Working from home is the norm these days. Instead of commuting on the East-West Line, your daily commute is now along the Stay Home Line consisting of your bedroom, home office, kitchen, and bathroom.
Some of us may enjoy working from home more than others. Regardless, here’s a list of must-have items in your home office that can help contribute to a productive day. After all, we have to get work done whether we’re working from the office or from home.
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Home office essentials
1. Planner
It is a good practice to list down the things you have to complete first thing in the morning, so that you start the day motivated and can adequately plan your time. Having a planner is one way to keep track of the things that have to be done. It can help you to stay focused on your tasks and be more productive throughout the day.
Set attainable tasks for yourself so that you can look forward to completing all of them. There’s a sense of achievement when you’re able to check things off your planner. Always remember to celebrate the small wins!
There are many different types of planners out there including daily, weekly, and monthly ones. You just have to find out what works best for you. Get it on Shopee for $3.99.
2. Laptop Stand
Propping your laptop up on a laptop stand has ergonomic benefits because it raises the screen to eye-level, relieving strain on your shoulders and neck. Especially if you’ll be doing a lot of typing, using a laptop stand paired with an additional keyboard would be the best for your posture.
Placing your laptop on a stand also helps to improve airflow and lower the risk of overheating. By leaving some space underneath your laptop, it can cool faster. This can extend the lifespan of your laptop.
Laptop stands are available on platforms like Shopee or Lazada and they come in a variety of materials and colours. Pick the one that best suits your needs. Get it on Shopee for $9.90.
3. Monitor
Having more than 1 monitor helps improve productivity, especially if you’re going to be working on the computer a lot, which would be the case for most of us who are working from home.
You will no longer have to toggle between applications and websites. If you constantly need to refer to something such as your email, Slack, or Skype, you can leave it open on your second screen and monitor it easily. This helps you concentrate on what you’re working on, only referring to your second screen when something requires your attention.
There are many different brands, sizes and specifications of monitors in the market. You can choose your monitor depending on the size of your home office and your budget. Get it on Lazada for $249.
4. Office Chair
Having a proper office chair in your home office can create a more productive and positive work environment. When you have a comfortable office chair, you take breaks less often because you’re not feeling uncomfortable or fidgety.
An ergonomic chair is also good for your posture and reduces pressure on your back and neck. In the long haul, you’re taking care of your posture and your overall health and happiness.
Although getting a high-quality ergonomic chair might feel like an unnecessarily huge investment, it’s worth it because it corrects your posture and can increase your productivity. Most ergonomic chairs are also designed for long-term use so you don’t have to worry about getting a new one every couple of years. Get one on Shopee for $399.
5. Water
Water is extremely important for the body to operate as it makes up the majority of your body weight. Your body can lose water not just when you exercise, but also when you’re breathing and digesting – which is pretty much all the time. It’s important to replenish the water that you’ve lost so your body can stay hydrated, which in turn helps to regulate your body temperature and keep you cool.
Keep a cup of water on your table and remember to take sips every once in a while. If you don’t want to keep refilling your cup, prepare a jug of water that you’ll only have to refill once every couple of hours.
For those who need extra reminders to drink water, try getting a bottle with time markers on Shopee for $14.99. Alternatively, you can download a free app that reminds you to hydrate yourself.
6. LED Desk Lamp
Having a desk lamp might not seem necessary since most of us will be working during the day. But natural light might not always be sufficient or present. When there’s a thunderstorm outside, it’s likely there won’t be ample sunlight. If your table is not situated near the windows, there might not be enough light as well.
In such cases, a desk lamp is necessary to ensure that there is sufficient lighting so that you don’t strain your eyes. Using a desk lamp can also help relieve eye fatigue after long hours of usage.
Choose a desk lamp based on your home office configurations. Ideally, your desk lamp should illuminate only your work area and not be exposed to your screen. If your desk lamp is directly exposed to your screen, it could generate a reflection also known as glare and cause discomfort.
LED is the ideal kind of bulb to use as it produces less heat and creates a more concentrated beam of light that illuminates only your work area. Get it on Shopee for $22.09.
With these 6 must-have items, you’re ready to have a productive day in your home office. Remember, a clear workspace helps you have a clear state of mind.
If you need some help dusting your home office to make it more conducive, let our professional cleaning specialists help you start by neatening up your work desk.
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