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Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft TeamsMore and more people are forced to work from home to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic. But Microsoft Teams is rising to meet the needs of affected companies. This powerful tool recently underwent several changes to make it easier for its users to effectively collaborate and communicate with each other. What is Microsoft Teams? Microsoft Teams […]

The post Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft Teams appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

23 Mar, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in covid-19, Windows, work from home category
Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft Teams

More and more people are forced to work from home to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic. But Microsoft Teams is rising to meet the needs of affected companies. This powerful tool recently underwent several changes to make it easier for its users to effectively collaborate and communicate with each other.

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams combines workplace chat, video conferencing, and file storage and collaboration. It also has extensions that integrate with third-party apps, even those not made by Microsoft. As a unified communication and collaboration platform, Teams is like combining Slack, Google Drive, and Zoom into a single app.

How do you get Microsoft Teams?

If you have an Office 365 license, then you can readily access Microsoft Teams. But that’s not the only way to access and take advantage of the platform.

Individual users can use their work or school email address to sign up through this link. You will automatically receive a license valid until January 2021. This license lets you take advantage of chat, screen sharing and recording, video meetings with up to 250 participants, and Live Events for up to 10,000 participants.

If you have a Gmail or Outlook email address, you can sign up for the freemium version by clicking on this link. This version supports chat as well as group and one-on-one audio or video calling. It also gives you 10 GB of team file storage and 2 GB of personal file storage.

The previous freemium version used to have various limits on users, but Microsoft opted to lift these restrictions on March 10. Another notable change is the inclusion of meetings requests, which Microsoft has committed to include in the freemium version in the future.

Microsoft also offers assistance to IT professionals looking to roll out Teams for their company. Microsoft offers a free Office 365 E1 for six months. All you have to do is to contact your Microsoft partner or sales representative.

If you work in the education sector , Microsoft recommends getting Office 365 A1, a free version specially created for educational institutions. This version is available for students, teachers, and administrative staff.

How does Microsoft Teams remain at peak performance during the crisis?

The sudden increase in remote workers is sure to put a lot of pressure on many platforms, but Microsoft Teams is more than prepared to handle the load. In particular, it is designed to anticipate problems on three core aspects:

  • Systems during a sudden surge in usage
  • Location during an area-specific event, such as a hurricane
  • People during an event that affects users, such as COVID-19

To address problems in these aspects, Microsoft implements what is called an Active/Active Design. This means that the system uses multiple instances in response to user request or input. These instances run in different datacenters, which means that an event that affects one cannot affect the others. This enables the system to isolate problems and resolve them without affecting performance.

Microsoft Teams offers a great opportunity for companies to remain productive in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you want to get started or understand how you can take full advantage of its functionalities, just give us a call.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft Teams appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

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Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft TeamsMore and more people are forced to work from home to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic. But Microsoft Teams is rising to meet the needs of affected companies. This powerful tool recently underwent several changes to make it easier for its users to effectively collaborate and communicate with each other. What is Microsoft Teams? Microsoft Teams […]

The post Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft Teams appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

23 Mar, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in covid-19, Windows, work from home category
Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft Teams

More and more people are forced to work from home to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic. But Microsoft Teams is rising to meet the needs of affected companies. This powerful tool recently underwent several changes to make it easier for its users to effectively collaborate and communicate with each other.

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams combines workplace chat, video conferencing, and file storage and collaboration. It also has extensions that integrate with third-party apps, even those not made by Microsoft. As a unified communication and collaboration platform, Teams is like combining Slack, Google Drive, and Zoom into a single app.

How do you get Microsoft Teams?

If you have an Office 365 license, then you can readily access Microsoft Teams. But that’s not the only way to access and take advantage of the platform.

Individual users can use their work or school email address to sign up through this link. You will automatically receive a license valid until January 2021. This license lets you take advantage of chat, screen sharing and recording, video meetings with up to 250 participants, and Live Events for up to 10,000 participants.

