What are the WFH Essentials?

Working remotely at home has a handful of perks. But it can be a trap and many may find themselves being unproductive.

There can certainly be distractions if you are working within your home environment. At the same time, the lack of resources and essentials to keep you at the top of your game can be a major dilemma. Thus, if you are transitioning to remote work, you need to ensure you have the entire setup ready. Otherwise, it can undermine your productivity.

A Productive WFH Setup

And here are the things that you need to have at your workstation. 

Working desk or a standing desk

Some opt to use their current desk at home to save up money, others opt to work by the kitchen counter or the dining table. But if you are in front of the computer for a prolonged time, it’s worth considering buying a desk meant for working alone.

A standing desk, for instance, with the option to transition from sitting to standing is the best option if you work for longer hours. It can ensure that you have the proper ergonomics that can help you maximize productivity. At the same time, using a desk solely meant for work ensures you have all the things you need on the desk. There is less risk of misplacing things than when you are working on your kitchen or dining table.  

• 10 Best Standing desks for WFH: Make More Productive

Ergonomic chair

Is an ergonomic chair important when you can just use any existing chair that you have at home? Like a standing desk, a chair meant solely for work not only amps up your productivity but also prevents body aches and pains. 

Ergonomic chairs, when chosen wisely, can adapt to the characteristics and dimensions of your body. This can help avoid poor posture at the same time. 

• Top 10 Best Office Chairs for Long Hours that Can Help You Work Better

Mechanical keyboard

If your job entails a lot of typing, then this is worth considering.

Typists, for instance, need a good mechanical keyboard that can help increase their speed and accuracy. So they can get your job done faster with fewer mistakes.

Whether you have a great laptop or PC, buying a reliable mechanical keyboard can make these long hours of working more pleasant.

You can opt to get either a wired or a wireless keyboard. Determining your workflow and if you need to work significantly away from the monitor can help you decide which keyboard to get. 

Reliable mouse

To make your workflow easier, pair a good mechanical keyboard with a reliable mouse. A responsive mouse, for instance, can help you get things done faster with less nuisance.

A decent mouse can dictate the flow of your work. Use a nonresponsive one and it can derail your productivity, it can slow you down. 

Microphone

Using a microphone can improve the audio quality, can help you be more professional, and can improve the quality of your Zoom meetings. And if your work entails making audio recordings, this should be one of your top essentials.

But this is not limited to just recording. Clear audio is crucial to communication, it can convey your voice to the end of the room and still sound quite audible. It will be easier for people to pick up on what you are disclosing in your meetings, thus making workflow easier and communication more precise.

Headset

A headset with noise-cancellation technology can help you be on top of your work. It can deter outside noise, which is a common dilemma when you are working in a home environment. It can be a challenge to work peacefully with all the noise, both from inside and outside the home.

Getting a wired or a wireless headset is up to you. The choice would depend mostly on how reliable your wifi connection is, your budget, and if you need to work a bit further from the desk or where the headset is hooked on.

Bookshelves, filing cabinets, and desk organization

Mimicking a corporate environment is one of the keys to being able to work productively at home. Thus the needs to be a specific storage and organization style that can help keep all the things you need within arm’s reach. It also prevents misplacing things, which can derail your work. 

Extension cords and surge protectors

Keeping a clean and neat workspace is already a challenge in a home environment if you lack the proper resources. The lack of a power outlet can limit your usage especially if you need to connect equipment to your pc or laptop. Thus you need to get reliable extension cords, preferably 6 feet to 10 feet long.  

This can help you maximize things and have all the peripherals you need to work properly.  

Maintaining a safe place to work is another thing. In a home setup, there may be a lack of maintenance facilities and personnel who can check on the wirings and cables. So you need to also get surge protectors. These can help keep your workplace safe. In case of a power surge, electronics can damage your equipment and may start a fire. 

Desk pad or mat

This may be a small peripheral, but defining a space where you work can increase your productivity and put you in a work mode and mood. Also, if you are using optical and laser mice, you can use them on glass and just use a desk mat or pad with them. 

Desk pads can also add a layer of comfort for your arms and elbows. And when you are more comfortable, you will be more productive.

Stylus

Drawing pens and stylus can help you write notes, and draw images easily with better precision. If your job entails writing by hand or drawing images, then this should be one of your non negotiables. 

Laptop stand

A laptop stand allows for better ergonomics. This raises your laptop to eye level and prevents neck and back strain. This is crucial if you are working for an extended period. 

Laptop stands are also one of the cheaper means to improve the ergonomics of your workspace.

Office essentials

Mimicking a corporate setup also includes stacking up on things, albeit small items, such as pens, papers, pencils, scissors, and more. Keep them in a drawer where you can have easy access as you work. 

Lamp and Clamp light

If you have natural light flowing in your workspace, good for you. Otherwise, a clamp secured with clamps can help illuminate your face so that you appear more professional and ready for Zoom meetings and conferences. 

Keep in mind though that you have to mount the light carefully so that it illuminates your face rather than putting a shadow on it. You also have to be careful with overhead lights that can shine in your eyes. 

Be ready to work from home

WFH presents a rather different challenge, mimicking a corporate set-up. This is essential to help you keep you in a work mode and mood, without proper organization, you might just find yourself being overwhelmed and lacking the things you need to help you work better.