Working from home has its perks, but staying organized without an office environment can be challenging. A dedicated information display helps you stay on top of your schedule without constantly checking your phone or switching browser tabs.
The Ambient Information Concept
The key to a good office display is that it should inform without demanding attention. It sits quietly on your desk or wall, showing useful information that you can glance at when needed.
This is different from your work computer. Your computer is for active work. Your Widbo display is for passive awareness.
Your Calendar, Always Visible
The most valuable thing to show is your calendar. Upcoming meetings, deadlines, and appointments are always visible. No more accidentally missing a meeting because you forgot to check your calendar.
The agenda view works best for this - a simple list of what's coming up. Set it to show the next 7-14 days so you're always aware of what's on the horizon.
Meeting Countdown
Add a countdown widget for your next meeting. There's something about seeing "Team standup in 23 minutes" that helps you manage your time better than a calendar notification that pops up and disappears.
You can set multiple countdowns for important recurring meetings or deadlines.
Weather for Break Planning
When you work from home, it's easy to forget to take breaks. A weather widget reminds you what's happening outside and might inspire you to step out for some fresh air.
Is it sunny and 72 degrees? Maybe time for a walking break. Raining? Good excuse to stay in and keep working with a cup of tea.
Time Zone Awareness
If you work with colleagues or clients in different time zones, a world clock widget is incredibly helpful. You can see at a glance whether it's a reasonable hour to send that message or schedule that call.
What NOT to Put on Your Office Display
Some things will distract more than help:
- Social media feeds - Just don't
- News headlines - A productivity killer
- Email counts - You'll check email constantly anyway
- Too many widgets - Keep it focused
The goal is calm, useful information. Not more noise competing for your attention.
Suggested Office Layout
For a landscape display next to your monitor:
- Top half: Weekly calendar view
- Bottom left: Clock with multiple time zones
- Bottom right: Weather widget
Or for a portrait-oriented display:
- Top: Today's agenda
- Middle: Clock
- Bottom: Weather
Placement Ideas
- A small screen on your desk facing you
- Mounted on the wall beside your monitor
- An old tablet propped up on a shelf
The key is positioning it where you can see it with a quick glance, without it blocking your main workspace.
A good home office display helps you work smarter by keeping you aware of your schedule and surroundings - without pulling you out of focus mode.