There were times when we could only dream of an ideal job that would allow us to work from the comfort of our own home, but over the last year and a half, the idea has become quite the norm for the majority of people.
Whilst the notion of working from home can still seem like something from a utopian world to an office worker, the reality is, it’s not all it’s made out to be, and whatever pros there are, sure enough, they are accompanied by a list of cons.

Sure, working from home will give you a break from the stresses of the office, but without that team there to spur you on, work can easily be forgotten as procrastination starts to take hold. Being at home more does mean you will have more time to spend with family, but you may soon find yourself wondering where you should draw the line as you struggle to find peace and balance between work and family. And of course, being too cushy at home can easily backfire when you’re in a zoom meeting, which can become all too obvious when your colleagues suddenly start to ask questions; ‘is that a v-neck?’, ‘don’t you need a haircut?’, ‘did you forget how to tie a tie?’.

At the end of the day, how you choose to appear in front of your webcam for work is entirely up to you –
Smooth stubble-less skin pre-covid, but now rocking a great big handlebar? Own that stache!
Giving your skin a breather by going makeup-free? Welcome to the club! (your skin will thank you) –
However, we do have to remember we are still professionals here, and professionals need to look good in front of the lens!

Whilst we’re not all natural models, there is something we can all do to up our camera game – adjust our lighting!
If there’s one thing I learned from my design degree, it is that lighting can be either your best friend or your worst enemy. This all depends on a number of factors; finding the right coloured lighting for your skin tone, setting the light up at the correct angle in accordance with your camera, and choosing the correct quality of lighting (i.e how harsh or soft the lighting is). In fact, if you do this correctly, you could even leave others wondering if you just stepped right off of the cover of the latest Vogue magazine.

The biggest mistake people make when it comes to looking their best behind the lens at home, is relying on static room lighting, otherwise known as your ceiling light. Most of us like to have our room lights on the brightest setting when going about our daily lives, and if this is what you end up relying on for zoom calls, then you're just going to be casting harsh shadows down your face.
So, if the built in lighting is no good for video calls, what should you be using instead?
In all honesty, natural sunlight filtering in through your window is the best kind of lighting you could hope for. But let's face it, sunlight isn’t available all the time, and with a lot of zoom calls taking place across different time zones or at odd hours into the night, there is going to be a time when you’ll want to have a secondary light source. (Just not that light source hanging from the center of your ceiling.)

That's where the CARRY THE SUN solar lights come in.

Powered by solar energy, these little cubes distribute beams of soft lighting that is perfect for emphasizing the good looks of any at-home office worker.

Originally designed for use in emergency situations, CARRY THE SUN solar lights are foldable, portable, wireless, lightweight and energy efficient.
Available in two sizes, as well as two basic tones, and the ability to adjust the brightness with the click of a button, CARRY THE SUN is the perfect additional light guaranteed to make you shine on your next work zoom call.

As a solar light, CARRY THE SUN comes without the need for large batteries or charging wires – and with the lack of a charging port, the lights are also waterproof (whilst the likelihood of you ever needing to take a zoom call whilst in the middle of a bath is low, CARRY THE SUN is ready and waiting should the situation occur).

Where CARRY THE SUN really shines through when it comes to at-home office lighting, is how it diffuses light in a way that isn’t too overpowering. This soft delicate lighting means you can confidently take center stage of your next zoom call without worrying about accentuating any unflattering lines or shadows that might normally be exposed under direct static lighting. This soft distribution of light is all thanks to the durable material that the exterior is made of, which is woven with UV resistant threads that prevent tearing and damage from charging in direct sunlight.

Another great thing about CARRY THE SUN is how it can be folded down to a compact size of 1.2mm in thickness. This means the lights can be easily stored without taking up too much space when not in use, but we actually recommend utilizing CARRY THE SUN even when not in a business video call, as the square lights have an attractiveness that canaccentuate the atmosphere of any home.

The light itself is available in two basic tones; white and warm, which can be adjusted to three different levels of brightness. There is also an SOS flashing function that can be used in emergencies.

CARRY THE SUN sizes and specifications

Small
8.8cm x 8.8cm x 8.8cm when in use
8.5 x 17 x 1.5 cm when folded
Weight: 57g
6 LED lights
Charging time: 5-7 hours

Medium
11cm x 11cm x 11cm when in use
11cm x 21cm x 1.2cm when folded
Weight: 86g
10 LED lights
Charging time: 7-9 hours

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As a sustainable light source, CARRY THE SUN was developed with the following Sustainable Development Goals in mind:

GOAL 1: No Poverty
CARRY THE SUN can help to extend activity hours long after night has fallen by providing lighting in non-electrified areas. By extending these activity hours, CARRY THE SUN will be contributing to improving the income within an area. Additionally, the light is charged by solar energy, which means a reduction in utility costs and a contribution to lowering the poverty rate.

GOAL 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
The burning of wood and oil in traditional light sources often leads to respiratory issues in individuals due to the release of soot or harmful substances during use. Additionally these traditional methods of lighting are one of the most common causes of injuries inflicted by flame or uncontrollable fires. By implementing CARRY THE SUN solar lights, these issues can be eradicated.

GOAL 4: Quality Education
By providing sustainable light that can be used throughout the evening, CARRY THE SUN can help contribute to increased literacy rates and school enrollment numbers in developing countries.

GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
CARRY THE SUN is powered by solar energy alone, and is a clean energy that can be used by anyone, anywhere. Solar energy devices such as CARRY THE SUN can help solve energy problems on a global scale.

GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
CARRY THE SUN promotes ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ in order to best make use of the world’s limited resources. All CARRY THE SUN lights can be returned to the headquarters for recycling.

GOAL 13: Climate Action
As a solar powered light source, CARRY THE SUN can contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and helps to slow down global warming.

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With CARRY THE SUN you can win over the panel during your next zoom business call, or at the very least, you’ll be first pick for your office’s ‘Best looking zoom call participant’ trophy.