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Whether you currently work from home or at a physical location, you’re probably in search of ways to make your job more manageable. After all, everyone wants to reduce the amount of stress they’re facing on a day-to-day basis, especially as a result of their employment.
Still, some of the time, you might find yourself feeling stuck. No matter what you do, you’re still facing more stress or difficulties than you’d like to experience during your job. If that’s the case, then it’s time to invest in some brand-new tools and gadgets perfectly designed to improve your work life.
If you’ve recently begun to work from home, in particular, you might be in especially desperate need of ways to improve your experience at work. It’s no secret that working from home has become more normal than ever before. In fact, it’s strange to think that, in the not-so-distant past, working from your home office was seen as a luxury.
That’s certainly no longer the case, as work from home positions have become just as accessible as traditional forms of employment.
With more people working from home, there’s a greater need for resources and ways to improve the overall experience. If you ask anyone who regularly works from home, they’ll probably tell you that it took some time to get into a routine. These habits don’t just develop overnight, as soon as you’re hired into your very first at home position.
Not only is it important to build some solid work from home habits and routines, the experience can feel far more manageable when you have access to certain tools and gadgets. In order to make working from home an easier and more comfortable experience, it could be a good idea to check out some useful tools, from creative office products to the best business accessories out there.
In the end, however, it really doesn’t matter whether or not you work from home—we can all use some new and effective methods to improve our work life, no matter who we are or how long we’ve held our position. Here’s a list of some productivity tools and gadgets designed to help you destress and give your work morale a bit of a boost.
Smart Tools and Tech to Improve Your Home Office (And Beyond)
Let’s start out with some essentials. No matter your current work situation, there’s a good chance that you can benefit from at least a few of these items.
ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion, For a Comfy, Memory Foam Seat
The more uncomfortable you feel during work, the more difficult it’s going to be just to push through the workday. After all, no one’s sore back or stiff neck is giving them the energy and motivation they need to get their job done. And, of course, memory foam isn’t just for pillows or mattresses—you can also enjoy the comfortable material during the daytime, as you get your work done.
In reality, prolonged sitting can put significant stress on the tailbone and lower back. So, whenever you’re able to reduce the amount of pressure placed on this part of your body, you can also reduce the pain and discomfort you experience.
ComfiLife Gel Enhanced Seat Cushion Review
“I HIGHLY recommend this seat cushion. I am a receptionist and sit pretty much all day long. I’ve had back and neck issues from a car accident, and sitting just aggravates things more. About 6 months ago I started having shooting pains from my left hip down the side of my leg, and even worse sharp and shooting pain from just below my right butt [cheek] down the back of my leg. Sciatic issues… 🙁 Seeing a chiropractor and starting yoga type exercise has [helped] immensely. But this seat cushion is my real lifesaver. I bought one for work first and had immediate results. The right-side shooting pain started to diminish.” – M. Goodrich
WOOZOO Small Oscillating Personal Air, To Help Keep You Cool On the Job
Since we’re already on the topic of staying comfy on the job, it’s also worth considering a miniature fan. During the summer months, especially, this can be a life-changing option, for both office and at home workers alike. It isn’t exactly easy to focus on work when you’re overheating, so it’s important to take action and prevent that dreaded scenario, in the first place. In this instance, a tabletop fan is the logical way to go.
WOOZOO Small Oscillating Personal Air Review
“I have been looking for a fan for my company’s cubicle. I wanted a fan that was quiet and had a sleek design to match my modern office. The Woozoo fan’s design fits in well with my office decor. It is very quiet and works exactly as described. Although it is very quiet, this small fan’s power will keep you cool and comfortable throughout your working day. I highly recommend this fan.” – Casey
EMINTA Waterproof Desk Pad Protector, To Give Your Desk Some Extra Protection
If you haven’t already invested in a sturdy desk mat, then now might be the time. Not only does this mat allow you to add a pop of color to your desk space, but it can also protect your desk from damage. No more worrying about scratches or other kinds of scuffs.
