Home Office Essentials

Ahhh, the new normal. We’ve been saying that for a while, so maybe the old normal is more fitting. Anyhoo, now more of us than ever are working from home. With all the challenges that brings. Read this guide to become a WFH pro and discover your home office essentials. Tea and coffee not included.

The Essentials

First things first, your home office can be whatever you want it to be but there are a few non-negotiables to make working from home as good as any office.

  • The Desk

    This can be your dining table, breakfast bar, or a snazzy laptop desk. As long as you keep it clean, uncluttered and you have room for all your work bits.

  • The Chair

    Boy oh boy, this is a biggie. When your bum is plonked on an object for 8 hours a day it needs to be comfy, and look good too.

  • The Tech

    Your laptop can be made better with a monitor, keyboard and mouse. But there are other gadgets too; headphones to drown out the kids, a radio to lift your mood, or even a fan.

  • The Stationery

    Nothing screams ‘I am a professional’ like a well-stocked pen pot, a fresh notebook and a selection of coloured sticky notes.

  • The Lighting

    No one likes to work in the dark, try positioning your lamp behind your screen to look gorgey on video calls, or a SAD lamp if you wilt in winter.

  • The Greenery

    Bring the outside in with some plant friends in your home office. How about a faux one, all the benefits and none of the plant-parent responsibility?

How to Work Productively

We never have this issue, but we have heard that sometimes it’s easy to get distracted when working from home – oooh the postman! Try and work in a space with a door you can close, with good lighting and stocked with home office essentials. If music helps you to focus, then play on. Make a ‘to do’ list each day and keep it visible. Always ensure you have a bottle of water by your side to stay hydrated too. It helps with your brain power.

How to Make the Most of Your Lunch Hour

Firstly, though your diary may be full, do try to actually take your lunch. As tempting as it can be to power through when you have mountains of work, it won’t do you any favours in the long run. No one wants to get burnt out. Then get away from that desk and have a change of scenery, whether that’s outside or simply a different room. And eat a healthy meal with protein and veggies to keep you going in the afternoon.

How to Take a Break

Studies show that we can only maintain full concentration in 20-minute spurts. While we don’t suggest you start getting up in the middle of hour-long meetings, it’s definitely a good idea to take mini breaks often (sadly not the kind where you’re in the Cotswolds). Get up and make a cup of tea. Take a quick walk outside. Jump up and down a few times. Or read a magazine article. Then you can work, feeling refreshed and ready for anything.

Video Call Commandments

We’ve all had a few mishaps on our Zoom calls, it’s to be expected when you’re working from home. While you may not have had your video call go viral, accidentally left a cat filter on in front of your boss or (cringe) left the camera on while you’re going to the loo, there are a few things we can all do to make the experience much, much nicer.

  • Thou Shalt Go On Mute

    Come on Sandra, we’re trying to present here and we don’t want to hear your toddler asking for sweeties while we do. Please, please go on mute.

  • Thou Shalt Stick to The Time Limit

    As fun as it is to stare into your computer screen for hours and hours… and hours a day and develop what you’re almost certain are bedsores, let’s wrap this meeting up.

  • Thou Shalt Show Us Your Dog

    This is never annoying and that is a fact. Those of you lucky enough to own a furry bundle of joy, share it with us. We need it.

  • Thou Shalt Just Call Us

    Hold on let me just adjust my… ooh there’s an echo… can you see me? Hello? Are you there? Let’s just go old school and do this on the phone, eh?

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