Whether you are employed by a company or run your own business, it looks like Work from Home is well and truly here to stay. That means it is more important than ever to have a dedicated work space in your home that helps you stay motivated and productive. Here are 14 Work from Home Essentials to Boost Productivity.
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Why you need a Dedicated WorkSpace
Going straight from University to working for myself at home meant that I had to learn what setup worked for me very quickly. Initially, I did not have much time or money to create the perfect working environment for myself, and that meant my productivity suffered.
Of course you could work sat on the sofa in front of the TV with your laptop, but in many cases this will not help you get the best out of your work time. The more distractions you have, the less productive you will be.
I found this was also the case trying to work in my bedroom. Either I would get distracted and not be able to work all day or I would be able to work but then wouldn’t be able to sleep that night because my brain was still in “work mode”.
For this reason, I would highly recommend creating a dedicated workspace so that you can stay focused throughout the day and then be able to switch off your working brain to sleep at night.
I’m a strong believer that in order to be productive, you must also be motivated. Your workspace should be somewhere that you love. Somewhere that you look forward to going to each morning. And ultimately, somewhere that you would be comfortable staying at for extended periods of time.
So before jumping straight into setting up your desk, take a moment to consider what you would like it to look like, and what you need from your setup.
Here are a few things to consider:
- Do you need a secluded, quieter workspace? (If you are in a noisy household).
- If you work online do you need to make sure your internet connection is strong in that space?
- What essentials will you need on your desk?
- What would brighten up your work day and keep you motivated?
- Do you need to consider the background of any video calls you will make?
Once you have answered these questions and know what you want from your home office setup, start writing a list of everything your setup will need and everything that you think will be more of a distraction than an asset. To get you started here are what I consider to be the Top Work from Home Essentials to Boost your Productivity. I made sure they are all available on Amazon so they are easily accessible to everyone.
Basics
Standing Desk
A standing desk is such a great idea for anyone who works from home. It is very easy to lose track of time when you are working, and before you know it you have been sitting for 6 hours straight! With a standing desk you can alternate between sitting and standing whilst still being able to continue working. You can read about some of the other health benefits to a standing desk and many more Healthy Habits for Business Owners here.
This Height Adjustable Electric Standing Desk has 3 Memory Height Pre-set buttons so it will remember your favourite heights. It also features anti-collision technology so you don’t have to worry about bumps, scratches or catastrophes! Multiple colour options are also available to keep to your chosen theme.
Ergonomic Chair
A big part of being productive is being comfortable. If you are uncomfortable then you will get distracted easily. I find if my back hurts from sitting in an uncomfortable chair for hours, then I cannot focus on anything. So if you want to stay productive a comfortable office chair is a must.
This Ergonomic Office Chair has flip up Armrests and Lumbar Support. It is also adjustable in height and comes in 3 colour options. I believe this is the very first thing you should invest in when creating your perfect workspace.
Or Support Cushion
If a new, snazzy office chair is not feasible for you at the moment, then you could opt to try this Mesh Lumbar Support Cushion. You can attach it to an existing chair and it will help to improve your posture and decrease back pain whilst working.
Laptop Stand
This highly rated Laptop Stand is compatible with all major laptops and Macbooks between 10-17 inches. Eliminate bad posture and neck pain by raising your laptop to eye level. Just like a comfortable chair, this will help you stay focused on the work at hand and not get distracted by any neck pain you may develop.
Mouse
Whilst the trackpad on your laptop does the job, a mouse is a considerably quicker option and is arguably much more ergonomic. In most cases a mouse is more efficient and accurate so it is worth investing in if you want to increase how productive you can be. I personally love this Slim Wireless Rechargeable Mouse.
Desk Mat
If you want to keep your workspace clean and organised, I would highly recommend this sleek Leather Desk Protector. It is waterproof, non-slip and can be used as a mouse mat. It is also perfect to help tie in the colour scheme of your room because it comes in a staggering 17 colours! You wouldn’t think a desk mat would make much of a difference but if it helps your workspace stay clean and aesthetic then it will definitely help you stay in the right mindset to work.
Dimmable Desk Lamp
A Dimmable Desk Lamp is an essential when it comes to work from home. Everyone is guilty of burning the midnight oil from time to time. To avoid eyestrain or headaches it is important that you have the right lighting for the job. This lamp has 5 different light temperature settings and 10 different brightness settings so you can make sure that you are not straining your eyes at any time. It has a 225 degree flexible arm and the base can rotate 90 degrees so it is sure to fit in any setup or situation you may have.
Paper bin
A Mesh Waste Paper Bin with non slip pads -An essential in any office space. Make sure to keep your desk clear of rubbish and clutter so that you can have a clear mind to focus on the work in front of you.
Organisation
Cable Organiser
Having an organised workspace is very important when it comes to productivity. If you are surrounded by clutter and tangled wires, you will never be able to find what you need, and you will easily get distracted by everything around you. This Adhesive Cable Holder comes in a pack of 5, giving you space for 15 wires. You can stick it to your desk and keep your wires untangled and tidy. This means you won’t have to waste time untangling a nest of wires to find the right one!
Desk Tidy
Using a desk tidy is one of my favourite ways to stay organised and feel like I have my life together! This Wooden Desktop Organiser features space for A4 folders, two pen pots, a lockable drawer and much more. Store everything you could possibly need on your desk all in one place. This is a great way of staying organised so you never waste any time searching for your lost stapler or important documents!
Daily Planner
I absolutely love digital planning, but when it comes to daily tasks, writing everything out by hand in this Undated Daily Planner Desk Pad always helps me keep focused on the most important aspects of the day. You can list your top priorities, to dos, reminders and notes. As well as what is coming up tomorrow. My favourite section is the “reply to” section. Whether its for work or leisure I can usually never remember to reply to people! This planner helps me see my goals for the day so I can easily prioritise and stay on task.
Motivation
Letterboard
As I said earlier, I believe a huge part of being productive is by first being motivated. No matter how organised you are, if you do not feel like working, you are not going to show up to your desk as the best version of yourself. So if you are still struggling with being productive, take a look at your motivation and see if you can boost your mindset.
Motivational quotes can do so much for your mindset and I found such a difference in my motivation levels when I started using them daily. Showcase your favourite motivational quote in style with this Felt Letter Board. You could even choose to display a different quote every day to keep your mind engaged and freshly motivated.
Motivational Wall art
If you don’t want to spend time finding and writing your own quotes then this Inspirational Wall Art Decal could be the perfect option. This is one of my favourite motivational quotes that is sure to get your head in the game when you are faced with challenges.
Miscellaneous
Phone Lock Box
If, like me, you are very attached to your phone, you may find it difficult to stay focused on your work and not get distracted by those pesky notifications. Luckily there is now an ingenious way to combat that! With this Multipurpose Timed Lock Box, you can lock your phone away from reach and retrieve it after you have worked for your selected amount of time. To start with I would recommend working in 20 minute chunks and then taking small breaks so that you can get used to being without your phone.
There you have it!
14 Work from Home Essentials to Boost Productivity.
If you haven’t got a dedicated workspace yet then I would highly recommend it. I know it is not possible in some cases, but even if you can dedicate one corner of a room to your work it will make such a difference to your mindset and productivity.
Let me know which of these essentials you are going to invest in first. And if you have any more work from home essentials you would like to share, be sure to leave them in the comments below.
- 10 Healthy Habits for New Business Owners
- How to Become a Morning Person and How it Changed my Life
- How to Stay Motivated when running a Business
One reply on “14 Work from Home Essentials to Boost Productivity”
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