Alexis Kestler
Hey there! Working from home is becoming more and more popular these days. As a fellow remote worker, I totally get the appeal – who wouldn‘t want the flexibility and comfort of working in their own space? However, I also know first-hand that working from home comes with some unique challenges.
From battling distraction to staying motivated, it can be hard to replicate the focused office environment at home. But the good news is there are now so many smart gadgets and technologies that can help us tackle these obstacles!
In this guide, I‘ll share my insights as a remote work expert on some of the best innovations available to help supercharge your work-from-home life. These essential tools boost productivity, health, and happiness when working remotely. Let‘s dive in!
1. Invest in an Ergonomic Standing Desk
I don‘t know about you, but sitting for 8+ hours a day is just bad news for the body.neck pain, tight hips – I was dealing with all kinds of aches and pains until I got my adjustable standing desk!
Being able to alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day is so much better for circulation, back health, focus and energy levels.
That‘s why I highly recommend the SmartDesk 2 Premium – it‘s top-notch quality with superior stability and smooth adjustability. For under $500, you get advanced motors that elevate the surface noiselessly at a speedy 1.5 inches per second. It has an ergonomic contour design and can remember 4 customizable height presets. Plus it looks super sleek!
I‘m a big fan of the bamboo and steel construction. It can support up to 350 pounds no problem. Having a high-quality electric standing desk was a total game changer for my home office setup.
While SmartDesk 2 is my top pick, the FlexiSpot EN1 is a great budget alternative at around $250. The lift capacity is lower at 154 pounds but it offers many similar features like programmable height presets and a memory control panel. Easy assembly in under 10 minutes too.
Bottom line – investing in an adjustable standing desk is one of the best moves I‘ve made as a remote worker. It keeps me energized and free of body aches that can come from sitting too long. My productivity is better when I‘m able to change postures throughout the day. Give it a try, your body will thank you!
2. Install Smart Lighting for the Perfect Ambiance
One thing I really miss from working in a proper office is theinvigorating lighting. Fluorescent overhead lights just have a different energy than the average living room lamp!
That‘s why I recommend smart lighting systems like Philips Hue to help recreate that energizing office feel right at home. With customizable smart bulbs, you have granular control over the color temperature and brightness. This allows you to set the perfect ambiance for any activity or mood.
For example, I have a "focus scene" programmed with bright, cool toned white light that keeps me alert when I really need to concentrate and get work done.
I also have a "relax scene" with warmer dimmed lighting that I can activate in the evenings to get my mind ready for sleep.
The Hue app makes it really easy to set schedules, automations, and control lights remotely. You can even link the bulbs to voice assistants like Alexa for hands-free adjustments.
While Hue is the leader in smart lighting, I should also mention the Wyze Bulb Color as a solid budget-friendly alternative. These connect directly to WiFi for around $15 per bulb. You still get great app control and automation capabilities.
I can personally vouch that smart lighting makes working from home much more enjoyable. Being able to customize the ambiance to suit any task or mood is a game changer. Give it a try!
3. Blue Light Blocking Glasses Are a Must
Staring at screens all day long can really take a toll on your eyes. I often ended up with headaches, eye strain, and trouble sleeping.
The blue light emitted by our devices is especially damaging. That‘s why I always wear Cyxus Blue Light Filter Glasses now when I‘m working. They block 90% of harmful blue light to protect your eyes and prevent digital eye strain.
I used to be skeptical but I really notice a difference in how my eyes feel at the end of a long workday with these on. The lenses also cut screen glare and have an anti-reflective coating. Plus I like the stylish wayfarer design – much more attractive than those gamer-style glasses!
For a bit more money, Gunnar Optiks makes quality blue light blocking glasses trusted by doctors. The amber tint lens they use is optimized to protect eyes from extended computer use.
Trust me, if you‘re spending 8+ hours per day staring at a screen, blue light filtering glasses are a simple way to make working from home much more comfortable. I don‘t skip a day without mine!
4. Noise Canceling Headphones Are a Must for Focus
Between neighborhood sounds and family members, it can be really tough to zone in when working from home. Noise canceling headphones are an absolute essential for me to be able to focus despite whatever distractions are happening around me.
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones are truly exceptional when it comes to blocking external noise thanks to Sony‘s industry-leading QN1 processor. On top of that, they deliver amazing sound quality so I can actually enjoy listening to music while I work.
I love how it automatically pauses playback when it detects that I‘m speaking – genius! And the plush leather and comfy over-ear cup design is perfect for long work days. At around $350 they are a premium investment but deliver unmatched performance in my experience.
