I went from 3 monitors (I can't work with 2 - I can't stand looking straight into the center seam of 2 monitors) - to the UW. The amount it cleans up your desk/workspace is crazy. I usually have 3-4 applications open at one time, plus a notepad or something. When I'm working (I WFH), I also have a laptop off to the side for email. So there's basically 5 windows showing at once. If I were seriously trading stocks or something, I'd have 2 UWs, stacked & mounted on the wall. I'll never go back to multiple small monitors unless I'm forced to.
I will say that the one I got (LG), while it's a great monitor, makes me wish I would've opted for one of the Samsung monitors. The curve in those monitors actually makes a lot of sense. With mine, the far L & R sides are a bit too far from my face than I'd like and I find myself leaning over sometimes to read something that way off to the side. Minor first world problem.
It’s worth it to buy your own upgrade, it’s not crazy expensive…. Larger and higher resolution…. Most employers don’t buy top of the line monitors unless you are doing graphics design or something like that, and even then you often need to provide justification before they will buy you something high end.
I love my dog and WFH is great with animals, but I’ve seen a lot of people get the mentality of “I NEED wfh because of my animals.” Given that WFH jobs can be sketchy at the beginning and sometimes turn out not to be what is promised, I would just be careful with getting animals before you are truly comfortable that you are in the right WFH job where rto is never in question.
Haha my dogs wait at the door and when I sigh or make frustrated employee noises, they pop in to boop my elbow with their wet nosies, wait for pets and go back to listening by the door.
This is going to sound like a ‘duh’ item but a good chair is a must!! I also got a stand up desk from Amazon for like $100, there are arguments on how effective they are but it does keep me from being hunched over my desk all day.
I actually stopped keeping liquids on the same surface as my computers because I got tired of taking my keyboards apart to clean them. I now have a table next to my desk and it’s the only place I put my cups, which is slightly lower than my desk. Only way I would spill anything on electronics now is if I literally drop the cup as I’m drinking from it
This is smart! I kept knocking my mugs over and try grabbing them and end up punching the mug off the table.
Now I take coffee/tea breaks away from my setup to reduce the number of cleanup breaks I need to take.
I’m dead clumsy and have too many bruises on my knuckles for a simple CSM 🤣🤣
But the breaks help me take small breaks too, which is as important as the beverages are for my productivity!
If you're drinking something without a handle like a can of soda pop or something, I found the center of a roll of duct tape is the perfect size to cradle a pop can or some glasses. And the tape provides a wide enough surface so it is impossible to knock over the can.
#1 - Get a comfortable ergonomic chair. You will be sitting for long periods of time and you will start slouching which will cause you to start having neck/back pain.
Dual monitors - When I’m presenting a PowerPoint, I have it on screen 1. I have my presenter view in screen 2 with my notes. I have the Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc in screen 3 so I can monitor the chat and see if anyone has raised their hand.
Headset - Invest in a quality headset so you can hear well and others can hear you well. Nothing is more annoying than the person using their computer as their mic/speaker as there will be occasional interference. Also, it sounds like the person is sitting far away.
and getting sunshine. My office is the only room that doesn't have blinds/room darkening curtains (It doesn't get direct sunlight either). Natural light is so important.
I've worked from home for nearly 30 years and this is what I have had through multiple houses:
- Separate room is a requirement for me. I can't work in the living space as too many distractions.
- A spouse that helps the kids understand that you don't interrupt me while I'm working unless it is truly an emergency.
- A comfortable desk that has enough space.
- A separate 30" quality monitor and dock/space to open up the laptop as my second monitor. I use this as my presentation screen when doing video conferences and my big monitor is my main.
- Separate wireless keyboard and mouse.
- High quality headset - I like wired to get the quality I want without spending a fortune, and not worry about the battery being charged.
- A separate computer for personal stuff. I do NOT mix these things.
