Always Have a Spare of These 3 Things

With many people moving between the office, home, and coworking spaces more frequently, there are some things you just can’t do without. Your devices allow you to communicate, work, research, shop, check on family and deal with emergencies. When those devices lose battery power or don’t have the correct outlets, your life may feel close to being over. Considering the realities of working from different locations and all the tech required on the go, we recommend always having a spare of these three items to keep things running smoothly.

USB C Charging Block

First on the list is the livelihood of your tech for work and communication, a charger! But not just any charger. While previous USB versions could only handle a limited amount of power, USB C chargers have been somewhat revolutionary. The connection can be used to charge devices and transfer media. They’re also reversible so you don’t have to worry about damaging the adaptor by plugging it in the wrong way.

If your laptop is compatible, it no longer requires a big power brick, just a compact USB C charging block. It’s easy to take anywhere with you for fast charging your phone, laptop, and other compatible devices. Even if you keep one at home, we recommend always having a spare in your work bag. The day you end up forgetting to pack your USB C charging block is generally the day you need it most.

Power Strips

On the topic of powering up devices, here’s another item you should keep spare in your home or office. You are unlikely to carry this one around with you, but you’re bound to need a spare at some point.

It’s pretty incredible that despite the advance in technology, laptop, and PC designs, we still aren’t being provided with the necessary number of ports required for all the peripherals. Many of the latest power strips incorporate USB ports so a single strip could be used for multiple devices including laptops, tablets, printers, monitors, and routers.

Now that you’re working from home, someone will inevitably need a place to plug in the vacuum cleaner as well. To avoid a computer crash due to the wrong plug being pulled or overloading the plug, we suggest you rather keep an extra power strip on hand. In addition, there will be no more fighting over who gets the last available USB port.

When choosing the power strip, check the number of outlets and type of ports. Additionally, check how many and what type of USB ports are available as well as features such as surge protection and cord length.

Headphones

Headphones can easily be switched between devices and using them in coworking spaces is just basic etiquette. While some people do well at getting work done with a buzz of chatter, music, and external sounds, others prefer working to white noise or their favorite tunes. Forgetting your headphones at home or at the office can either cause panic when you’re trying to concentrate in a coworking space or cause others frustration over having to hear all your phone conversations.

Whether you use pricey noise-canceling headphones or regular earbuds, we recommend keeping an extra pair in your work bag. Noise-canceling headphones can be bulky to carry around as a spare ‘on the go’ set. Earbuds are relatively compact and can easily be stashed in a pocket or laptop bag.

When life happens, you’ll be grateful for these simple yet essential spare items.