7 Workspace Items to Boost Work From Home Productivity

With the COVID-19 pandemic still going on, many are still working and studying from home. This is something that many are used to, but for some, they are readjusting to working from home since COVID numbers are up again. While it can be difficult to find your groove with trying to be productive, there are items you can get to help boost your productivity to get things done. Having items available for you will help you stay focused.

Headphones

One way to stay focused, especially if you have family members or roommates who are also working from home, is investing in a good pair of headphones. You may even opt to get a pair of noise-canceling headphones. That way, you can put on some music or be fully invested in classes or meetings and not be worried about family members or roommates making noise and distracting you. You can look up music on sites like YouTube or Spotify to help you focus without loud music distracting you.

A clock (that is not your phone)

It is no secret that our phones tend to distract us when we are trying to get work done. However, many of us rely on our phones to help keep track of time. Luckily, there are still clocks available for purchase that will help you keep track of time without having to worry about becoming distracted by texts and other notifications. Just be sure to change it with the time changes so that you are not too early or late for meetings.

Desk lamp

Good lighting is crucial for making sure you are able to see what you are doing and that you are not straining your eyes to see your work. Having a desk lamp, with extra bulbs, will help you by ensuring that you have the light you need, especially during the winter months when it starts to get lighter, earlier in the evening. This way, you will not have to worry about working or studying in the dark. Making sure you have extra bulbs available is crucial as well so that you do not have to get up and go searching for bulbs, as this often leads to becoming even more distracted.

Extra writing utensils

No matter how prepared you are and how new your pen or pencil is, there is a chance that it will dry out or run out of graphite. Having extra writing utensils at your desk will ensure that you are prepared so you do not have to go searching all throughout your home or apartment for an extra pen or pencil. You may even decide to get a desk lamp that allows you to store items such as pens and pencils so you have extras within reach at all times.

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Decent desk chair

While it may seem basic, having a good desk chair to sit in can make a huge difference in your productivity. If you are constantly having to get up and stretch because your back hurts and you are uncomfortable, you will lose out on productivity. When your desk chair is comfortable, you can go hours without even noticing and you will be focused on your work, not how much pain you are in or how uncomfortable you are. Good desk chairs can be expensive, but they are so important for your productivity, but even more importantly, for your health.

Desktop organizers

Desktop organizers allow you to hold items you may need in an orderly fashion so that you do not have to dig through drawers of stuff that is not organized. Having things such as paperclips, post-it notes, and extra pens and pencils readily available will help save you time and increase productivity. Make sure you know where things are on your organizer so you can put things back when you are done using them for continued organization and productivity.

Calendar or planner

Phone calendars and other digital planners and organizers are great, but having a physical planner with task lists of things you need to do can help you visualize what you have done and what you need to do yet. You may even opt to put stickers next to tasks you have completed as a mini reward for yourself to help motivate you to get more done. Physical planners also eliminate the temptation to play on your phone and text friends when you are supposed to be getting things done. This allows you to keep your phone at bay and still have access to what you need to do. Even if you do not have a full physical planner, consider writing out each day’s tasks so you have them in front of you.

Staying focused when working from home can be a challenge, especially with so many distractions such as cell phones and family members or roommates. However, with the right items on hand, you can boost your productivity and get more done.