While some people absolutely adore the freedom and comfort that working from home affords, others would much rather go into an office. Whether they find it hard to stay focused, have trouble staying organized, or can’t seem to carve out appropriate separation from work life and home life, transitioning from in-office to at-home work is no small feat.
From the practical must-haves to more fun accessories, here, we’ve put together a list of some tech essentials that will make working remotely much more streamlined, feasible—and actually enjoyable, too.
Whether you’re having trouble concentrating due to family or roommates working from home alongside you, or you find yourself getting easily distracted outside the confines of your cubicle, a pair of noise-canceling headphones can serve as a serious game changer. We particularly like the Bose QuietComfort Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, which are comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time and also come equipped with Alexa voice control, so you can access your music, podcasts, or information without having to worry about clicking around.
Like noise-canceling headphones, if you’re social-distancing with roommates or family members, you’ll probably want to pick up a high-quality Wifi extender—like the TP-Link N300, which covers up to 800 feet. This way, you won’t have to worry about your Zoom calls cutting out if everyone else in your household is also on a video chat (or, let’s be honest, streaming Netflix). What’s more, a wifi extender will also eliminate any internet dead zones you might have in your house—so you can set up your home office in whichever nook or cranny you choose.
Struggling to set up a home office due to limited space? Consider picking up a foldable Bluetooth keyboard. We like the IKOS universal keyboard for its long-lasting battery life, ultra-thin design, and cool, minimal aesthetic, but what’s best about this particular keyboard is that it was actually made to fold in half when you’re not using it, taking up less space than an iPhone. Rather than a full desktop set up, this handy little device allows you to set up an office wherever you are, using just your laptop.
You don’t want to run around looking for a charger when your phone is at 10% and you have a meeting within the hour. Instead of constantly worrying about trying to remember to plug in your phone or tablet, we recommend opting for a wireless charging device—like the Yootech Qi-Certified Wireless Charger. When your phone is not in use, simply set it down on this handy piece of tech and it’ll continuously top of your battery throughout the day—without ever having to actually remember to plug it in.
It may seem a little bit silly at first glance, but if you find yourself constantly making any excuse to pace back and forth from your workstation to the kitchen, you might want to consider picking up a coffee mug warmer for your desk. All you need is an outlet and a bit of desk space and this mug-sized heating plate will ensure your coffee stays hot for hours on end—no more making unnecessary detours to the kitchen to warm up or tea or coffee. We particularly like the Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer, which has an extra-long cord, a two-minute warm-up speed, and a color-coded on/off switch that makes it see when the plate is ready to heat.
*Ladders’ affiliate partners provide us compensation for product links on our site.