Maintaining your work computer from home can be challenging for anyone, but you might be at a disadvantage depending on where “home” is. While some states support WFH setups, others undermine them.
Mississippi, for example, lands itself on the Top 10 Worst States for Remote Work, according to CNBC. Although Mississippi has the lowest housing costs in the country, the news agency docked the state marks because it doesn’t have a reliable power grid and only 58% of its citizens have broadband access.
If you live in Mississippi — or any state that’s similarly unequipped for remote work — you’ll have to consider how these barriers affect your workday and budget. Learn more about what you can do to protect your tech and financesbelow.
Set Aside Savings for Maintenance and Repairs
Anyone working from home needs a cushion of savings just in case you’re faced with an unexpected breakdown. After all, you can’t predict when you’ll see the blue screen of death, just like you can’t predict the next citywide blackout.
Having these savings can help you repair your tech right away without worrying about how you’ll make ends meet — even if the issue totally blindsides you.
Have a Plan B
What happens if a problem comes along before you build up a sizeable cushion? If money’s tight, online installment loans provide a safety net in emergencies. They’re convenient and simple to find online, and you can apply for them from your phone when your laptop is off-limits.
In a state like Mississippi, payday cash loans thrive as a quick and easy way to borrow money in an emergency, but they may be challenging to repay upfront by your next payday.
Luckily, there are alternatives if you can’t afford a lump sum payment on such a tight timeline. You can find online installment loans in Mississippi that break up your repayments over multiple bills, so you don’t have to come up with the money all at once.
Backup Your Workday
If you can expect interruptions in workflow, brainstorm how you can solve these issues before they happen.
Connection Issues
Does your Internet constantly flit in and out or drop out for hours at a time? You might want to tweak your budget so that you can afford the more reliable Internet provider and router. You can also find inexpensive dongles that boost the Wi-Fi signal in your home.
Power Issues
When the power’s cut, your battery is the only thing standing between you and lost work. Don’t ever let it drain below 50%. This little trick will give you time to save important documents and send out a message to your team. You may also want to look into backup power devices and external hard drives.
Keep it Clean
Cleanliness is a huge factor in taking care of your work tech. You can break down good tech hygiene into two categories:
Hardware
- Keep coffee and other liquids away from your keyboard
- Eat lunch and snacks away from the computer
- Wipe down your trackpad and keyboard with a microfiber cloth
- Use a case and skin to protect the chassis from spills or drops
Software
- Declutter files and empty the recycling bin
- Clear browser cache, cookies, and history
- Automate your disk defragmenter
- Use an antivirusand VPN
- Accept all software and security updates
If you’re going to be working from home on a permanent basis, your tech is crucial to your job. You need to treat it properly to ensure it’s safe without busting your budget.
