10 Essential “non-essential” Products for Working from Home During the Pandemic
Working from home has been a huge lifestyle change for nearly everyone. Below is my list of items I’ve acquired during the last year of the pandemic, that I never thought I “would-need” for working from home, but has been helpful for boosting my productivity and mental health.
Feel free to use my list for gift ideas and/or inspiration to improve your habits for remote-work.
This article is part of my new years resolution to write more this year! These products have worked wonders for me, but I cannot guarantee it will work for everyone.
I will attempt to link ($) low/($$) medium, and ($$$) high-end options to each product so anyone can enjoy benefits of items in each category!
- 👃 Scent Diffuser and/or Scented Candles 🕯️
Smell is the strongest of the senses, and has a huge ability to influence brain activity. For example certain essential oils have been found to be helpful for concentration boosting. As such, I have been using different scented Jo Malone Room Diffusers ($98 USD) in each of my rooms, and one by my desk to boost my mood and concentration while lowering my anxiety. For lower-end options, try this aromatherapy diffuser on Amazon ($31) which looks like a steal. I am also a fan of the Scented 3-Wick Candles from Bath and Body Works ($14.50-$24.50), especially the Mahogany Teakwood.
2. 💡 Ring Light 💡
I used to laugh at friends that owned ring lights, thinking they were just a vanity prop only meant for YouTube beauty stars and for TikTok teenagers that love recording selfies. However, after giving a few webinars/ talks during the pandemic, and getting messages from my close friends complaining on how bad my lighting looked, I decided to purchase a ring light for myself. It makes a remarkable difference in Zoom/Google Hangout conference calls, especially if your desk is facing a window with an uneven light. You do not need to invest in an expensive ring light to get good lighting. I think they all work pretty much the same! This is a $14 version from Amazon that is similar to the one I purchased for my desk. It has made an enormous difference for conference calls and late night meetings. Ring lights are also easy to pack and portable to travel with!
3. 🛏️ Lumbar Support Pillow/Ergonomic Office Chair 🪑
After setting up my work-at home desk, my health-conscious friends have complained to me how I should invest in a high-end chair to prevent future back problems. Believe it or not, I was originally using a plastic foldable chair until I had a “normal chair” arrive. Many recommended that I purchase the Herman Miller Aeron Chair (up to $1,600+) which I was close to splurging in the beautiful mineral/polished aluminum color. However I quickly became too impatient to wait for the 3 month back-logged shipping at the start of the pandemic and ended up getting a RENBERGET Swivel chair ($50) to fill my needs in the short-term. A great ergonomic “hack” is adding a lumbar support pillow to an ordinary office chair. It is nowhere as fancy as the Aeron, but it does the trick for me to work in healthy posture everyday. Since buying a lumbar support pillow (Approximately $30), I have not pulled the trigger for a pricier office chair and have been very happy with my lumbar pillow. If you are not looking to splurge and looking a mid-range ergonomic chair, I recommend the Alera Elusion Series Mesh Mid-Back Multifunction Chair ($170).
4. 🔥 Space Heater/Heated Blanket/Weighted Blanket 🧺
I am someone that constantly gets cold and chilly, regardless of the temperature. Besides having a space heater next to my desk, and cranking up the thermostat, I also use weighted blankets or heated blankets over my chair to keep myself warm and calm. If you are not a fan of spiking up your electricity bill, a weighted or heated blanket is a great alternative. A few years ago a friend gave me my first weighted blanket ($80) along with a soft duvet cover ($33), and from that point, I was hooked. It feels like someone is giving you a tight hug when you wrap the blanket around you! For a more high-end fashionable choice, I am also a fan of the Bearaby weighted blankets ($250).
