. But not every coffee shop and bar has plugs that freelancers can access and the ones that do usually have them occupied by others that have secured the most comfortable and easily accessible spots. So, what do you do if even your powerbank is running on empty or you’ve forgotten to charge that? The answer is: solar chargers! Solar chargers are also helpful if you regularly attend business trips and functions abroad. Now there’s no need to lug around those clunky wall point adaptors! The Infinity Portable Solar Charger, for instance, can charge your phone and other devices. It’s currently priced at *£29.99 at risetraveler.com.
- Keeping your coffee warm
Nobody likes cold coffee – well, at least I don’t. And while coffee doesn’t exactly get your work done, few can operate efficiently in the morning without having at least one such hot beverage.
Meetings, lengthy phone calls and impromptu chats with the boss could all distract us from our coffees leaving it cold and uninviting when we get back to our desk. But the good news is there’s plenty of mugs and other gadgets that can ensure that you’ll never have to enjoy your thrice daily caffeine boost cold every again.
They range in price and can be quite pricey depending on the range of sophistication you need. Take for instance temperature control mugs such as the Ember. This one costs a whopping £179.95 but this modern cup can be controlled by a handy app on your phone which can notify you when your desired temperature is reached.
If you are in need of something that will keep the entire team happy then consider the getting something like the Smarter iKettle. It allows you to boil your kettle remotely using an app and you can also adjust your iKettle’s desired temperature. It’s a lot cheaper than the Ember and currently available on Amazon for £99.
- Working with more than one screen when you’re on the go
There’s evidence to support the fact that working off one screen is not as productive as working off two or three. Working with several monitors is a surefire way of doubling or tripling your digital workspace.
However, things can get trickier if you’re out on the road or working remotely. However, a company called Packed Pixels has come up with a solution to this problem in the form of portable monitors. No more wasting time on moving or resizing windows! For more information, click here.
- Standing desk or desk risers
A standing desk or desk risers are constructed in such a way as to make it easier to do work while you’re standing. And while this may sound uncomfortable, there’s actually proof that it’s good for you and this has also become all the rage.
According to a Harvard article, sales of standing desks have soared in recent years. There’s also many health benefits to standing at your desk as opposed to sitting. Essentially you are reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer (such as colon or breast) and even premature death.
While there is some evidence to support that you lose more calories standing than sitting, the difference is actually quite small. So, you won’t quite lose massive amounts of weight by standing at your desk all day. But apparently, you’re doing yourself more favours by taking a brisk walk at lunch time for just 30 minutes.
If you invest in a standing desk, the general advice is to ease into doing so. Don’t stand at your desk all day if you’re used to sitting. Also make sure that standing is ideal for the task at hand. According to Harvard, certain tasks (especially those requiring fine motor skills) are best done sitting down. A Yo-Yo Desk 90 will set the business back £284.95 on Amazon.
- Smart watches
Do you often want to check your emails or messages discreetly in a meeting? You can casually do so with the help of a Smart Watch. But these nifty gadgets offer so much more – you can browse the internet, access apps, monitor your heart rate and if you’re out on the road to make sales they can track your location with GPS. Lots of providers, such as Apple, Garmin, Samsung and even Google, offer such devices. Improvements are constantly being made so it pays to read all the reviews carefully to ensure you buy the right watch for your work and personal needs.
*Prices correct as at 10 December, 2019
Image by fancycrave1 from Pixabay
