Nov 02, 2023
The pandemic accelerated the rising popularity of hybrid working —
which is a combination of remote and in-office work. As of 2023, up
to
28% of employees have a hybrid work environment. That’s a huge portion of the workforce.
The hybrid working model isn't without its
challenges, though. For example, employees often need to adjust workflows and
invest in suitable equipment for the home. But the rewards of hybrid
work can include savings (related to fuel and other costs),
increased opportunities, better work-life balance, and other
benefits.
Here are some ideas for how to master the hybrid office model and be
an effective, productive employee.
Routine
It is often recommended that hybrid workers develop a routine and
stick with it. Predictability can have a positive impact on
efficiency. For instance, it may be best if you can select which
days of the week you’ll spend in the office and keep those constant
from week to week. Similarly, when at home, schedule times for meals
and reserve certain portions of the day for focused work, setting
aside other times for calls and meetings, if possible. This should
help in managing your time more effectively. One approach to
consider is scheduling meetings, brainstorming sessions, trainings
or other collaborative efforts during office days. This will free up
your remote working days for focused work that fits within any
established routine.
Dress for Success — Even if Working from Home
Another useful tip is to consider carrying over certain office
habits into the home environment. One such habit is attire.
Many people believe that wearing office-like attire brings
associations with work, and likewise creates more of business-like
mindset at home. In any case, while it isn't necessary to dress in
full office attire when working from home, it could be a good idea
to wear something that wouldn't look inappropriate, say, if you were
to turn on your camera and participate in a meeting.
Dedicated Space for Home Office
If possible, establish a dedicated working space at home. A separate
room would be optimal. If that isn’t an option, set up a desk in a
room where you can close the door. This is especially important for
those who share an apartment or home with others.
Avoid working from a bed or couch. Rather, opt for a proper desk.
This not only gives you more space to work comfortably but also
allows for healthier posture (more on that later). Similar to how
dressing appropriately may put one in a more professional mindset,
having a dedicated working space can have beneficial effects on
focus and efficiency.
Proper, Ergonomic Desk Setup
There is a lot to be said about a healthy desk setup. As a rule of
thumb, you should remember that you should sit straight, with your
back fully touching the chair's back. Your feet should be lying flat
on the floor, with legs bent at 90 degrees. The computer screen
should be at eye level, and you should be able to view it without
bending your neck. Your keyboard and mouse should be a distance that
allows you to use them without slouching.
Luckily, many solutions are made with ergonomics in mind. One of the
most important items for a home office is a chair. Don’t skimp on
getting an office or
gaming chair
that enables healthy posture for a full day of work.
More and more people are also investing in height-adjustable desks
that can function as standing desks. Standing for at least part of
your workday can do wonders for your posture. It’s and option you
may want to seriously consider.
Other equipment and peripherals — e.g.,
ergonomic mouse,
keyboard, and
monitor
— are also important. If you use an external monitor, consider
getting one with a flexible stand or purchase a mounting arm that
enables adjustable viewing angles.
Find more tips on healthy laptop use and laptop setup ergonomics
in this article!
Lighting
When working at home, pay attention to proper lighting. It is very
important to ensure you get a sufficient amount of light when
working on digital screens. The best light is the natural kind, so
if you have the option, set yourself up next to a window. To avoid
reflections, make sure your screen isn’t directly facing the light
source. Even if you can work by a window, you’ll also need a desk
lamp for when it gets dark.
Proper lighting at the home office is important for other reasons,
too. In many cases, working remotely translates into many
videoconference meetings. Good lighting is essential to ensuring
that others can see you clearly. Likewise, you'll need to place your
light source behind your camera, with the light source directed at
your face. Just remember to choose a light that won't be so bright
that it will wash out colors or make you squint.
The Right Laptop
As a hybrid worker, a laptop will be your most essential tool, and
you’ll likely be using the same machine both when at the office and
at home.
One laptop uniquely well suited to hybrid workers’ needs is the
ultraportable
Zenbook S 13 OLED. Equipped with a stunning 13.3” 2.8K ASUS Lumina OLED display and
packing a punch with a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processor and up to
32 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of storage, it has plenty of power to
carry you smoothly through your workday wherever you are. at work.
It has a rich lineup of I/O ports, with two Thunderbolt™ 4 ports, a
USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, an HDMI® 2.1 port, and an audio jack. And all
of this is packed in a mind-blowing 1 cm-thin body that weighs only
1 kg. The Zenbook also boasts an elegant, sophisticated look that
looks good in any environment.
Fast and Reliable Internet Connection
Online meetings, downloading heavy files, and online research can
become a challenge if you have a weak internet connection. Your
employer will handle the office, but home internet is your
responsibility.
To ensure a fast and reliable internet connection, consider
installing a
WiFi 6 router. This modern wireless connectivity technology ensures plenty of
bandwidth and snappy download and upload speeds for smooth online
experiences.
Remember to test your signal and place the router strategically to
have as good a signal as possible when at your dedicated home
workspace. If you cannot move the router and don't have a strong
WiFi signal, consider a
WiFi extender.
Off-Time and Work-Life Balance
The final tip goes back to the subject of developing certain habits
and time management. Always remember to take time off. Modern work
schedule is designed to provide employees with sufficient off time
during workdays to regenerate and gather strength for the next day,
then usually two days in a row of break as well which is an office
rule you should bring home during your work-from-home days.
It may be tempting to react immediately to emails coming in outside
of your working hours or to get small tasks done during the weekend
to get ahead of schedule. This might not be a very good idea,
however. Remember to give yourself a mental break. You need rest,
you need family time, and you need time for hobbies which makes a
hybrid work style sustainable.
Hybrid Work Is Likely Here to Stay
What was a novel work benefit just a few years back is now an
everyday work reality for a very large portion of the global
workforce. And there seem to be no signs that hybrid work will
disappear soon — if anything, it’s getting implemented in more and
more places. It does, however, require different habits and
behaviors and a bit of an investment into a home office setup. ASUS
has everything you need to facilitate a powerful, ergonomic remote
work station for your home. Be sure to check out the lineup of thin
and light ASUS laptops via the button below!
Discover Ultraportable ASUS Laptops