Always do something newer at home than at work. This is really easy and cheap in CS/IT vs say chemistry or physics or medicine.

There's no need to have hardware at home faster than work. Software that's newer or more complicated than at work, sure.

Keep up with changes in the industry, just like any engineering career. I never fail to be amazed at meeting people who have no idea whats going on in tech outside their work department. They're doomed in the long run.