Top 4 Work-From-Home Essentials [Not Only Desk & Chair]

Losing my job in early 2020, just before the pandemic hit, made me realize how important it is to be ready to work from home. In the past few years, I’ve tried out a few things that have really helped me make the most of my time.

I found that having the right stuff can make a big difference when you’re working from home. You might not think you need a fancy home office or a super comfy chair, and these top 4 work-from-home essentials can make your work life easier and more productive.

Work-from-Home Essential #1: A Good Desk Setup

When I decided to do freelancing and blogging, I figured out that having a comfy and practical desk was super important. Before I got that, I used to work on my bed or in the dining room, surrounded by people chatting away. You can guess—it wasn’t comfy and I didn’t get much done.

So, I got myself a good office desk that lets me adjust the height for maximum comfort. Having a good desk setup means you work in a place that’s made for comfort and getting things done.

Make sure your desk is adjustable, has a way to manage cables, and has enough space for your computer stuff. This helps you work for a long time without feeling uncomfortable or having to keep moving around.

For a chair, get one that’s comfy and can be adjusted so you can keep your back in a good position during long hours of work. It’s good if it supports your lower back while you sit. Wheels or no wheels is up to you, but it’s nice to move around your office when you need to.

If you use a Mac Mini with a separate screen, consider an adjustable monitor arm to keep your screen at the right angle. I use Logitech’s ergonomic wireless keyboard and mouse combo—they’re comfy and adjustable. The keyboard is especially great for keeping a good posture while typing.

Here are some essentials I love from Amazon for my home office:

• Mac Mini 2020 M1
• Logitech wireless ergonomic keyboard
• Vertical ergonomic mouse
• Laptop riser
• Curved monitor (not just for games, it’s a game changer!)

I’m the type who can’t start working until everything is in its place. So, if you’re like me and want to make a space that keeps you productive and comfy while working from home, start by getting these desktop essentials—it’ll be the first step in your journey to becoming a work-at-home mom!

Work-from-Home Essential #2: Writing Tools

Okay, if you’re not into the writing stuff, you can skip this part. But if you are, let me share three words with you: speech-to-text, AI writer, and Grammarly.

Speech-to-text is a tool that lets you talk into your computer, and it magically turns your words into text. It saves tons of time compared to typing, and you can focus on your ideas instead of typing them out. I usually have to do a bit of editing later to make it all make sense, but it’s a big time-saver for brainstorming.

If you have a MacBook Pro, just go to System Preferences > Keyboard, and click on the “Dictation” tab to use the built-in speech-to-text feature.

AI Writer is another tool I love. It helps rearrange my thoughts and suggests edits based on what I’m working on. Jasper.ai and Grammarly are my go-to tools to make sure my content meets the right standards.

Jasper.ai can generate text for you using keywords, so if you need inspiration or want to get ideas flowing quickly, it’s a great tool.

And, of course, Grammarly is a grammar and spelling checker. It helps me make sure every sentence is error-free and meets the standards of my readers. It even has an AI writing assistant that helps me rethink sentences for clarity and impact.

If you’re a writer like me or deal a lot with words, these tools are worth investing in. They make your job easier and more efficient and help you stay on top of things to make sure your content is always good to go.

Work-from-Home Essential #3: A Reliable WiFi Connection

Nowadays, having a good Wi-Fi connection is a must for anyone working from home, whether you’re a freelancer or part of a company. If you’re in a busy area or your Wi-Fi router is kind of old, you might deal with slow internet or getting disconnected a lot.

Let’s be real here—how many times have you gotten frustrated with the internet while trying to work from home?

The best fix for this is getting a new router or upgrading the one you have. But if you’re on a tight budget, there are other options, like getting a Wi-Fi extender or booster.

A Wi-Fi booster, as the name says, helps make your existing Wi-Fi reach farther and work better. And if you’re into streaming and want an even faster connection, there’s the option of getting a gaming router.

A speedy, reliable Wi-Fi connection doesn’t just make working from home easier; it lets you do other things like streaming and downloading podcasts, and movies super fast, saving you a bunch of time and energy.

Work-from-Home Essential #4: Google Chrome

With different browsers like Safari, Firefox, and Opera out there, why should you go for Google Chrome?

First off, it’s the most popular browser globally, which is a good enough reason if you want efficiency while working from home. But there’s more to it that makes it a smart choice.

Google Chrome has these things called extensions, which are tools that let you customize your browsing to fit your needs. You can use extensions for stuff like taking notes, tracking time, blocking distracting websites, and more. All my must-use tools, like Jasper.ai, Grammarly, and Ubersuggest, have their own Chrome extensions, making it easy to use them while you work.

Chrome also lets you sync your stuff across different devices. So, if you open tabs or bookmark something on one device, you can see it on another. This means your browsing stuff is always with you, no matter where you are. And if you have different Google accounts for work and personal life, Chrome makes it simple to switch between them with just one click.

I used to mainly use Safari on my MacBook Air, but when my tools got Chrome extensions and some tools only supported Chrome, I made the switch. Honestly, I never looked back!

Final Thoughts

Working from home has perks, but you need the right tools. These five essentials I talked about are super handy, especially if your job involves writing or dealing with words. There are more tools out there depending on your job, but I hope this gives you a good starting point.

Best of luck with your work-from-home routine! I hope these essentials make it easier and more enjoyable for you!