5 Work From Home Essentials

Shop My Essentials:

I don’t know about you but I’ll be working from home indefinitely (FYI- my job is entirely remote), but even many of my friends who normally work in offices are contiuing to work from home for the rest of 2020. Working from home has been a change for us all this year and something new that we’ve had to master.

Personally, I’ve always found that I work best in my own environment where I can have minimal distractions and don’t have to think about a stressful high-traffic commute twice a day. But, I know not everyone prefers this new way of working that perfectly sums up 2020.

I feel like I’ve gotten my routine down and have found little ways that make my workday more productive and enjoyable. It’s the little things right?

In this post, I’m sharing 5 of my work from home essentials that I cannot be without and are always at my desk. Now I don’t want to tell the obvious such as make sure you’re sitting upright in a comfortable chair or work in a room with great natural light…I feel like that’s a given.

These are 5 essentials you may not know about or have never thought to add into your work from home routine.

5 WORK FROM HOME ESSENTIALS

BLUE LIGHT BLOCKING GLASSES

I’ve been wearing blue light blocking glasses when working for the last 2 years. At first, the concept seemed a bit odd, but now it’s becoming more commonplace (see this old blog post where I talked about the benefits of blue light blocking glasses).

We all work from computers for the majority of our workday whether we like it or not. These blue light glasses protect our eyes from the light emitted from screens that can cause headaches or eye squinting throughout the day. Plus, they’re great to wear for Zoom video calls when you don’t feel like wearing makeup. It hides everything! 

BAN.DO NOTEBOOK

Personally, I prefer being able to quickly jot down notes in meetings by writing rather than typing so I’ve always had some sort of notebook on hand.

This year I was on the hunt to find a notebook that was stylish yet professional, which is surprisingly hard to find. Unless you’re willing to splurge on an expensive leather-bound notebook, the stationary market didn’t have a lot of stylish options for adults that didn’t make you cringe at the cost.

That’s when I discovered Ban.do on Amazon and now I have several of their notebooks for both my professional and personal life. I purchased this floral printed notebook and this positive quote notebook. 

TULA ROSE GLOW EYE BALM

This is a recent addition to my list – I’m not one to wear makeup when working from home, but I have video calls so I still need to look awake and professional. I’ve created a simplified beauty routine to achieve just that and this Tula eye balm has transformed that routine.

It’s a brightening and cooling eye balm so not only can it help relieve tired eyes midday (it remains feeling cool even if you leave it on your counter) but it also brightens your under eye area making you look and feel more put together. This product can be used on its own or under makeup.

MARIO BADESCU FACIAL SPRAY

This is a product I’ve been using for years – long before the days of us all working from home and before I ever heard the words Zoom call. I use the Mario Badescu facial spray to set makeup and as a hydrating pick-me-up for my skin throughout the day. I keep a bottle by my desk and spritz whenever I’m feeling tired or about to hop on a call.

To get ready for a video call:

I throw on a professional top and my blue light glasses. Spritz my face with this facial spray. Use the Tula brightening eye balm. Then finish off with my favorite lip product from Laneige and I’m ready to go.

PODCASTS

So this isn’t a tangible product you can purchase, but it’s a part of nearly every workday for me. Some people prefer to listen to music as they work and some need complete silence – it’s all personal preference. I personally love listening to podcasts when I’m doing work where my brain can go on autopilot and I don’t need 100% concentration. It helps to pass the time.

I listen to podcasts in genres ranging from true crime, royal life to pop culture, and more. Click here for a blog post listing my favorite podcasts  – many I still listen to regularly.

What are some of your work from home essentials that you’ve discovered in 2020? Let me know in the comment section below!