EMINTA Waterproof Desk Pad Protector Review
“It feels like a good quality mat. The stitches surrounding [the] border are sewn on evenly and not cheap looking. The feel is soft but durable. When I unrolled the mat, it flattened out easily and nicely without any creases or having to put heavy weights on the corners to flatten it out (unlike another similar desk pad brand that I bought for my home desk). As for function, I like that it also acts as a mouse pad for my mouse. Writing on paper with it [underneath] is not a problem, writing still feels smooth. Overall I love this beautiful mat.” – Jessica
livho 2 Pack Blue Light Blocking Glasses, To Protect Against Eye Strain and Keep Your Sleep Schedule in Order
Does your job involve a lot of time in front of a computer screen? Well, if that’s the case, then you (and your eyes) can probably benefit from a pair of blue light blocking glasses. Not only do devices emitting blue light put us at risk for eye strain, but they can also take a serious toll on a sleep schedule. This is especially relevant if you ever find yourself working in the evening or night, when it’s best to avoid keeping your brain awake due to blue light exposure.
Fortunately, blocking out blue light doesn’t always mean stepping away from your computer. Seeing as you can’t always back away from your work, you should at least keep your eyes as protected as possible. For that, it’s time to pick up a pair of blue light blocking glasses. Your eyes will thank you in the long run.
livho 2 Pack Blue Light Blocking Glasses Review
“I work as a presentation/ graphic designer and I need to use my computer for about 8-10 hours/day so my eyes do get strained from staring at computer monitors. They get like gross, pink, and veiny when I’m staring at tiny numbers on a table or creating a very detailed infographic; like my eyes look like I barely had any sleep!
I can honestly notice a difference when I wear blue blocking lenses while working since I can see my eyes look normal and less icky throughout the day. I’m still a millennial who goes out to the bars on the weekends and I don’t want to have bloodshot eyes when I head out to happy hour after work (but really that’s the truth)! These glasses do help my eyes look normal once I’m out of work 🙂
I love these glasses and I highly recommend ordering these since they do the job while not appearing to look so much like blue blocking gamer glasses! I would definitely buy this product again if I needed to!!” – Susan Y.
Gimars Upgrade Enlarge Gel Memory Foam Set, Because Wrist Cramping Isn’t Benefiting Anyone’s Work Ethic
It’s time for us to give another quick shoutout to memory foam, as a way to make the work day more comfortable—and free of cramps and pains. This time, we’re sharing a useful 2-pack of memory foam gel pads, perfectly sized for your desk space.
Simply lay each of these padded strips beneath where your wrists typically rest on your desk. Constantly holding your hands over a keyboard isn’t always painless, but it’s also a crucial element to many jobs. So, if you’re looking to reduce or eliminate wrist pain during work, consider these memory foam gel pads.
Gimars Upgrade Enlarge Gel Memory Foam Set Review:
“I purchased the pink wrist pad and mouse wrist pad for my WFH office set-up to use with an iMac. I really enjoy the wrist pad for the keyboard. The gel is soft but firm, and raises my wrists to a much more comfortable level using the lower Apple magic keyboard. It is easy to clean and water resistant, which is great for this covid-world with endless amounts of hand sanitizer and hand washing. I found that due to my set-up, I haven’t been using the mouse wrist pad as often (due to the large size of the screen and range of movement); I mostly use it for when I need to scroll through documents or browser pages, etc. I am thinking about buying another set when it’s time to return to the office.” – Bree
Verilux HappyLight Lucent Light, A Lamp Designed to Boost Your Energy and Mood
Not all light sources are created equal. For that reason, whenever possible, consider choosing one that is designed specifically for your comfort and energy levels. Especially during darker months, a compact light therapy lamp can be incredibly useful, if you’re looking to stay positive despite the lack of sunlight.
Keeping a lamp like this nearby while you work is certainly worth trying. After all, a slew of people swear by light therapy, as a means to keep them motivated and raring to go.