If you have a Gmail or Outlook email address, you can sign up for the freemium version by clicking on this link. This version supports chat as well as group and one-on-one audio or video calling. It also gives you 10 GB of team file storage and 2 GB of personal file storage.

The previous freemium version used to have various limits on users, but Microsoft opted to lift these restrictions on March 10. Another notable change is the inclusion of meetings requests, which Microsoft has committed to include in the freemium version in the future.

Microsoft also offers assistance to IT professionals looking to roll out Teams for their company. Microsoft offers a free Office 365 E1 for six months. All you have to do is to contact your Microsoft partner or sales representative.

If you work in the education sector , Microsoft recommends getting Office 365 A1, a free version specially created for educational institutions. This version is available for students, teachers, and administrative staff.

How does Microsoft Teams remain at peak performance during the crisis?

The sudden increase in remote workers is sure to put a lot of pressure on many platforms, but Microsoft Teams is more than prepared to handle the load. In particular, it is designed to anticipate problems on three core aspects:

  • Systems during a sudden surge in usage
  • Location during an area-specific event, such as a hurricane
  • People during an event that affects users, such as COVID-19

To address problems in these aspects, Microsoft implements what is called an Active/Active Design. This means that the system uses multiple instances in response to user request or input. These instances run in different datacenters, which means that an event that affects one cannot affect the others. This enables the system to isolate problems and resolve them without affecting performance.

Microsoft Teams offers a great opportunity for companies to remain productive in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you want to get started or understand how you can take full advantage of its functionalities, just give us a call.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Stay productive despite COVID-19 with Microsoft Teams appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

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7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at homeWorking remotely comes with many benefits, such as saving you time and money on commuting, dealing less with office politics, having less stress at home, and reducing your risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. However, if you get too settled, you might experience what's called hermit habit. Hermit habit is a term used to […]

The post 7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at home appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

18 Mar, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in remote work, work from home category
7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at home

Working remotely comes with many benefits, such as saving you time and money on commuting, dealing less with office politics, having less stress at home, and reducing your risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. However, if you get too settled, you might experience what's called hermit habit. Hermit habit is a term used to describe remote workers who become too settled with their remote job. So much so that they forget to do regular activities such as go outside, buy food and supplies, and engage in any physical activity.

Here are some tips to help you avoid it.

#1 Dress up for work

Just because you're working from home doesn't mean you don't have to look professional. As strange as it may sound, planning what you’ll wear while working remotely can help you be more productive and take out the rut from wearing sweatpants and hoodies every day.

#2 Motivate your brain

Before you start your workday at home, you need to get your brain moving in the right direction. Author Ayn Rand suggests doing something that involves judgment, discrimination, and awareness, such as walking your dog, meditating, reading a good book, or trying out a new recipe. Keep routine chores and choices to a minimum, as they can lead to decision fatigue.

#3 Go outside

This may seem like it defeats the purpose of working remotely, but going out at least once every 24 hours can help you avoid developing the hermit habit. You don't have to go somewhere far. Take a morning walk and get some fresh air. Performing moderate exercises regularly can help improve productivity and can lead to a better work-life balance. If certain restrictions such as a lockdown or quarantine are implemented, you can take short walks around your house as an alternative. If you have your own exercise equipment, take the time for short workouts so you can insert some physical activity into your workday.

#4 Listen to new music

People often underestimate the power of music. Studies have shown that listening to new music is beneficial for your brain. Discovering new music helps activate the part of your brain responsible for making you feel excited and rewarded. The same study shows that people who listen to new music are more receptive to learning new things.

#5 Don't skip your breaks

A key part of being productive while working remotely is remembering to take breaks. However, this is easy to forget, especially if you're too focused on your work. To ensure you don't skip out on your breaks, place the things you need out of reach. One example is keeping your phone in another room, forcing you to get up and check it when it rings.

