The holidays are the only time during the year where my family schedules line up. My parents’ house becomes the hub where we all get together for dinner and spend hours catching up.
Last year, I found myself working afternoons at their house to avoid sitting in holiday traffic. I quickly learned that just bringing my laptop was not enough. Trying to find a quiet space in the house proved difficult with the kitchen commotion and TV blaring. I eventually ended up in my childhood bedroom, hunched over my laptop while sitting on the bed. Not the most comfortable setup.
If you typically travel during the holidays, you’ve probably been in a similar situation. Trading your usual home office for a makeshift workspace creates friction fast. According to the Logitech Ctrl Tomorrow Study, about 3 in 5 say tech friction affects their sense of control over their personal lives and overall mood after work hours.
Your setup should not bring added stress during the holidays. I’ve put together a few tips on how to stay productive and protect your downtime for those traveling or hosting relatives this season.
1. Set work and family boundaries
Family doesn’t always grasp the “working from anywhere” concept. You may be answering emails over your morning coffee, when your sibling starts chatting with you. They don’t realize you’ve already started your working day.
Give your family clear cues as to when you’re working and when you’re free. Use visual cues like closing a bedroom door or wearing a headset even if nothing is playing. Be sure to also communicate clearly when you plan to wrap up your day, to minimize any interruptions to your flow. However, we can’t guarantee a parent won’t still knock on the door to check on you.
2. Turn any space into a quiet sanctuary
Playing host for the holiday means a house full of commotion and difficulty finding a quiet corner for an urgent call or even just a space for you to grab a moment of peace after wrapping up the workday before you jump into family time.
A dedicated headset built for noisy environments fixes the problem without forcing you to hide in your car. Look for one like the Zone Vibe Pro that not only blocks out noise so you hear every detail, but also suppresses background noise to help keep your voice clear on calls. It gives you that brief reprieve from a busy house.
3. Create a comfy, mobile workspace
Typing on your laptop while hunched over the screen can lead to aches fast. Trust me, I’ve been there. A few small tweaks to your setup can make a big difference in comfort and posture. Grab a stack of books to elevate your laptop to eye level and avoid “tech neck.” Pair it with an external keyboard and mouse like the ultra-portable Keys-To-Go 2 and Mobi Fold that fit in your bag without adding much bulk. Now your kitchen counter, coffee table or dresser is a more comfortable working space.
4. Keep your play time without waking the house
Winding down matters just as much as finishing your tasks. You can’t always pack up your gaming rig and take it on the road with you, but going a week (or even days) without playing your favorite game can be torture. While the rest of the family heads to bed, you jump on your laptop or handheld console for a late-night session with friends.
Trying to keep up with just a laptop trackpad never cuts it, but packing a lightweight mouse like the G305 X SUPERLIGHT gives you the lag-free accuracy you need. And to not disturb your relatives, the matching G325 LIGHTSPEED headset keeps you immersed and helps your teammates hear you clearly without waking up the household.
Holiday travel can test your patience, but having the right setup means you don’t have to choose between meeting your deadlines, spending time with family or joining your friends online.
About the author: Gurpreet works in communications at Logitech and is curious about how personal accessories help people access the digital world.