Verilux HappyLight Lucent Light Review:
“This is a GREAT light! I have never had a HappyLight before, and this is really a game changer! I live in NYC where it feels like it is gray all the time, and in the past, I have certainly felt the effects. This season I noticed that my energy never lagged and I was still able to hop out of bed even though it was dark. I use it for about 30 minutes per day while eating an early breakfast and it keeps me going all day! I cannot say enough good things about this light. Also, it is small enough to be portable which is very convenient, it would fit anywhere in my apartment. Highly recommend!” – Amazon Customer.
Best Work-From-Home Tech
Fortunately, if you work from home, you will probably be relieved to hear: There’s really no shortage of high-quality tech, perfectly crafted to make your remote work life just a bit easier. Here’s just a few possibilities, if you’re currently in search of revolutionary work-from-home tech.
Doxie Go SE, Because You Don’t Always Need a Bulky Device to Scan Documents
If you work from home, don’t assume that you’ll need to purchase a large, bulky scanner, in order to take care of your document scanning needs. As it turns out, that is far from necessary.
Instead, consider getting yourself a sleek, portable scanner, instead. Not only does this device make scanning simple, it also makes it accessible from just about anywhere. This scanner is lightweight, and features a rechargeable battery to keep it up and running.
Doxie Go SE Review:
“I looked at a lot of scanners before this purchase. I have a lot of documents/receipts, so I was leaning toward industrial-grade scanners, but I chose this one because of two reviews on Amazon. One mentioned scanning photos in her living [room] while watching TV and the other talked about leaving the scanner in a shared space so everyone in his household could scan and go. Both reviews made scanning seem accessible and almost fun. After the purchase, I can confirm that Doxie Go embodies that representation well. I recently used it to scan several hundred receipts during an eight hour road trip to another state. It is perfect for accessibility and portability and it truly takes the hassle out of scanning.” – Battery Sheetfed
Saent Lifeline, AKA the Anti-Distraction Button
Now, here’s a problem that many workers experience, including (if not especially) at home workers: getting distracted. At any given time, a wide array of workers is likely searching for a technique to avoid distraction, allowing them to get work done with more ease and efficiency—and far less dragging their feet. If this sounds like you, then there’s a clever product that could just give your anti-procrastination efforts a boost.
Saent Lifeline is a combination of a physical button and an app for your device, which can help to block distracting apps and sites. Better productivity, all in the push of a button—literally.
Saent Lifeline Review:
“This is one of the best time [trackers] I’ve ever found, I really like this visual timeline approach, really well done!” – asfraer
Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook, To Strike a Balance Between Handwritten and Digital
It may call itself a “notebook,” but don’t be fooled—this is actually an innovative piece of tech, perfect for at home workers who crave a ‘pen and paper’ feel. Sometimes, maybe you’re just sick of sitting at your keyboard all day long. We get that.
For one, this notebook is endless—you’ll never have to worry about running out of pages. Rather than standard paper, it actually contains sheets made of a polyester composite. As long as you use a specially designed pen, you’ll be able to effortlessly scan all of your pages directly to a digital device. As needed, you can just use a damp piece of fabric to wipe the pages clean, and start from scratch.
Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook Review:
“I ordered this and the fusion notebook, which I use for work. These are phenomenal products. I also spent waaaay too much money on a variety of frixion pens / markers to use with them. I have to write things down in order to properly retain them. Digital notes just don’t stick, or somehow get lost. I don’t reference them in the same way I do with written notes. Thus, I have lived and died by “the bible,” a massive wire-bound day planner that I buy every year (and genuinely love), but the waste of space and paper using it is something that’s bothered me. The Rocketbook fusion has pre-made templates and grid pages to make my own, and it’s replaced my old day planner method.” – Bananarama
Create Like A Pro with The Best Gadgets
No matter what you’re working on, you deserve a cool space with the right tools to help inspire and motivate you. If you haven’t updated your office for a while or upgraded your tech, maybe it’s time to take stock of what you have and decide what new items you might want to try to help improve your productivity and spark new ideas.
Who knows, with the right tools and working environment you might just mess around and create something new. The world is waiting to see what you’ll create.