Keep snacks and drinks away from your work area. This will help prevent you from bonding too much with your home office chair. If you find it hard to take periodic breaks, create reminders that tell you to get up and do a certain task that will break your concentration for a few minutes.

#6 Watch your favorite shows

If remote work is making you feel lonely, try watching some of your favorite shows. Studies have shown that watching shows you love promotes a feeling of social surrogacy. It simply means that watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory, Friends, or whatever your preferred show is can help you experience a feeling of belonging and make you feel less lonely.

#7 No one's watching

If remote work is burning you out or making you feel like you're in a rut, remember, no one is watching you. Try dancing by yourself or playing an instrument if you have one. This can help you loosen up and take the edge away.

These tips are just some of the ways you can create a daily routine that will prevent you from developing the hermit habit. If you want to learn more about working effectively at home, give us a call today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post 7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at home appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More

7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at homeWorking remotely comes with many benefits, such as saving you time and money on commuting, dealing less with office politics, having less stress at home, and reducing your risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. However, if you get too settled, you might experience what's called hermit habit. Hermit habit is a term used to […]

The post 7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at home appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

18 Mar, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in remote work, work from home category
7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at home

Working remotely comes with many benefits, such as saving you time and money on commuting, dealing less with office politics, having less stress at home, and reducing your risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. However, if you get too settled, you might experience what's called hermit habit. Hermit habit is a term used to describe remote workers who become too settled with their remote job. So much so that they forget to do regular activities such as go outside, buy food and supplies, and engage in any physical activity.

Here are some tips to help you avoid it.

#1 Dress up for work

Just because you're working from home doesn't mean you don't have to look professional. As strange as it may sound, planning what you’ll wear while working remotely can help you be more productive and take out the rut from wearing sweatpants and hoodies every day.

#2 Motivate your brain

Before you start your workday at home, you need to get your brain moving in the right direction. Author Ayn Rand suggests doing something that involves judgment, discrimination, and awareness, such as walking your dog, meditating, reading a good book, or trying out a new recipe. Keep routine chores and choices to a minimum, as they can lead to decision fatigue.

#3 Go outside

This may seem like it defeats the purpose of working remotely, but going out at least once every 24 hours can help you avoid developing the hermit habit. You don't have to go somewhere far. Take a morning walk and get some fresh air. Performing moderate exercises regularly can help improve productivity and can lead to a better work-life balance. If certain restrictions such as a lockdown or quarantine are implemented, you can take short walks around your house as an alternative. If you have your own exercise equipment, take the time for short workouts so you can insert some physical activity into your workday.

#4 Listen to new music

People often underestimate the power of music. Studies have shown that listening to new music is beneficial for your brain. Discovering new music helps activate the part of your brain responsible for making you feel excited and rewarded. The same study shows that people who listen to new music are more receptive to learning new things.

#5 Don't skip your breaks

A key part of being productive while working remotely is remembering to take breaks. However, this is easy to forget, especially if you're too focused on your work. To ensure you don't skip out on your breaks, place the things you need out of reach. One example is keeping your phone in another room, forcing you to get up and check it when it rings.

Keep snacks and drinks away from your work area. This will help prevent you from bonding too much with your home office chair. If you find it hard to take periodic breaks, create reminders that tell you to get up and do a certain task that will break your concentration for a few minutes.

#6 Watch your favorite shows

If remote work is making you feel lonely, try watching some of your favorite shows. Studies have shown that watching shows you love promotes a feeling of social surrogacy. It simply means that watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory, Friends, or whatever your preferred show is can help you experience a feeling of belonging and make you feel less lonely.

#7 No one's watching

If remote work is burning you out or making you feel like you're in a rut, remember, no one is watching you. Try dancing by yourself or playing an instrument if you have one. This can help you loosen up and take the edge away.

These tips are just some of the ways you can create a daily routine that will prevent you from developing the hermit habit. If you want to learn more about working effectively at home, give us a call today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post 7 Tips to prevent hermit habits when working at home appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More