For those looking to spend less, the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 noise canceling headphones offer great bang for your buck. With 40 hours of battery life and memory foam earcups, they make a lighter impact on your wallet at $60. While not as advanced as the Sony, they still make a significant difference in reducing ambient noise.
As someone who gets easily distracted, quality noise cancellation allows me to maintain focus and get work done even in a noisy environment. It‘s a must-have if you want to stay productive working from home. Try it out!
5. An Air Purifier Cleans Up Home Office Air
Here‘s something I never realized until I started working remotely – air quality really impacts your health and focus! Without proper ventilation, all sorts of allergens and pollutants can build up inside a home office.
That‘s why I always recommend running an air purifier like the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty. This Thing is a beast when it comes to filtering the air – it completely cycles the air in my 361 sq ft office every 30 minutes!
It uses a true HEPA filter along with activated carbon to remove up to 99.97% of contaminants. I especially love the air quality monitoring – it lets you know in real time how the indoor pollution levels are and when to replace filters. You can also control fan speeds and modes right from the unit or mobile app.
At around $200, the Coway Mighty delivers tremendous value for clean air. I notice significantly fewer allergy symptoms and dust buildup since getting it. For a more budget purifier, the GermGuardian AC4825 also does a decent job removing allergens and odors for under $100.
My point is – don‘t neglect your indoor air quality just because you work from home! An air purifier clears away irritants so you can breathe and focus better. Give your home office environment a boost with one.
6. A Fitness Tracker Keeps You Active
Working from home makes it way too easy to live a sedentary lifestyle. I have definitely had weeks where I barely move from my desk! This can seriously impact your physical and even mental health over time.
That‘s why I always wear a fitness tracker to motivate me to walk, exercise, and hit my daily step goals even when working remotely. The Fitbit Charge 5 is my go-to for detailed activity tracking.
It monitors important metrics like steps taken, distance covered, calories burned, heart rate trends, sleep cycles, and more. I love how it provides real-time stats and reminders right on my wrist throughout the day, keeping me accountable.
The built-in GPS allows for accurate mapping of runs and bike rides too. At around $180, the Charge 5 packs tons of advanced features in a slim and swim-proof design that works 24/7.
For a simpler and cheaper tracker, the $30 Letscom Fitness Tracker gets the basic job done tracking steps, distance and calories burned. While it lacks some bells and whistles, the battery lasts a full week between charges.
Wearing a fitness tracker motivates me to take regular movement breaks, hit step targets, and make time for exercise, even on busy work days. Don‘t let remote work negatively impact your activity levels and health. A wearable device helps hold you accountable. Give it a try!
7. A Smart Coffee Maker Delivers Tasty Brews
I‘ll admit it – I drink a lot of coffee working from home! Having delicious java at my fingertips all day fuels my productivity and mood. That‘s why a quality smart coffee maker is totally worth it in my opinion.
The Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker brews a flawless cup every time. I love that it can handle everything from a single cup to a full 12-cup carafe perfectly. The fold away frother lets me make lattes and cappuccinos too!
I really appreciate how you can customize the brew strength and size. And being able to schedule a pot to automatically start brewing is a game changer for my morning routine! At $170, the Ninja provides exceptional performance and versatility.
For espresso enthusiasts who don‘t mind capsules, the Nespresso VertuoPlus whips up delicious single serve drinks like magic. The pod-based system delivers rich, barista-style coffee with crema in mere seconds. It heats up incredibly fast and is more compact. At around $120-150, it‘s great for small spaces.
Trust me, whatever your coffee preference, having a high-end smart coffee maker will vastly improve your remote work mornings. It‘s the little luxuries like this that enhance the overall work from home experience!
The Takeaway
Working remotely provides awesome flexibility but also new struggles. The good news is there are now so many innovative gadgets and technologies designed to optimize the work-from-home lifestyle!
Items like electric standing desks, smart lighting systems, blue light blocking glasses, noise-canceling headphones, air purifiers, fitness trackers, and smart coffee makers all enable you to work comfortably and productively from home.
While not cheap, I believe these kinds of smart home-based solutions are well worth the investment for modern remote professionals. The benefits outweigh the costs when you consider how much they improve your daily experience, health, and happiness working from home.
If you equip your home office with a few of the latest innovative solutions covered here, you‘ll be well positioned to take on the unique challenges of remote work in style. Minimal effort required to supercharge your work-from-home life!
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to share my knowledge and experience as a seasoned work-from-home pro. Looking forward to connecting.
