Work From Home Essentials


Happy Monday friends. We really enjoyed having an extra day off even though there wasn’t really anything that we needed to do or anywhere to be, it was just nice to have a day off from work and an “extra Saturday” of sorts! We’re going into week 5 of working from home and I have to be honest with you, I don’t think I will want to work from home for a while when this is all over. We don’t have a dedicated office, so getting into the “work” mindset is really something that I could struggle with, but I’ve found a few essentials that really help my productivity and make working from home a bit easier. 




Blue Light Glasses || I have a pair of blue light glasses, but left them at work and after a couple of weeks of staring at one laptop screen for hours upon hours, I decided I really needed to get another pair. I see a difference in how tired my eyes feel when I wear them versus when I don’t. I really like these because you get two for the price of one – and you can choose your color ways. 



Lap Desk || Since we don’t have a true desk to work at, Gary will sometimes be at the breakfast bar and I’ll be on the couch or in our room, while the other person in on a conference call. In order to be comfortable and not having the laptop directly on me, I have this little lap desk and it’s foldable so I park it under the couch when I’m not using it. 



AirPods || I loved my AirPods before, but not having to take my calls for work on speaker phone is necessary right now. Both Gary and I have ours and it’s been really handy when we have impromptu calls come up and are with Sophia, we can pop one AirPod in and be hands free and still engaged on all fronts!



Sharpie Gel Pens || I think by now it’s no surprise that I’m a pen lover, so I needed a fresh set at home for work. I left all my great pens at work and these are top notch. They don’t bleed through the paper and are so smooth to write with. Highly recommend! 



Nespresso Pods || I miss the daily morning coffee run, but what I have enjoyed is experimenting with different coffee flavors for our Nespresso. I have made standard lattes, iced latte’s and a few different flavorings. Between Gary and I, we go through 14 pods a week so that’s a lot of coffee! 



Note Pads & To Do Lists || Not a shocker here, but I left all my notebooks and pads at work, so I ordered a few to stay organized. I like to have a plain one for things I need to do at work and then I have one that breaks it down for the week and what I have to do for work each day. 



WiFi Extender|| We are tapping into our WiFi more than ever now that we’re home and working every day. Not only did we increase our bandwith, but a couple months ago, Gary actually purchased this wifi extender so that we can work from any room in the house and not lose connectivity or have slower speeds. We live in a condo, so it’s not long distances by any means, but we see a difference in every room in the house now, which is a welcome luxury now that we’re home so much. 


What are some of your essentials for working from home?


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20 Comments

  1. Andrea Nine
    April 13, 2020 / 12:23 pm

    I need to get us a Nespresso. Mr. Nine brews a big pot every morning but I think I’d like that too. The lap desk tray is perfect. Hope your Easter was sweet! Loved Sophia’s dress on Insta! xo

  2. Joey Hodges
    April 13, 2020 / 12:49 pm

    I couldn’t agree more with the AirPods!! And the lap desk—genius! I don’t know why I never thought to grab one of those!

  3. Doused in Pink | Chicago Style Blog
    April 13, 2020 / 2:03 pm

    I really need to get a pair of blue light glasses! That lap dress is such a good idea!

    Jill – Doused in Pink

  4. Girl Meets Bow
    April 13, 2020 / 2:28 pm

    That lap-desk is a must have! I've been working at my dining room table, but I blog from the couch and i love the design of that tray!

  5. R's Rue
    April 13, 2020 / 2:51 pm

    I need that lap desk and pens.
    rsrue.blogspot.com

  6. Rosy Outlook - Fashion & Lifestyle by Kelly Rose
    April 13, 2020 / 3:07 pm

    Steven bought me a Nespresso for my birthday and it was the perfect gift to get through this time at home! Can't believe it's already been so long!!

    Rosy Outlook 

  7. Straight A Style
    April 13, 2020 / 3:17 pm

    A lap table is a great idea! I always use a pillow, and clearly I need to upgrade. 😉 And yes to all the coffee!

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

  8. Rebecca Jo
    April 13, 2020 / 4:38 pm

    My wifi is STRUGGGGLINGGG hard.
    you know I'm always seeing what your latest pen addiction is … so I can follow right along

  9. Rachel McCarthy
    April 13, 2020 / 5:47 pm

    I'm totally with you — working from home has not been easy! I have the pink foldable desk too and I love it! Our WiFi has been slow, so I will have to check out this extender. What an awesome invention!

    xo, Rachel
    A Blonde's Moment

  10. Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
    April 13, 2020 / 6:46 pm

    Ah I could have used that laptop desk a few weeks ago until I set up shop at J's old desk downstairs. We definitely have had to improvise. I think an essential for me is my mouse pad wrist pad I was able to swipe from my work before it closed. It helps with being on the computer for most of the day!

  11. Karly @ What Karly Said
    April 13, 2020 / 6:59 pm

    I used to live for my lap desk in college – now I might need to get myself another one!

    Karly
    whatkarlysaid.com

  12. Nadine
    April 13, 2020 / 6:59 pm

    I have been drinking so much coffee since being home! I dont know how I am going to cut myself back when it is time to go to the office! I am going to have to snatch up some of those pens. I love a good pen.

  13. Kate at Green Fashionista
    April 13, 2020 / 7:28 pm

    I have heard nothing but amazing things about Nespresso, and am all about trying new coffee! I also need to pick up some blue light glasses. I haven't had a headache since transitioning to working from home, but once we're back in the office the fluorescent bright lighting there hurts my eyes so much while staring at a computer screen all day.

    Green Fashionista

  14. A Dash of Pretty
    April 13, 2020 / 10:07 pm

    I need those pens! And the laptop desk is such a great idea!

  15. Missy
    April 13, 2020 / 10:14 pm

    I have my laptop propped up on a tupperware, I should invest in one of those desks!

  16. awhite
    April 14, 2020 / 5:34 pm

    That lap desk is adorable and so functional! I need this for when I grab my laptop and crash on the couch or bed for a work sesh.

    -Ashley
    Le Stylo Rouge

  17. a little bit of emily
    April 14, 2020 / 6:43 pm

    The blue light glasses have definitely come in handy! It seems like some days all I am doing is staring at screens between the computer, my phone and the TV!

  18. Ashley @ A Cute Angle
    April 15, 2020 / 12:09 am

    That WiFi extender is genius! We really do over load it when Nick is working from home and it gets slow!

  19. Beautifully Candid
    April 15, 2020 / 2:03 pm

    I saw your story about your new pens. Having a good pen makes such a difference!

  20. Lindsay's Sweet World
    April 16, 2020 / 5:35 pm

    I'm so glad you posted this because I LOVE that computer tray!! I have one that's wooden and it doesn't collapse and it's soooo bulky and I just told B the other day I'd like to have one that folds that I could just slide under the couch. That is going on my wish list immediately!