Is Your Home Office Crying Out For?Help?

I am a fairly average human being. I don’t have any earthshattering skills or talents. And while there’s not much that makes me stand out in a crowd, I’ll tell you one thing: I’m a decade ahead of the curve when it comes to the trend of remote work. You know what I tout at parties? I worked from home long before it was cool or CDC-recommended. Oh yeah, I’ve been hiding out in my home office for ten-plus years. I even have the social skills to prove it [insert creepy double wink here].

Jealous? Try not to be. While I’ve enjoyed formulating the secret language I now have with my three elderly Chihuahuas, who have beds atop my L-shaped desk, I otherwise haven’t been good to myself. It took me over a decade to mentally and financially justify some of the must-haves I now possess in my home office.

Why’d it take me so long to make sure I had a decent ergonomic setup? To purchase furniture that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing? To safeguard my data and hard work? To ensure optimal productivity?

Easy. I was being super, super cheap. I generally don’t like to spend money on myself (but don’t you even begin to judge me on my overflowing bathing suit drawer).

If you’re like I once was, and your home office is crying out for help, here are ten amazing office add-ons that I’ve personally tested and highly recommend:

1. Get yourself three monitors. No, not one or two — you need three if you have the space. This assumes you have a decent-sized desk. Mine is 70" on each leg of the L and I can joyfully fit three dog beds on one side and three monitors (Aww! One for each sweet pup!) on the other. Due to their outstanding user reviews, size, and price point, I chose the LG 24" LED FreeSync Monitor. I think you’ll love it, too.
2. Hold those monitors up. You’ll want to lift them off your desk and ensure they’re safe up there, a couple of inches from solid ground. This Triple Monitor Mount by WALI is what I use and I had no trouble setting — or keeping — up my LED beauties. The stand is pleasing to the eye, easily adjustable, and keeps them incredibly secure.
3. Invest in a really good chair — one that adjusts in every possible way. I didn’t believe in this for a very long time. I thought I had a good chair! A padded chair! A comfortable chair! No. I did not. After sitting in half a hundred, my bottom touched nothing better than the Herman Miller Aeron Ergonomic Chair. I’m blessed with beautiful birthing hips, so I went with the size C. Think of how much we use our office chairs. It’s just as much as we use our mattresses, right? Spend the same amount. Your booty, back and neck will thank you.?
4. Go hands-free with a Bluetooth headset. Aside from the fact that my wireless Plantronics Voyager Bluetooth Headset is lightweight, comfortable, and holds a hefty charge, its clarity is unmatched and it allows me to attend meetings while I cook meals, let the dogs out, or even take a potty break. (Don’t forget to mute!)
5. Broadcast yourself in high definition. The Logitech Brio 4K Webcam is the epitome of ultra HD, and sometimes that can be a bad thing. This webcam provides the sharpest, most professional video stream I’ve ever experienced. The ability to widen or narrow the recording angle is great for when I can’t decide between showcasing my Food Baby-filled abdomen or just zooming in on my lovely face, sprinkled with adult acne.
6. Trust a trusty old hard drive. I wholeheartedly recommend the Western Digital 5TB My Passport Portable External Hard Drive. It’s never failed on me, holds a ton of my useless (and useful) stuff, and is easy to set up and use. Please back up your files, friends. It’s a small investment to save you headaches and heartaches down the line.
7. Buy yourself a good keyboard and mouse combo. While laptops are wonderfully convenient, they’re not great to work from long-term. It’s better to set yourself up at a workstation and use a keyboard and mouse. I love the Logitech MK570 Wireless Wave Keyboard and Mouse Combo. You can always replace the included mouse if you prefer something more substantial, but this one was just perfect for my mannish lady-hands.
8. Clear the air! This one is something many can do without, but I sure can’t: The Medify MA-40 HEPA Air Purifier. Made for larger areas, this air purifier definitely helped me feel less allergic to work. With three settings, you can adjust its fan volume from Almost Silent to Vortex (you’re welcome, Medify; aren’t I cute?). Make sure you pick up a pack of filters too. At the very least, this device outputs wonderful white noise for when you’re short on murder podcasts.?
9. Protect your devices with a dang good power strip. I love my pivoting Belkin Surge Protector. It’s made by a company I trust, can handle all of my devices, and is flexible and sleek. Just make sure you select a surge protector with a joule rating high enough to handle all of your devices.?
10. Last, but only least on a sunny day, let there be light. If your office space is sparse on sunlight, get yourself a UV-Free Light Therapy Lamp. They are cheap and have a small footprint. I love mine in the wintertime, on rainy days, and during meetings when I have to close the blinds (because Chihuahuas love to ring the Stranger Danger alarm with every benign passerby). It doubles as a ring light to reduce shadows in Zoom calls, but I really appreciate how it boosts my mental health.

If your home office is neglected to say the least, slowly but surely add to your arsenal of feel-good, work-from-home supplies. It may take prioritization and a little budgeting, but the ten items above will absolutely make remote work even more delightful than it already is.

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