Home Office Essentials

Dedicated Work at Home Desk

Having the proper desk to work on seems like common sense, but many individuals actually default to working at the dining room table or a lap desk. This is not feasible as a long-term solution for employees working from home on a regular basis.

The purpose of having a dedicated desk is three-fold:

1. Have a comfortable spot to work on
2. Easy access to all work-related documents and materials
3. Separate your “work-life” from your “home-life”

Although most surfaces in your home can double as a work area, you’ll soon start to feel your work mixing in with your personal life. That’s why it’s important to create distinct “work” sections—to compartmentalize and lay off work when you’re actually done.

Bonus Tip: Invest in An Adjustable Desk- Adjustable desks are those that can adjust in height and “transform” into a standing piece as well. Being able to adjust your desk allows you to find the perfect height for your comfort without straining your body. 

Aside from that, Healthline states that using a standing desk can yield several benefits for your health, including "reducing back pain, lowering risks of heart disease, and boosting productivity." 

Ergonomic Office Chair

Although you may have an abundance of chairs sitting around, you’ll find that sitting on one for a prolonged period of time will cause your body to ache. An ergonomic chair, on the other hand, will prop your body up comfortably, helping you avoid the pains associated with poor sitting positions. In turn, this reduces the strain on your back, neck, and wrists as you work your eight hours.

When looking for ergonomic chairs, The Spruce recommends considering several factors, including height, back and lumbar support, and the size of the seat. As long as you check for these three specifications, you’re sure to find a great chair to support you as you work.

Backup Internet Connection

A stable and speedy internet connection is mandatory to work outside of the office. Although having one internet provider is often enough, it’s always good to have a backup plan. You don’t need to subscribe to a second monthly internet plan just to have a fail-safe connection. Simply purchase a portable hotspot device to activate when your main connection is out. 

Portable hotspots are devices that can generate a signal that allows other devices to connect to the internet through it. You can purchase one that’s connected to a monthly plan or one that will work with a prepaid account. 

Bonus Tip: Use Your Mobile Data- If you’re not sure whether buying a separate device is worth it, check your mobile phone to see if it has a mobile hotspot. A majority of Android and IOS smartphones have this option. Just remember to check your usage regularly so as not to go over your monthly allocation!

3-in-1 Printer

A 3-in-1 printer handles three major functions: printing, scanning, and copying. Although having just a basic printer is usually the norm, it’s still advised to invest in a model that can handle all three utilities. As most work in this age requires some form of online connection, scanning now is the easiest way to send physical documents to co-workers.

This piece of equipment is usually more important for jobs that require a lot of hard-copy documents—so you’re likely not going to need one if your role mainly operates online. While that may be the case, it’s still a good idea to have one handy in case you need to sign documents or scan and send some physical files to fellow workmates. 

Noise-Canceling Headphones

Headphones are an essential accessory for those attending online meetings, transcribing videos, and annotating recordings. Noise-canceling headphones, on the other hand, take it to the next level.

They create a seal around your ears to block any ambient and external noise—allowing for an even better quality of sound from your device. In the end, your ears will thank you. Most modern headphones already have built-in microphones, allowing you to hear and be heard properly during meetings without being bothered by the environment around you.

Dedicated Work Storage

Investing in a filing cabinet or mobile pedestal just to store work files seems like an added expense, but this piece of furniture is crucial to keep everything organized. Although a regular cabinet or shelf might do for the job, a proper storage unit cements the separation of your job from your home.

Just as with segregating your “work area” from your “home area,” dedicated work storage will allow you to avoid your work items from bleeding into your personal things. Furthermore, they'll help you avoid misplacing sensitive work documents that other people shouldn’t see! 

What Other Accessories Will My Home Office Need?

If you’re taking your home office makeover to the next level, then look for items that will make working simpler & more efficient. There are a lot of things that you can add, most of which are dependent on your usage and style, but there are three that stand out the most:

First, consider adding a wall-mounted power strip. At first, you may just need one power outlet for your laptop. However, as time passes, you will find that walking to and from your bedroom to charge your phone is too much trouble and add a permanent charging station to another socket.

The next thing you know, you’ll find that you have too few sockets for too many objects. A power strip will make things simpler for you—and wall-mounting it will make it easier to reach too!

The next item to add should be additional lighting fixtures. Task lighting, for example, is particularly useful if you’re more productive in the evenings. While you may rely on overhead lights most of the time, these will put a strain on your eyes and may even hinder you from working effectively. 

Finally, add a paper shredder to your home office. This piece of equipment is perfect for those that deal with highly sensitive information on a daily basis. When it comes time to dispose of documents with confidential information, merely crumpling them up & tossing them in the trash simply won’t cut it. Using a shredder, on the other hand, ensures that the documents are effortlessly and efficiently taken care of.

Conclusion

A home office doesn’t have to be too flashy or overly-packed—just furnish it with the six essentials listed above, and you’re good to go! Remember that the most important factor to consider is your comfort while working. If you’re uncomfortable or are too distracted, then review your work from home setup and switch some things up.

Sources:

• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-benefits-of-a-standing-desk#TOC_TITLE_HDR_1
• https://www.thespruce.com/things-to-look-for-in-office-chair-1391492