Essential items you need when working from home

If you work from home, whether it's full-time remote working or hybrid, there are essential items you'll need in your home office when working from home to ensure an organised work environment.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly popular for companies to offer hybrid working, with one or two days a week being remote working from home. But sometimes it can be difficult to work from home.

I work from home with a desk in my bedroom and I also study from my home. My degree is completely online, so I'm sure you can imagine that finding motivation at times to study and work within the same four walls you woke up in is sometimes challenging.

However, I actually think my motivation has increased over the years and this is down to creating an organised and effective work environment.

There are certain things I have in my workspace that ultimately make my days easier and keep me on track. Because working remotely is a lot more common now than it was say 10 years ago and because I know a lot of freelancers, I thought I'd share some essential items you need when working from home.

Essential items for your home office

A Diary

I can honestly say that my life would be a lot less organised if I didn't have a diary to keep track of things.

Having a diary in your office, whether it's one that can sit on your desk or a calendar to hang on the wall, can really help you work more efficiently. You'll be able to know what the date and day is quickly and whether or not you've got meetings and deadlines, and this will also allow you to schedule things with a quick glance.

The diary I use also has pages for monthly goals, important dates, an address book and a spare notes page at the back. All of which can only be useful.

Different Coloured Pens

This item relates to the diary above, but also work in general. For me, I find it incredibly helpful to use coloured pens to fill out my diary.

I colour-code different events, such as uni deadlines/meetings, personal events, WriteWatchWork information, and birthdays/anniversaries. Using a different coloured pen for each type of event makes it easier when scanning what's coming up each month and differentiating between the professional and the personal.

However, that's not the only use of coloured pens. If you find that you write a lot by hand for work, then having the choice of different pens could be handy. For example, I tend to write in black ink, but when annotating pieces of writing, I use red.

Post-It Notes

If you know me, you'll know that I love a to-do list. And to make my to-do lists, I use Post-it notes.

I can't tell you how many Post-it notes I have on my desk and in my stationary drawer. They are so useful when you need to quickly jot something down, make a reminder of something to stick on the wall, or on a mirror, and for a to-do list.

Every day, I use a different Post-it note because I update the to-do list every 24 hours.

So, if you need small bits of paper to make quick notes and to write lists on, get yourself some post-it notes. And you can jazz it up by having different coloured post-its, not just the standard yellow.

Plain Paper

The other day, I was completing some uni work and I needed a plain bit of paper. I had lots of notepads and lined bits of paper to hand, but I needed a plain bit so I could sketch.

I had to ask my sister if she had any, and it got me thinking that it would be handy to have some plain paper in my office because you never know when you may need it.

A Coaster

Throughout the day, I use a water bottle that has the time and volume of liquid down the sides. But I also often have either a latté or iced coffee.

And because I have lots of paper on my desk, and a new mouse mat, and some cables, I don't want my drinks to leave condensation or stain my desk. So, I have a couple of coasters, one on either side of my desk, so I can put my drinks on there.

That way, I know my drinks aren't taking up any more space than they need to and that my desk will remain clean and dry.

A Clock

The next handy thing to have in your office is a clock. If you have a computer/laptop, there will be a clock on there, but sometimes it's not always necessary to use your computer throughout the whole day.

Your phone also has the time, but as we all know, mobile phones can be distracting and aren't always the best thing to use during work.

Having a clock, analogue or digital, or even wearing a watch, can help you stay organised and on schedule during the day. This is especially handy when you have meetings and you want to be ready a few minutes early.

So, if you want to be punctual and just able to keep track of the time, make sure you have a clock in your home office.

Storage

When working from home, it can be difficult to keep track of lots of things you need, whether that's chargers for your computer, a spare notepad, some paperwork from work, etc.

One thing that can help with that is having designated storage. It can be anything from a filing cabinet, a desk tray to a folder; anything that helps you keep things together and organised so that if you need to find something quickly, you won't spend ages rummaging around for it.

For me, I have a storage box filled to the brim with stationery. I also have a letter holder on my desk for a small notebook, some USB drivers, business cards and Post-Its.

Space

The above links to this next point, which isn't technically an item. Instead, it's the removal of items.

There's nothing worse when working from home than having not a lot of space to actually work. It can be difficult because it is your house and if you aren't able to have a designated room for remote working, it can be even harder.

But by ensuring you have a clear, tidy work area, you can work more productively.

There's a saying that a clean space promotes a clean mind, and it is true. So, if any unnecessary objects are lying around in your work area, perhaps it's time to remove them.

All of these items are ones I deem essential for working from home. Of course, you may think differently and have even more items on your lists, so these are just suggestions.

But if you do work from home and you haven't got these items, perhaps give them a try.

Until next time...