AdvantEdge Workspaces Blog

Working from home has lots of perks: getting to stay in your sweatpants, more time with pets, no need to pack lunch, and the list goes on! However, there are some very practical elements of working in an office that get lost in the shuffle when you work from home. Is your wifi secure? Do you need to give out your personal address to vendors and clients? While a home office can be a dream, it can also lead to security concerns and logistical challenges. If you are not looking to head back into an office anytime soon, read on to learn how to secure your home workspace and keep work (and yourself) safe.

When thinking about safety, you must not leave out tech security. Invest in a secure home internet system. Ensure you have two-factor authentication on devices and a strong password on your home networks. Back up your devices regularly, and perform routine security updates. Being diligent about the technology in your office can help avoid a catastrophe further down the road.

If you hesitate to give away your address to others, worry about packages being stolen, or keep mixing up important documents with holiday cards, then it is time to consider a different mail solution. A professional business mailing address helps keep a divide between work and personal life. At AdvantEdge Workspaces, you get more than just a safe space for mail and package collection. Here, client services coordinators date-stamp and file mail, sign for items, and send notifications. You can even select to have pieces forwarded or have someone scan time-sensitive documents directly to your inbox on a busy day.

A mailing address also provides credibility to your business. It connects your work to an established workspace location, protecting your privacy while adding an extra layer of professionalism.

Home offices are great, but sometimes you may miss the amenities of a larger office. Reception, for example, is an important service for many businesses. Just because you work from home, does not mean that you cannot outsource help from a shared workspace. Phone answering services are available to you even if you do not have a physical office location. With a dedicated phone line, a professional can answer your calls with a customized message. State-of-the-art technology enables them to relay messages and field inquiries, all while maintaining a high degree of efficiency and personalization.

In a home office, you will want to keep the right items on hand. Invest in a separate work laptop and phone (if needed). Ensure your devices are free of less-secure personal information. Put a lock on your door or use a safe if you live with roommates. If you are not sure about your security, hire a professional to audit your workspace and make recommendations that are the right fit for your business.

Working from home is not going anywhere. An investment in safety and security is an investment in your future. With the right support services, you can sit down in your home office worry-free.

Over the past year and a half, almost everyone has been forced to create new routines in their personal and professional lives. We are all adapting to the ever-changing realities of the world, but that doesn't need to stop us from getting things done. As you continue to build your career, network, and skillset during these uncertain times, a Virtual Office plan could be a great option for you. Here are a few ways a Virtual Office can provide you with a low-risk, high-reward solution for staying productive.

Our lives are filled with appointments, to-do lists, errands, and calls; there's one crucial thing you need to accomplish all of these tasks... yourself! Taking care of your mind and body shouldn't feel like it's pulling you away from taking care of business, in fact, these are very closely tied to one another.

At AdvantEdge Workspaces, we don’t believe in ‘one size fits all.’ Each organization has unique challenges, strengths and processes. It’s our job to help find a workspace and administrative support solution to meet the needs of each community member! When we say ‘Your office, your way’, we truly mean it! A major part of daily business is conducted over the phone, so our team goes above and beyond to offer exceptional live-reception service. We will truly build our service around you; allowing you to create your own personalized phone greeting and forwarding plan that will best suit your needs. 

Over the past year, we've seen a major increase in the number of professionals working from home worldwide. This transition has presented its challenges, but also shown us new ways we can be productive in our work and collaborate effectively with others.  As we continue to redefine the future of the workspace, business owners may see benefit from continuing to have their employees work remotely or semi-remotely. There are some challenges to managing a remote team, but with communication and structure your team can be more productive than ever!

We all know to wear sunglasses outside to protect our eyes from UV rays, but most office workers nationwide fail to recognize the damage they are doing to their eyes inside the office. Inadequate care of your sight in the office can lead to serious eye problems such as dry eye, eye twitching, redness, and migraines.  Reduce your eye risk at the workplace now to safeguard your vision later in life.  

Last Wednesday was #NationalDogDay, and we celebrated everything that we love about our furry friends (as if we need an excuse)! While everyone adores their canine companions, did you know that having a dog may be able to improve your workday? A study from USC shows that having a four-legged roommate can decrease stress and increase happiness and productivity. Although many people have already seen working from home as the perfect time to get a pet, there are still opportunities to adopt or foster. Are you on the fence or have a partner who needs convincing? Here are three ways a dog can help improve your remote work experience:

It’s time to gather your coworkers around a virtual bar! Many companies rely on happy hours to bring employees together to connect and have fun. Just because we are all still social distancing does not mean that we cannot partake in these events online. Here are three tips for hosting a successful virtual happy hour, no matter who your audience is.

Do you ever see a notification, sigh deeply, and think “not another Zoom meeting…”? Meeting fatigue is real, and for many, it has only gotten worse with the onslaught of video calls sprinkled throughout the work from home day. If you or others are experiencing “Zoom fatigue” (exhaustion from being on video calls all day), then it is time to reevaluate your meetings. Here are two simple questions to ask yourself before sending out another calendar invite:

Even though some of us are slowly returning to our workspace, chances are your full team will not be back in the same office for a while. While many employees love the flexibility of remote work, it can be hard to stay motivated when you are not physically with coworkers. Learn how to keep spirits and productivity high with these four ways to virtually motivate your team: