Rebecca Berfanger, Author at Corporette.com

6 Tips For Buying A New Laptop

Rebecca Berfanger — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 17:18:17 +0000

Considering the average laptop lasts three to five years, it probably won't be long before you'll be looking for a new one — so today we're sharing six tips for buying a new personal laptop. Because it can be a major purchase, instead of waiting until it's too late, one way to prepare is to look at it like buying a car. Do you need — or want — something new after using the same thing for up to five years? Do you want an replica of what you already have with just a few minor changes, or something entirely different? Do you just need a tune-up so you can save up for something else in the future?

Here are our six tips for shopping for a new personal laptop, plus a few suggestions for how to maintain or upgrade your current computer if you're not quite ready for a new one. (We'll assume you already have an IT department at your office to take care of your tech needs when you're on the clock.)

Readers, have you bought a new laptop recently? What model did you get, and why? (What are your thoughts on Chromebooks and other more affordable options?)

How to Shop for a New Personal Laptop: Factors to Consider

Timing

Have your needs changed since you bought your current laptop? Has it been slowing down? Is the warranty long expired? Has it already caused you to lose productivity or just caused you headaches? Does it have a decent resale or trade-in value, or would it be better off as a fancy paperweight? Can you no longer update the software because your laptop is no longer supported? Also consider as mentioned above that the average life of a laptop is only a few years, so even if none of these apply, you might want to start budgeting for a new one for when you come close to that milestone.

Budget

What do you want to pay for a new laptop if you decided to buy a new one today? Do you want to pay it all upfront or are you willing to finance? What if you could wait a few weeks or months to save more? If you can plan ahead, computers tend to be marked down around back-to-school season and the holidays. You can also save money if you are flexible about laptops that have been returned or refurbished (ask in stores if they offer an open-box discount); check out memberships to Costco or Sam's Club, which both offer discounts on laptops and tablets; and, if it's an option, use your workplace's discounts with corporate partners. Plus, if you do use your personal laptop for work — for your full-time job or your side hustle — check with your accountant to find out if a laptop purchase would qualify for any tax breaks.

Features

Once you've set a budget, consider what you want and need: screen size, resolution, memory, battery life, a backlit keyboard, etc. Do you use online games or design or video editing programs that will require extra memory? Do you want it to be able to function as a table? What accessories or equipment do you already have that will need to be compatible with a new laptop? Will you be sharing it with anyone else in your house who has certain preferences or might contribute to the cost? Even the size and weight might be factors — will this be something you set up and only use at home, or will you take it to work or meetings or use while traveling?

Mac or PC?

A Chromebook or other PC laptop might cost you $300–400 on the low end without a lot of features, while a MacBook will likely be at least $1,000 (more for a Pro, and more for the latest version). Then again, some PCs will have comparable features to MacBooks. Depending on your needs and what devices you already have (iPad? Android phone?), you might want to stick to the same brand you're used to for a smoother transition. However, try to keep an open mind if you've considered a change or might switch up your other devices in the near future. Or it might be worth financing a more expensive laptop if you think it will be worth the investment.

Read reviews

Even if the manufacturer paints a pretty picture, and they all will, check out what users are saying. While internet reviews tend to skew extremely positive or extremely negative, you might find some specifics that aren't clear in the official descriptions.

Talk to a real person

While I generally prefer to go online and rely on customer reviews and manufacturer descriptions for most of my purchases, there is no substitute for asking questions in real time, especially for something that at least in theory you'll be committing to for three to five years. (Just be prepared with your questions before you go to a store if the idea of talking to a person isn't your favorite thing to do.) A customer service representative will obviously want to make a sale but could have helpful info about current models, as well as any sales or offers (maybe they'll throw in a free printer with purchase?). A sales rep will also know when they expect to get new models. This is good to know, because stores offer discounts on older models when they get new ones. Plus, if you're on the fence between two options, seeing them up close might help you with things like how the keyboard feels and whether the screen will meet your needs.

Tips for Upgrading Your Older Laptop

Time for a tune-up

Usually, for less than $100, even if your laptop is no longer under warranty, you can hire a pro to clean and/or replace vital parts, such as the fan or battery, or to simply tighten or replace a loose memory card. Call around for estimates and ask how long it will take if they will need to order replacement parts. If you know of a repair shop near you, keep an eye on their website and social media for special offers, or call to ask if they have any current specials. You may still need to send it in or schedule a time at the Apple Store or wherever you bought your computer, but wherever you go, a scheduled tune-up can save some major headaches down the road. (NOTE: They will ask for your password — something to keep in mind if you have something that might be embarrassing.)

Back it up

Don't forget to consistently back up your data, whether your laptop is three days old or three years old. Consider the various cloud options at different price points (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) or purchase and use an external hard drive — or both. You can also use a service like Carbonite that runs automatic backups. If you do use an external hard drive to store important personal documents (your will, copies of birth certificates and passports, financial information, any other sensitive information you don't want to save to the cloud), store that drive in a separate, secure location, like a fireproof safe. Just remember if you don't back up your documents and your machine is eventually out of commission, it might be too late to recover what you've lost.

Keep it clean

Try to schedule regular times to go through your laptop files to delete or upload to an external drive or the cloud anything you don't need to access directly from your hard drive. Also, check out the links below for tips on what you can do on your own to help improve your laptop's performance.

How Many Work Hours Per Week Make You the Most Productive?

Rebecca Berfanger — Mon, 06 May 2019 15:32:52 +0000

Readers, how many work hours per week make you the most productive? Do you find that your productivity taps out if you push yourself to work longer hours, or just that there is an adjustment period as you get used to that kind of schedule? In general, do you roll your eyes at people who boast about working crazy hours or, say, billing 3,000 hours per year?

We recently noticed a tweet by astrophysicist Dr. Katherine J. Mack (a.k.a. @AstroKatie) regarding studies about working long hours:

There's tons of research out there that shows that on average, productivity drops dramatically when people are overworked. For most people, after ~40 hours, you're not doing good work…

This topic has also been in the news recently, as various men have boasted of working long hours. For example, Business Insider pondered the “996” workweek espoused by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma (996: 72 working hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week). Similarly, Elon Musk is known for working long hours, recently arguing “[t]here are way easier places to work, but nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week.”

Indeed, in the much-discussed recent NYT article, “Women Did Everything Right — Then Work Got Greedy,” they note that the expectation of long hours is relatively new:

It’s only in the last two decades that salaried employees have earned more by working long hours. Four decades ago, people who worked at least 50 hours a week were paid 15 percent less, on an hourly basis, than those who worked traditional full-time schedules. By 2000, though, the wage penalty for overwork became a premium. Today, people who work 50 hours or more earn up to 8 percent more an hour than similar people working 35 to 49 hours, according to a sociology paper using Current Population Survey data by Youngjoo Cha at Indiana University, Kim Weeden at Cornell and Mauricio Bucca at the European University Institute.

The article goes on to explore how this expectation of longer hours is changing the parenting dynamic when two parents have otherwise equal earning potential — leading to one of them to opt out so the other can work the long hours. (Guess which one!? This was part of our discussion at CorporetteMoms last week on how your partner supports your career, and vice versa…)

Of course, not everyone agrees that longer hours are a great idea… The Harvard Business Review recently wondered “If You’re So Successful, Why Are You Still Working 70 Hours a Week?”, describing an office culture with long hours as akin to “brainwashing,” and noting:

Long hours are most common in managerial and professional occupations. This is something of a recent trend. In the old days, if you were a white-collar worker, the deal was that you worked as hard as you could at the start of your career to earn the right to be rewarded later on, with security of tenure and a series of increasingly senior positions. In professional organizations, such as law firms, accountancy firms, management consultancies, and investment banks, the prize was partnership. The competition was relentless, but once you won the prize, it was yours for keeps. Partners had autonomy to choose how and when to work and what to work on. Of course, some senior partners spent a surprising amount of their “business development time” on the golf course, but that was OK because they had already paid their dues to the organization.

This is no longer true. As a director of HR in a leading accounting firm told me, “The head of audit is in the office regularly from 5:30 AM until 10 PM, on weekends, too. So is our managing partner. This is not exceptional. The rest of the firm sees the senior people working these hours and emulates them.

So here are the questions: How many hours are you expected to work per week — and does it make a difference in your productivity if you are working more or fewer hours? Do you struggle with the classic billable hour problem of needing to work, say, 60 hours just to bill 40? (This gets into our discussion from a few weeks ago on whether you prefer to stay late or work from home, as well as our previous discussions regarding expectations that you'll answer emails when you're home.) How many hours per week are most productive for you — and when you're pushed beyond that, how do you cope or recover? (In a related note, readers had a fascinating conversation a little while ago about anxiety hangovers and how to recover.)

Stock photo via Shutterstock / Hurst Photo.

The post How Many Work Hours Per Week Make You the Most Productive? appeared first on Corporette.com.

Are You The Breadwinner? Have You Seen Issues When Women Out Earn Their Partners?

Rebecca Berfanger — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 16:30:11 +0000

2019 Update: We still think this is a fascinating discussion of women who out earn their partners, but you may want to check out our more recent discussion of whether there is an alpha and a beta in your relationship.

Women breadwinners are more common than ever, and there have been several recent(ish) articles and studies about the issues that crop up when women outearn their male partners. So let's discuss, ladies — are YOU the breadwinner in your relationship? What issues have you noticed when you out earn your male partner? (For those of you in same-sex relationships, have you noticed conflict or just general noise over who earns more, maybe where chores or parenting duties are concerned?) We haven't talked about breadwinners in a few years, so let's discuss!

To jump-start our discussion, here's an overview of those recent articles and studies about the issues that come up when women out earn their male partners:

A 2018 study by the U.S. Census Bureau reported that women who out-earn their male partners are likely to downplay their salaries, or their male partners are over-reporting their own incomes, or both. The paper about the study described this as “manning up and womaning down.”
The New York Times recently reported on this study: “Women are now much more likely to have an education and a career. Yet across most marriages, they still do much more child care and housework than their husbands, and men still feel strong pressure to be the family breadwinner. Today, women earn more than men in almost a quarter of couples, according to the new study and previous research, up from 18 percent in the 1980s. Yet 71 percent of people say that to be a good husband, men should be able to financially support a family, a Pew Research Center survey found last year. Only one-third said that about women.”
Reporting on the same study, Slate added: “This study echoes others that show women earning more has far-reaching societal costs. In 2013, researchers at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, also using census data, found that marriage rates decline when a woman has the potential to out-earn her husband. When a woman makes more than her husband, the likelihood of divorce increases by 50 percent.

The rise in woman breadwinners is partly because we are are more likely than men to extend our education into graduate school and beyond in many subject areas, including more women than ever enrolling in law school — and a higher level of education often means a higher salary. However, whether women with the same education and experience make the same as their male counterparts is a different matter. Also, since the early 1980s, women have had a lower unemployment rate than men, so even if the husband is capable and qualified to earn more, the jobs might not be there, or they might pay less than before.

To readers in relationships: Are you the breadwinner, or does your partner earn more? Either way, has it affected how you relate to each other? Have you ever felt the need to bend the truth about your salary, whether to a potential date or even friends and family members who may think your partner is earning more than you? Or would you proudly say you earned your high salary, and too bad if anyone doesn't like it? With regard to chores — is there any link in your relationship to who does more chores and who earns more money?

Psst: in the past we shared an excerpt from the book When She Makes More, as well as offered advice for dating a guy who makes significantly less money, as well as talked about different married money management strategies.

Four Unconventional Ways to Build Your Network

Rebecca Berfanger — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:46:31 +0000

Let's talk about networking, ladies — what are the most unconventional ways to build your network? What have you tried?

Today, Rebecca Berfanger is sharing some ideas of her own, but we'd love to hear from you — what are the unconventional ways to build your network that really work? Can something as unrelated to professional life — like, say, roller derby or CrossFit — ever be a great way to make new friends, meet clients, and hear about job prospects?

We've talked about the best professional organizations to join, as well as other ways to make new friends and build a book of business — but today, let's talk about unconventional ways to build your network. Do you have sports, hobbies, volunteering, and clubs that you've found to be great sources of networking?

As a reporter, especially for legal publications, I felt like I was always networking — looking for the next story idea, talking to potential sources on the types of articles I often covered, often attending bar association events as a non-lawyer guest before I went to law school. Even if I was there to write about that event, I was always looking ahead to my next stories and who might be a helpful resource. As a law student and now as a lawyer, I’m still attending CLEs and bar association functions where the networking aspect is sometimes more valuable than the actual educational component.

But when I was off the clock, I was still networking, just in a different, much less obvious way by volunteering for different organizations, events, and even playing a league sport.

For all of those opportunities, I was able to share my skills — writing, editing, marketing — and ultimately have stayed in touch with the people I shared a common interest outside of my professional world as much or even more than those I’ve met through the local bar associations, even though that wasn’t my intent when joining.

Unconventional Way to Build Your Network #1: Hobbies

It’s no secret that if you have a hobby, even if you’re not that good, it’s a good way to take your mind off of the junk in your life to spend time not thinking about work or personal issues or family feuds or whatever happens to be going on. A hobby should make you happy, and help you to ignore everything else for a while. So consider finding a local group that also does that hobby.

If you’re into crafting, check out your local yarn or fabrics store for classes that are at your level and work with your schedule. Sign up for a drawing or photography class at a local art school. Seek out a meetup in your area for other subversive cross stitchers. Essentially by doing a search for your hobby and city will likely bring up a group or class to join.

(Psst: check out some of our old Hobby Wednesday series here.)

Unconventional Way to Build Your Network #2: Sports

While golf is the obvious one for networking (here's our previous advice on what to wear to a golf-related event for work!) — just about every professional association has a golf outing at some point during the year — other athletic activities have been coming up more often. Cycling and spinning classes have been taking off as a networking activity, as well as social sports for adults like softball, kickball, bowling, soccer, you name it.

For the more hardcore athletes (or those looking to be more athletic), most cities have options for adults to sign up for crossfit, martial arts, and even roller derby. Some places even offer amateur women's football, lacrosse, and rugby teams for post-collegiate women.

While you will likely need to don some kind of uniform or buy equipment for some of these options, many of these have different levels of competition ranging from I-played-this-sport-in-college-and-almost-went-pro to when-do-we-get-to-have-that-after-game beverage. If you’re not sure if it’s right for you, consider asking to observe a team of if it’s a sport that involves spectators, you can ask if they have volunteering opportunities for game days and scrimmages. Check your local parks and recreation website, YMCA, or Google the sport and your city.

Unconventional Way to Network #3: Volunteering

What better way to meet like-minded people — especially if you’re not super athletic or don’t have time or funds to develop a new hobby — than volunteering for a cause that is near and dear to you? Most organizations are often seeking high-achieving women to add to their rosters. Whether it’s at the board level, or just being available to take tickets at fundraisers or hand out water at 5Ks, or even working remotely on a research project or helping design an organization's website or social media, chances are there is a place for you to devote as little or as much time as you have.

Volunteering is also a good opportunity through a professional organization because it shows your colleagues you care, even if it’s planting trees or helping to organize a food pantry. Your local United Way will have several opportunities if you don't already know what organization to help. Later in the year is also a good time to volunteer for any holiday drives for gifts, clothes, hygiene products, and other necessary items.

(Psst: we've discussed how to do strategic volunteering to bolster your resume if you're leaning out for family reasons, as well as how to get on a board and how to help charities.)

Unconventional Way to Network #4: Start your own group

Is there a group of people you’d like to get together based on specific interests and you just can't find them, whether it's a book club, movie club, theater club, indoor pot gardening, stargazing, beer or wine tasting, or some other interest you want to explore, start your own group. Depending on the size of your social media network you already have, you might be surprised by putting out a call-out via Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook, or just starting a private group on social media, how many of your friends might be interested in joining something new.

Ideally if you can get a couple people you know to join, they’ll invite two friends, and they’ll invite two friends, and so on. Just try to keep it geared toward your other group members and maybe get their feedback in terms of days, times, locations, at least early on.

Of course, while all of these are meant to focus on your interests that may or may not be related to your professional work, if your purpose is networking, you’ll eventually need to talk to other people. However, you already have something in common going into it, which will hopefully put you at ease and should make the next steps easy.

For instance, try to get to class or meetings a little early, plan to stay a little late to talk to the people in the group, if you know a little bit about the backgrounds of others try to talk to them in a genuine way, and if you’re starting your own thing, build in a space for introductions to make sure everyone feels welcome.

While it might not seem like you’re networking when you’re just there to knit, play a sport, support your favorite cause, or just talk about a book you just read, you’ll be at ease doing something you enjoy, and down the road a classmate might know of a friend of a friend with a job opening, or suggest a client who would be a good fit for you. You also shouldn’t discard the more traditional methods of networking, but hopefully these suggestions will help if you’re looking to meet people not necessarily in your usual network based on your education or profession.

Readers, what are your favorite unconventional ways to build your network? What hobbies, sports, or volunteering do you already do — and how do you find them to compare to professional organizations in terms of networking?

The Best Resources for New Managers

Rebecca Berfanger — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 17:18:47 +0000

Hunting for the best resources for new managers? Whether you’ve been recently promoted to management status or are hoping to get to a supervisor level in the near future, there are many good resources for new managers that are worth checking out, including blogs, videos, books, and podcasts.

We’ve rounded up some of our favorites (as well as reader suggestions) for first-time managers below, but we'd love to hear from you! What do you think are the best resources for new managers? If you've recently been promoted to manager level, what resources have been the most helpful? What would you recommend to younger women looking to make it to management?

(Of course, don't forget to check out our previous posts with advice for new managers, including how to become a better manager, online women’s management training, how to become a better communicator, must-read business books, and how to become a leader. We've also talked about executive presence for women leaders, and you may want to check out our tips on how to step up your working wardrobe to get that promotion.)

1. Ask a Manager: Alison Green has been sharing wisdom with managers (and the rest of us!) on her blog since 2007. She has also written a book, she hosts a weekly podcast, and her advice has been published by national publications. A search for “first-time manager” on her site resulted in several results, including her article in U.S. News and World Report with advice for new managers, and a list of the five most important things she says a first-time manager should know, but a Corporette reader suggested putting time aside every week or so to catch up on her posts. As a bonus, the reader comments on Ask a Manager can be helpful as well. Green's list of her favorite posts of all time will get you started.

2. Harvard Business Review: While HBR is known in the business world for providing results of studies about leadership, their online articles, as well as videos (both on the site and on their YouTube channel), are also valuable to new managers. HBR also offers books about management skills, plus advice for new managers, including a two-book offer for a “New Manager's Collection” that includes 10 Must Reads for New Managers and Harvard Business Review Manager’s Handbook. In 2018, they launched the Women at Work podcast — the third episode is focused on leading with authenticity.

3. The First 90 Days:Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter, by Michael Watkins (2013) (affiliate link): A reader suggested this book, and the title says it all. It also has a ranking of 4.4 stars on Amazon and is no. 7 in the Kindle Store for “management skills.” The Economist has called it “the on-boarding bible.” Genesis Advisors, which Watkins co-founded with Shawna Slack, also has training programs, including a complementary online program for all management levels.

4. First Round Review’s Management Magazine: Another reader suggested the “Management” tab on First Round Review's website. While the site provides resources aimed at new businesses, the information can be applied to various industries. Recent posts have included their six must-reads for first-time managers to hit the ground running, how to build and maintain employee motivation, and creating and accelerating trust on teams.

5. Manager Tools: This reader-recommended podcast was started by two former managers and West Point graduates in 2005. The company also offers online trainings, conferences for managers, downloadable forms that complement the podcasts, and other manager resources. First-time managers may want to start with Manager Tools “Basics,” which includes podcasts about how to be effective at one-on-one meetings, feedback, coaching, and delegation.

6. The Balance Careers: Management and Leadership: This site offers helpful advice to managers at all levels. This post for new managers offers 15 tips, including why you should be prepared even before you are promoted, and how to be an effective leader in your new role in the office.

7. Forbes: Forbes‘ Leadership tab shares several helpful resources for managers, including a recent article, “4 Ways to Master Your First-Time Manager Role.” Forbes also offers podcasts, including interviews with leaders; “Mentoring Moments,” which features advice from successful women; and business news to help you stay on top of your game when it comes to your industry.

Are there any blogs, videos, books, or podcasts we missed? Any other resources you'd add to this list that you would recommend to first-time managers or those looking to take on management positions at some point? Any general advice that goes beyond these resources? Let us know!

Some must-read business books for women — update coming soon!

The post The Best Resources for New Managers appeared first on Corporette.com.

How to Commute to Work on a Bike and Still Look Polished

Rebecca Berfanger — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 17:04:17 +0000

If you've decided to be more active (and get a little stress relief), save money, and feel like you're doing something to help the environment by no longer relying on your car to get to the office, you may be wondering how to commute to work on a bike and still look polished.

We recently received a question from Reader M, who asked:

Can you do a post on professional attire for bike commuters with minimal resources? There has to be a better way than my bursting waterproof backpack, folded blazer, messy hair, and muddy shoes.
Specific issues:
– Keep dress shoes clean.
– Waterproof/helmetproof hairstyle.
– Managing sweat, rain, etc.
– Keeping my suit/dress clean.
– No cabinets to store spare clothes, hair tools, etc.
– Bike stays at a public outdoor park & ride so I must carry all my saddlebags & supplies all day.

It's been quite a while since we've talked about biking to work (we've also discussed more specific topics like backpacks for commuting,how to stay cool on your commute, and how to lighten your load), so today we're sharing advice from me — a lawyer in a midsize Midwestern city who rides a bike for exercise and occasionally commutes to the office by bike — and Corporette® reader (and CorporetteMoms writer) April, who has commuted to work on bike both in NYC (because it was faster than public transit) and to the train in New Jersey (both for the exercise and to enjoy the outdoors).

Update: Hunting for the best work backpacks? Some of our favorites in 2024 are below — see the full post for all the details!

The Overall Best Work Backpack

Tumi Celina Backpack

$475 at Nordstrom

The Best Convertible Laptop Backpack

Lo & Sons Rowledge

$485 at Lo & Sons

The Best Affordable Backpack for Work

Samsonite Mobile Solutions Classic Backpack

$79 at Amazon

This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

How to Commute to Work on a Bike

Here are some key tips on safety, equipment, where to store your bike, how to plan for a smooth ride, and other tips for how to commute to work on a bike:

Remember: Safety First

“Safety is number one,” says April. “ALWAYS wear a helmet, learn the rules of the road, don’t bike with headphones in, yield to cars, always assume cars CAN’T see you, anticipate pedestrians stepping off curbs, attach a bell to warn people or don’t be afraid to use your voice.” Speaking of yielding to cars, I still remember the season of The Real World that featured a bike messenger — it clearly showed that car doors can be a bike rider's worst enemy — and I still get nervous when passing parked cars, just in case the person inside decides to open the door into the bike lane without looking first.

“Safety is number one,” says April. “ALWAYS wear a helmet, learn the rules of the road, don’t bike with headphones in, yield to cars, always assume cars CAN’T see you, anticipate pedestrians stepping off curbs, attach a bell to warn people or don’t be afraid to use your voice.”

Even though bikes can range in cost from a couple hundred dollars into the thousands, most bike accessories with safety in mind are extremely affordable. Bike bells start at about $5 at Amazon, and lights available as a set of front and rear for as low as $24, according to this roundup from Bicycling. Of course, like any sport or hobby, there are more expensive versions of these accessories, as well as GPS guidance and cameras.

Another safety concern is weather — always check the weather forecast before heading out. If it's is going to be too cold or if there's rain in the forecast, bring proper rain gear, wear layers, and take a change of clothes for when you get to your destination.

(It's OK to skip a day or two if it doesn't seem safe; see below for an article about riding year-round, even in extreme weather.)

