Covid-19 introduced many new working trends, including remote working. Working from home now means you communicate with your coworkers through a flat rectangle! There’s no doubt about it, having the right remote working set up heavily contributes to how effective you work - a poor set up can get less work done than if you were in the office. Looking to improve your working from home set up? There are many ways to do this, however the most important (and arguably makes the biggest difference) - invest in a second monitor.
A second monitor is key, not only have second monitors proven to increase productivity by 42%, but it also makes it far easier and faster to use multiple programs simultaneously. Choosing a new monitor is an important decision, but it shouldn’t be a difficult one. This guide is designed to help you pick the best monitor for your home office.
Key questions to keep in mind before purchasing
When thinking about purchasing a second monitor, first think about what you like and don’t like about your current display. The best dual monitor setups prioritize not only improved visual quality but also your comfort while using the displays. Some questions to consider;
- Is your current display’s build too clunky?
- Are the edges distracting or obtrusive while you work?
- Does it wear on your eyes after even short periods of use?
These are all concerns that can help you prioritize the features most important to you, so you should consider them carefully before making your final decision.
Fitting your new monitor to your current workspace is, of course, one of the most important things to consider! Do you find yourself frequently adjusting the orientation or layout of your current display? If so, it’s important to note that if your workspace is too tight and you add too many displays, you’ll find it’s challenging to make adjustments easily, especially across multiple devices.
Fortunately, you can add mounting hardware to your setup. It’s a great way to overcome limited or unconventional workspaces, saving tons of surface space, decluttering your desk, and improving your level of accessibility.
There are so many ergonomic desk stands available on the market today, they are a convenient and affordable way to free up surface space on your desk.
It’s also extremely important to consider comfort & ergonomic features, these can include low blue light, anti-glare and adjustability. Blue light can become harmful after extended exposure. There are many displays available that feature a dedicated low blue light mode and anti-glare to help reduce eye strain over long periods of time.
Display adjustability is also important as it gives you full control to change the height, tilt, swivel and pivot rotation of your display to suit your own personal needs. While we appreciate this may not be a dealbreaker for some of you, we strongly urge you to consider different adjustability options. Ergonomic functionalities provide proper working positions for people, they help ensure a better posture and prevent long term health conditions such as Musculoskeletal Disorders.
If you intend to mount your display on a wall or swivel it to portrait mode, it’s important to check the monitor's compatibility with your current devices. Mountable displays are increasingly standard and most displays feature an adapter to help you when setting it up. Of course, when you mount your monitor to the wall, you get additional desk space to do with as you please.