This is a collaborative post: Since coronavirus first arrived in the UK, and workers were encouraged to stay away from busy offices if possible, more people than ever are enjoying working from the comfort of their home in a garden office.
Almost everything can be done remotely now, so take the risk?
With technology advancing faster now than it ever has, you need to be ahead of the curve to run a modern garden office. Futuristic tech is often cheaper than you think, meaning your garden office can run on the latest technology without giving your accountant a headache.
Essential tech that will help you run a modern garden office (with very little effort)
The whole point of technology is to streamline your life and make everything a little easier. These pieces of fine technology are essential things you never knew you needed.
Robot vacuum cleaner
One of the cons of working from a garden office is that you have to clean it yourself. Working from home really makes you miss the office cleaner, who would always empty your bins and keep your office space clean.
While you’ll still have to wash up your own coffee mug and change the bin bags but with a robot vacuum cleaner, you’ll never have to worry about cleaning your floors again. Just turn it on and let it work its magic while you work yours; they are fabulous for both carpet and wood flooring!
Wireless Hardware
Wires are so 2018! If your garden office set up has wires, then it can’t possibly be a modern garden office! Most people have a wireless mouse these days, but since Bluetooth keyboards have come down in price, they have become the must-have office accessory.
Without the wires you can move your keyboard wherever it needs to be on the desk while you work, which can ease some of the frustration that accompanies the need to spread out.
Upgrade your cloud storage
Most email or office-based software accounts come with basic amount of cloud storage for free, but if you’re really serious about your business, upgrading is a must.
The best thing about cloud storage is that you can work anywhere, on any device, so your work is portable without lugging any hardware about, and if anything happens to your device then you still have a back-up. Phew.
Cloud storage is easy to share with other contributors and doesn’t require you to physically meet up to transfer data, which saves time and money!
AI PA
That may look like it’s just a load of nonsense letters, but an Artificial Intelligence Personal Assistant is a cost effective way to make lists, keep appointments and even order important office supplies (like coffee).
A wireless smart speaker like a Google Home or Amazon Echo will have an in-built assistant which can answer questions, play music and set timers.
It won’t make you a cuppa during an especially arduous afternoon, but you also don’t have to pay it a monthly wage – you win some, you lose some.