These are some interesting products to help you cool down or stay cool on your commute… see more clever products like this in our Amazon shop!

How to Choose a Bike

April prefers a Dutch-style commuter bike with a low step-over bar, higher handlebars and a larger seat for comfort, and a wire basket in front. “I chose that bike because I’m not a super skilled biker, so I wanted to be able to step off of it easily,” she says. “No clip-in pedals or leaning over the handlebars for me, thanks. It is a good bike for paved roads and if you don’t have to lift it. It’s somewhat heavy and has larger tires (but not so large like a beach cruiser). I was looking for ease of ride mostly.”

Meanwhile, I appreciate my single-speed. Compared with a previous mountain bike, it's extremely light for long rides around town, but it wouldn't necessarily be an ideal commuting bike with its high bar and limited space to add a basket or other accessories to carry extra gear to or from the office. But for someone more used to this kind of bike, it's good for a workout on mostly level, smooth surfaces during dry riding conditions.

If you’re not sure which type of bike is right for you, there are several factors to consider, including cost, your comfort level on different styles of bikes (high bar, low bar, kickstand, no kickstand, tire tread, etc.), and what accessories are already included (or can be easily added).

The best way to know if a bike is a good fit is to ride it for yourself. If you have a bike shop in your area, they'll be able to best match you to a bike and might provide you with a loaner. They might also have good suggestions on where to find the best path — whether it's via bike lanes or less-traveled city streets.

However, there are also several bikes available to ship directly to your home on Amazon and other outlets. Some brands even include deals with local bike shops who'll put the bike together and adjust it for you if you don't feel comfortable assembling it yourself.

For commuting, also consider fenders that'll protect you and your clothes from extra mud and water that sprays up from the road. If your bike doesn’t have fenders, you'll likely get grease on your legs/clothing, which is never a good look for the office and doesn't wash out easily. (My bike doesn't have fenders — and I have the permanent grease stains to prove it.)

If you'll be riding between dusk and dawn, also be sure to have a headlight and a tail light — many states require at least a front light, including New York, California, and Illinois. A quick internet search can find removable accessories that can be attached with velcro strips if you’re not comfortable with making permanent alterations. (See articles below for more suggestions about specific equipment.)

How to Store Your Bike

“The locking was one of the biggest sources of anxiety for me, both in the city and leaving my bike at the train station all day,” says April. “If my bike were to ever be stolen, I could walk home from each commute, but if you’re biking farther than walking distance, then be sure to have a backup plan.” It's worth noting that it may also be an option to bring your bike (or part of it, like a wheel) into your office with you.

To learn about your options for bike parking, check with your office's building manager to see if there's a private space to store your bike, or if it's OK to keep it in your office. Some cities even have gyms that cater to bike commuters by offering bike valet services, while some parking garages offer areas that are reserved for bikes.

Make Sure to Plan Ahead

It's easier if you can just “dress on the casual side of business casual,” like April suggests, but the articles about bike commuting we've included below suggest either bringing an outfit in your bag to change into when you get to the office, or keeping a spare outfit at the office just in case.

It’s also a good idea to wait until you get to the office to apply makeup (or choose waterproof makeup for your bike commute). Because of the extra time it’ll take you to freshen up, it goes without saying that you’ll have to plan extra time for the commute. There's also the option of bringing some face wipes (or whatever you prefer to wash your face) for a quick clean-up when you get to work.

“I felt like biking took a lot of foresight… into what I would wear, getting my bike ready to roll out the door, the weather, the clothes, whether I was going to court,” says April. “To my logical brain, sometimes it really was not worth the effort, but those perfect weather days where the wind is in your hair, you’re not squeezed into the subway like a sardine, and you get home in five minutes makes it worth it.”

Readers, what are your thoughts on how to commute to work on a bike? If you’ve thought about riding to work on a bike for a while but haven't yet, what is holding you back?

If you've already been commuting to work on a bike, how's it going? What have you been glad to have done — or wish you had done differently? What part of biking to work appeals to you the most — the exercise, the environmental benefit, or a hatred of other commuting options like long drives in traffic or hot, overpacked subway cars?