5. 🖥️ Second Monitor/Portable Wireless USB-C Monitor 👨💻
While several of my friends have invested in fancy “curved monitors” (Up to $1k), I have not felt the itch of needing something too over-the-top. My requirement was that I did not want a monitor that looked aesthetically black, drab, and ugly. At the start of the pandemic, I bought a refurbished HP 25XW Monitor from a startup for $50. This sleek white monitor has been terrific for my basic emailing and writing needs. I also invested in a second portable foldable USB-C monitor ($170) which is great for managing Zoom calls on-the go, especially if you need to present slides through a second screen. I was originally not a fan of portable monitors. However, after trying an ex-boyfriend’s portable monitor, I realized I appreciated the convince of having one when I traveled, especially after realizing these usb/usb-c monitors did not need to be plugged into a power outlet. I also realized I could also hook up third party devices, such as gaming consoles (Nintendo Switch) and Google Chromecast to the portable device, which won me over! I highly recommend investing in a second monitor, a portable one, or both, to boost your productivity.
6. 📚 Daily Planner ✍
It can be easy to get distracted easily while working at home. This may include procrastinating to finish home chores instead of responding to urgent emails. I was gifted a Panda Planner ($30) last June, which was terrific way for me to reflect each day on my key priorities and making sure I wasn’t losing sight of “big tasks” and “goals” among “smaller ones”. A friend of mine also created a “digital” version of panda-planner called Headway which is also excellent for reflecting and creating a daily high performance routine.
7. 🧴 Lotion, 👁️ EyeDrops, and Lip Balm 👄
Perhaps it is the amount of heaters/blankets I use around my office space, but I have noticed my skin to get very dry, especially when I am working for hours nonstop. To keep my skin in good condition, I keep a bottle of lotion and lip balm beside my desk to be able to easily moisturize my skin throughout the day. Adding scented soft lotion to my body is also extremely therapeutic after a long workday. I am addicted to Glossier’s Balm DotCom ($12) for lips and chapped skin and usually have a tube next to my desk. I also have a bottle of ClearEye Drops ($4) to moisturize dry eyes, and some Ultra Shea Body Lotion ($14.50) for dry skin.
8. 🖱️ Keyboard and Wireless Mouse 🖱️
I have not been a fan of the butterfly keys in the latest MacBook Pros. They have caused me so many visits to the Apple Genius Bar for hardware troubleshooting. As a result, I bought the Magic Keyboard 2 at the start of the pandemic ($149) and also purchased a Magic Mouse 2 ($79) to avoid using my laptop keyboard as much as possible. However, given the lack of USB outlets in newer MacBook Pros, I quickly realized I preferred having extra USB slots and downgraded to the older Apple Aluminum Wired Keyboard (Approximately $67 or thrift for cheaper), which comes with two extra USB slots on each side of the keyboard. I recommend this older keyboard version if you don’t mind having wires on your desk. There are cheaper versions of keyboard/mouse sets ($34) available but since I am a Mac user, I prefer to have a native keyboard experience with Mac shortcuts.
9. 💦 Water Bottle and Portable Hot Liquid Container 🍾
I have a clumsy habit of accidentally spilling cold and hot liquids at my desk, especially from open containers. As such, having a reliable twist-top hot and cold bottle container has lowered the probability of me from accidentally liquid-damaging my electronics. Although water bottles are a dime-in-a-dozen, my favorite is the 19oz Stay Hot Keep Cold Bottle from Lululemon ($38), which is stylish and portable. I can use this water bottle to keep drinks for both the workday and after-work yoga! It can also keep liquids hot/cold for 24 hours, including coffee.
10. 🔙 Portable Back Massager 😩
With limited massage options during the COVID-19 pandemic, I received a portable back massager as a Christmas present this past year to help me reduce my muscle pain after I had lifted weights improperly and strained my back. I had initially never thought I would need a portable massager, but after using this device on different parts of my body, I relieved tension I didn’t even know existed. I recommend the Papillon Back Massager with Heat ($33-$40) which also allows you to change between different intensity modes. The heat makes a huge difference in making your muscles relax, and the device has a strap that allows you to attach it to the back of any seat.
🚨 Disclaimer: I DO NOT use affiliate links. This blog is me expressing my delight of products I’ve enjoyed for working from home. I am not sponsored or paid by any of these companies or products.🚨
