For many people, the dream job is any job that lets them work from home. What’s not to like? You can wear your comfiest clothes, take a break any time you want without worrying about the boss over your shoulder, and then there’s that three second commute from your bed to your L-shaped desk!
But working from home comes with distractions and other challenges that can make it difficult to get into an efficient rhythm. Thankfully, there are tools that optimize the process.
Noise Canceling Headphones
You’ve just sat down at your home office desk, fired up your computer, and are ready to take on the world. But then it happens: the construction team at the house next door seem like they’re having a “who has the loudest drill?” contest, or a neighbor is walking dogs that won’t stop barking. And suddenly, any momentum you had before is now long gone.
Noise canceling headphones not only block out noisy distractions outside your home, but also enable you to listen to your favorite tunes with top-notch sound quality while you work.
Portable Laptop Charger
No matter where you live, even if it’s the mansion from “Richie Rich,” everyone who works from home gets a little stir crazy on occasion. Being surrounded by the same walls every morning, afternoon and night can make them feel like they’re closing in on you. The obvious answer is to pack up your laptop and work from your favorite sandwich shop, or if it’s a gorgeous day, maybe the local park. But what if your “office for the day” doesn’t have an electrical outlet?
With a portable laptop charger, you can charge your laptop anywhere, even outside, and cross battery life off your list of worries. Look for a charger with multiple outlets so that you can bring other gadgets with you and keep them fully charged.
Laser Printer
To be as efficient working from home as you would be in an office, you don’t need a cubicle or water cooler, and you definitely don’t need the awkward small talk on the elevator with Steve from accounting. But there’s one office staple that you must have at your home office: a laser printer.
A home laser printer doesn’t have to be as big as the industrial printers you’d find in an office, but it should be able to go toe-to-toe with a typical office printer in quality. The best home laser printer will come equipped with:
- Toner cartridges – These are much more efficient than standard ink cartridges, and are just as easy to replace.
- Easy Use – Laser printers function just like the inkjet printers you grew up with and come with far fewer buttons than commercial printers to simplify the process.
- Versatility – In addition to printing, laser printers are designed to perform copies, scans and faxes.
A Comfortable Chair
Even if you enjoy your job, you’re going to dread the beginning of every workday if you don’t have a comfortable chair behind your desk. Treat yourself to a chair that you look forward to sitting down on, and make sure it’s adjustable so that you can sit at the appropriate height (and save yourself a lifetime of chronic back pain).
Bluetooth Mouse
If you’re looking for a computer mouse that instantly improves your efficiency, it doesn’t get any better than a Bluetooth Mouse. Bluetooth mice hold a distinct advantage over similar devices for many reasons:
- They’re wireless, which means less clutter on your desk
- They require less power than other wireless mice (and some even come with rechargeable batteries)
- They have a more dependable connection with computers than other wireless mice
- They avoid interference with your other devices at your desk that operate in the same frequency range
To cut down even further on cords and clutter, consider adding a Bluetooth keyboard.
Tower fans
Proper room temperature and fresh air will boost your productivity. Choose one of the best tower fans here.
Prove to Your Boss That You Can Get More Done at Home!
Just like working in an office, working from home is going to have its share of highs and lows. But if you grab these items for your home office, you may prove to be more productive than you would in a cubicle.
