Did your boss decide to have you working from home permanently even after the pandemic ends? That’s good news if you already established your WFH routine. If you feel like work-life balance is easier achieved with you doing your job remotely, you have nothing to complain about.
However, if you are a full-time employee, make sure you get a salary increase. After all, you will shoulder utility expenses, such as additional electricity usage. It’s only fair, and your employer should be amenable to it.
Meanwhile, if you work freelance, putting up a comfortable home office is your personal responsibility. Your clients are not legally mandated to provide you with what you need to get your work done.
Either way, you need all the essentials. Here’s a list for your reference.
Reliable tech
You need a laptop that does not slow you down. Complement that with an internet connection that keeps up with your speed. Failure to equip yourself with these essentials will be detrimental to your work output.
Plus, you will be sufficiently stressed out. For example, a file that takes forever to attach to an email will test your patience. You do not want all that trouble.
Desk
Sure, you can have a basic work desk. But why be basic when you can go extra. Shop for a unique desk that will add aesthetic value to your home office. Make sure it’s a comfy table too.
Your desk should have enough surface area so you’ll have everything you need on the same table at the same time. That way you do not have to stand and interrupt your workflow every time you need something.
Office chair
Your chair should complement the height of your desk. Ideally, when you type on your keyboard, your forearms stretch parallel to the floor.
Also, take home an ergonomic office chair. That means it’s designed to adapt to the natural contours of your body, thus reducing strain from prolonged sitting.
Sufficient light source
If you work in the daytime and there’s enough natural light, that will do. However, if the location of your home office does not get natural light, or if you work at nighttime, flicking on an artificial light source is in order.
Otherwise, you will be straining your eyes. That will give you a headache over time. Again, your output will suffer.
Coffeemaker
Once you’ve reached that point where you’re working on autopilot, it’s not smart to interrupt your thought process. Now if you run out of coffee, for example, you do not want to stand up, walk to the kitchen, and retrieve a cup of what fuels your body. You will return to your desk and realize you’ve lost your groove.
Have a coffeemaker close by. That solves the problem.
Cooling/heating system
Your air conditioning system should work as diligently as you do. You can’t type on your keyboard while fanning yourself. Or shiver like you’re climbing Mount Everest while you’re on a Zoom call.
You do not have to buy a new AC. But if your current system is faulty, have it fixed ASAP for your sake.
Air purifier
This is most important to people living with allergic rhinitis. You do not want to be sneezing like crazy while you’re trying to focus on your deliverables. It’s time you accept that no matter how tidy you keep your house, there are microscopic particles that could be exacerbating your allergic reaction.
An air purifier will maintain the air quality in your home office. You will be able to concentrate better on your job.
A plant or two
While we’re on the subject of improving indoor air quality, consider adding a plant or two to your home office layout for the same purpose. Plus, it will add a nice ambiance to the area.
Just make sure you do not pick a plant that’s home to pesky pollens. That’s counterproductive to what you’re trying to achieve.
Working from home has its perks. It has its challenges too. You must know how to navigate the latter to ensure utmost productivity. And, for your sake, do not neglect your comfort. Keep in mind that if your workspace at home is not conducive to work, you’ll bear the brunt of keeping up with your deliverables.
So gather everything on this list as soon as you can. You can assemble a comfy home office without breaking the bank. With a bit of research, you’ll find exactly what you need. Once you do, keep on hustling. In time, your hard work will be rewarded.
Meta title: Home Office Essentials for Your Comfort
meta desc: If you work from home, you need to make your home office as comfortable as possible. Here are the things you can’t do without.
