Must-Haves for Your Home Office
Congratulations on landing that cushy new job that lets you work from home. You can trade that commute in for a nice cup of coffee on the deck, or maybe some extra sleep. But now you have to set up your workplace at home, and you’re going to be spending a whole lot of time in that space. With that said, from obvious to unique, here are some must-haves for your new home office.
A Quality Chair
You’re going to use this thing a lot, so it is worth spending the money on. If you were to ask any office veteran they will attest to the importance of getting a QUALITY chair for your new workspace. These can be very expensive, but there is probably a store or online marketplace in your area that sells quality second hand chairs that will work just fine. You can’t put a price on your spine.
Sit/Stand Desk
It might be tempting to just plop down into that fancy new chair you splurged on and sit at your desk all day, but trust me, that is not the best idea. It won’t take long for your body to start feeling the negative effects of sitting down for hours and hours on end. You will start feeling it in your neck, your back, your legs, your arse. These desks can be easily adjusted to move your workspace between sitting and standing heights. An hour or two of standing while you work will really help with the prevention of physical issues.
Large Monitor(s)
If you are looking at screens and text all day, you definitely don’t need to add any extra strain on your eyeballs. Large monitors will allow you to easily see what you are doing, and allow you to sit/stand at an appropriate distance from your screens without squinting. A second or third monitor can also be a very helpful luxury if your line of work calls for it.
Protective Eyewear
No not that kind of protective eyewear. Even with a large monitor, staring at a screen can be very hard on your eyes. Blue light blocking glasses can be a life saver, or at the very least an eye saver. They help block out harmful rays that can lead to headache and eye fatigue.
Protective Mat
You might not notice it right away, but your office chair will wear down your flooring over time. It doesn’t matter if it’s hardwood, carpet, or anything in between, the long hours and wear and tear will wreck your floors. Invest in one of these right away and make sure you don’t have to replace your office floor the next time you move.
Great Headphones/Headset
Blocking out noise is great for helping you focus on work, and can enhance your experience of listening to music if that’s your vibe. If you need to have a headset for your position, a quality one with blu-tooth and noise canceling features will make your life a lot easier. If you do talk on a headset frequently, you also might just need more stuff in your office for acoustics and cutting down on echoes. Things like a rug can go a long way in cutting down on excess noise for people on the other side of calls.
A Nice Wall
If you have to hop on video calls frequently this is important. You won’t want to always have to throw up a tacky fake backdrop on your calls. Having a clean, neat, and professional backdrop in your office will help maintain a positive image.
Something for the Air
A fan, a heater, an AC unit, an air purifier, a humidifier. You will have to do some of the work here, but assess your office and find out what you need to add to make your room as comfortable as possible. Get that air moving and don’t spend your time in a stuffy box.
Dashy
Shameless plug. You have a home office and you don’t have Dashy yet? Common now. Dashy will make your time spent at the desk infinitely better, more organized, and more efficient.
Enjoy creating a home office that fits you, and don't forget to add those personal touches that really bring a space together. A nice soft light, some plants, some small exercise equipment for breaks, a mini-fridge for beer. You know, the essentials.
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