When you work from home, the first thing you should do is to designate a room as your office. It’s important to have a space that’s distraction-free and purely a work zone. Once you have this room, you have to decide how best to outfit it. There are a few items that you’ll want to always have on hand, which is why we’ve listed the essential tools that every home office should have.
1. An Ergonomic Chair
Ergonomics are incredibly important in an office setting, as you may spend a lot of time sitting, and you want to protect your body while doing so. As such, we believe that it’s incredibly important to invest in a chair that’s designed with ergonomics in mind. We’d also recommend purchasing a footrest to keep beneath your desk in order to improve circulation.
2. High-Speed Internet
It’s likely that your business will require you to spend a decent amount of time online. With this in mind, know that slow internet can ultimately detract from your productivity. Talk to your internet provider and be sure that you have the fastest option they offer.
3. A Paper Shredder
Your job may require you to handle sensitive documents, and when the time comes, they must be properly disposed of. A paper shredder is a safe, affordable option that efficiently gets the job done.
4. A Stapler
A high-quality stapler is essential to any office environment. Even in a time when many tasks are completed digitally, some classic office supplies will never go out of style. If you ever need to organize physical documents, a stapler is the way to go.
5. A Planner
There’s nothing quite like having a physical planner that you can reference and jot notes down on as needed. Digital calendars are definitely important, especially when you need to share your calendar with others, but we believe that these work best when used in conjunction with a paper planner.
6. Two Monitors
It’s likely safe for us to assume that your office will have both a computer and a monitor. We believe, however, that anyone in an office environment can benefit from two monitors. Switching between tabs can become monotonous and make you feel unorganized. Your time spent on the computer can be greatly improved by adding that extra monitor.
7. A Coffee Maker
It’s easy to become distracted the moment you leave your home office, and you can avoid this by keeping some tasty essentials in your office. Set up a small beverage bar, which can include a coffee maker or an electric kettle. You can also set up a few healthy snacks in this area.