6 Practical Work From Home Essentials That Increased My Productivity

And none of them are ergonomic furniture pieces

“Well, the dishes do need to be cleaned up. Does my dog need to go on a walk right now? Also, I could definitely use another cup of coffee…”

…in case you wanted a look at the running dialogue in my head when I started working from home two years ago.

Having been in brick-and-mortar jobs for most of my working days, the thought of working from home sounded like a dream-come-true. Being able to work in my pyjamas? Creating my own schedule? No rush hour traffic? Count me in.

But with great freedom comes great responsibility. And at first, I had absolutely no idea how it was possible to actually get work done from home with distractions all around.

Luckily, I’ve got a couple of years under my belt at this point and have found some essential items that help me stay productive while working from home every day. And no, none of them are ergonomic chairs.

Lion’s Mane Mushroom Capsules

Lately, it seems like mushrooms are all the rage. But, it’s not for nothing! Mushrooms are loaded with health benefits. But the one that I’m focusing on here is Lion’s Mane mushrooms.

A couple of months ago, I switched out my everyday cup of coffee for Four Sigmatic’s Lion’s Mane Coffee. And last week, I started taking daily Lion’s Mane capsules instead. In turn, my focus has been unmatched.

Lion’s Mane mushrooms boast a lot of health benefits, including the ability to alleviate depression, fight cancer, and reduce the risk of heart disease. But, it’s most noteworthy for its brain-boosting benefits. In a 2008 study, scientists found that lion’s mane effectively improved cognitive function in a randomized group of 15 older adults compared to a placebo.

Blue Light Blocker Glasses

When I started working from home, I was a newly turned freelancer on the hunt for clients. I spent a lot of my days with my eyes deadlocked to my computer and phone screen, often resulting in major migraines and dry eyes by nightfall.

That’s when I discovered that I was overdosing on blue light rays. Blue light comes from our digital screens, and they have shorter wavelengths and more energy, according to Prevent Blindness. In turn, ample exposure can impact your circadian rhythm and cause digital eye strain.

Purchasing a pair of blue light blocker glasses helped relieve the constant discomfort I was experiencing in my eyes at the end of a long day. They also completely eliminated my frequent migraines!

Wearing blue-light-blocking glasses has also been shown to reduce the likelihood of age-related macular degeneration and provide a better night’s sleep, according to ForEyes. Investing in a pair of blue-light blockers goes a long way.

Folding Lap Desk

All the Gary Vee’s of the world might come for my head for this one, but some days — you just want to work in comfort. It’s inevitable. And that’s why having a folding lap desk at your disposal is a beautiful thing. With a folding lap desk, you can work from your bed, your couch…from anywhere, really.

I know, I know…it probably seems counterproductive to work from somewhere that screams “relaxation”, like your bed. But, it’s not as bad as you may think! Clinical psychologist Brian Wind, Ph.D., said, “If work has you feeling anxious, working from your bed can ease your mind, hence triggering creativity. It’s a great place to work on projects that feel daunting since you already associate it with relaxation.”

I typically work in my at-home office, but having a folding lap desk has helped create some variety in my day. Whether I need a change of scenery or it’s just a rainy day and I’m feeling the need for comfort, it’s the perfect work-from-home essential.

Planner

Fail to plan, and you plan to fail. I’ve attempted to get through life without a planner, just to be slapped in the face with the reassurance that I truly can’t remember it all.

Every Sunday, I write out the week’s errands, appointments, and places to be as well as reminders and an outline of work tasks. I keep my planner right by my side and cross off items as they are completed to give me a better visual aid.

Whether you use a physical planner or a digital one, personalize it to make it work for you! I like to use highlighters to categorize my daily items, as well as stickers to keep it fun.

Timed Lockbox

I work as a freelance social media manager, and the biggest issue I had when I started was getting distracted on my phone. I would go on Instagram to make a post for a client, just to find myself mindlessly scrolling the app for 15 minutes. Not to mention any texts or notifications that arose during that time.

Enter, stage left: a timed lockbox.

Timed lockboxes are great for really anything you’re trying to set a boundary with. I throw my phone in for an hour while I commit to a certain work task, ensuring that I stay intentionally focused on the task at hand. This allows me to get way more work done than I would if I had the phone at my disposal all day. Hello, TikTok.

Binaural Beats

According to CSU Global, binaural beats harness the power of different sound frequencies. Two different soundwave frequencies are played into each ear and as a result, your brain interprets the two frequencies as a beat of its own. In turn, this can align with your brainwaves.

Binaural beats in the Gamma frequency have been shown to help with increased cognitive flexibility, attention to detail, focus, divergent thinking, and more.

Listening to binaural beats may seem a little boring at first, but they definitely do their job. Once I ditched the distracting playlists for binaural beats, my productivity increased tenfold. There are plenty of playlists you can find on Spotify, YouTube, and any other streaming app.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a bunch of fancy-schmancy items to stay productive while working from home. Sure, the standing desk and peppermint-infused candles are nice — but what are all the extras for if you can’t stay focused on the tasks at hand?

Working from home is an adjustment. By now, you may have been doing it for some time. But, if you’re still working out the kinks and aiming to increase your productivity levels, try out these items.