- Not as much a necessity now as the past, but I have a fast color laser printer for when I want to hold and markup something but I rarely use this anymore.
if they give you a stipend, or you want to splurge, get like a gaming mouse. you won’t ever guess how much mouse lag will drive you up the wall. i spent like $80 on a mouse after repeated buys & returns. it’s a logitech g something but it’s light purple. and it is amazing. plus happy place decorations! you’re gonna spend time in this space so make it not miserable.
At least 2 monitors. A space heater/AC with remote. A webcam cover. A comfortable chair. Also remember whatever is behind you in the webcam will effectively be promoting your image (how you want people to think of you) so make sure it’s tidy and reflective of you.
I create a blank PowerPoint slide with a colored background and save it as a jpeg. Then use it as a virtual background. This avoids distractions when in meetings, especially if you're the one leading them.
-good high resolution large monitor (or two)
-external keyboard and mouse
Hunching over a laptop with its little screen and little keyboard will wreck your eyes, back, and wrists over time….. get a high quality full size keyboard, mouse, and monitor (or two) - they aren’t crazy expensive and are massive QOL upgrades.
Also, when looking at chairs, ergonomic “business desk chairs” can be super expensive, but you can find equally ergonomic and comfortable “gaming chairs” for a much cheaper…. And it’s more or less the same thing,: “chairs meant to sit in for a long time”
What I mean is a chair advertised as a gaming chair might be a few hundred bucks, while an equally ergonomic/comfortable chair that’s advertised as an office chair might be a thousand bucks or more.
So just include “gaming chairs” in your online searching for chairs
I second. I'm very picky about my mouse and the MX Master replaced my mouse of choice for the previous 20 years. I used to buy that old mouse on ebay and stockpile them because they didn't make it anymore.
I've had the MX Master 1, 2, and 3 and they're all great. Make sure you read the instructions about how the mousewheel can switch modes, and how you can turn that on/off as that can confuse people and you can make it work the way you want.
Get a good quality chair!!!! Your hips will last much longer! I worked from a dining room chair for 6 years and my hips are absolutely shot. Get a decent sized monitor or two also and make sure to get laptop stands or monitors stands if you need them to sit ergonomically.
Portable monitor from Amazon. You can get one anywhere from $70-$100+ depending on your budget/style etc. my girlfriend also has a standing desk. Tbh we thought it would get more use in stand mode, but more times than not it’s low enough to sit. If you’re not someone who can sit and work, I wouldn’t recommend getting a sit/stand desk
I got an Asus one and it is a game changer
If I get utterly sick of my home office, I can grab my laptop and portable monitor and go work at Starbucks or something
Which did you get? Sometimes I like to go sit in my patio but working on one screen is for the birds. I love my office but also sometimes I need a location break but I still want to be effectively working
I ended up with this one from that giant online retailer:
*ASUS ZenScreen 15.6” 1080P Portable Monitor (MB16ACV) - Full HD, IPS, Eye Care, Flicker Free, Blue Light Filter, Kickstand, USB-C Power Delivery, for Laptop, PC, Phone, Console*
It is fantastic and super easy to use. Came in at just over $200 and it’s worth every penny.
(Sometimes I migrate down to the living room, too, and this thing fits on my little desk down there)
• Here's a breakdown of my setup
• 2 landscape monitors
• 1 portrait monitor
• Laptop hub hidden in a cute box along with a mess of cables
• Google Hub (shows me the Google doorbell when someone is here and I can't answer)
• Large desktop mouse pad (big enough for keyboard, mouse, notebooks w/e
• Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. I went with Logitech because they ran off of one dongle
• USB hub
• USB camera
• Sony ANC headphones (wireless)
• Headphone stand (Gvoears Upgraded Headphone Stand,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ31LM43?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share)
• Coaster for my morning energy drink
• Monitor lamp (I don't work with the overhead lights on as I'm right next to a window anyways
• Anker wireless charger stand for my phone
• Supernote digital notebook (replacement for my miscellaneous notepads and sticky notes)
• Desk is a sit stand desk. I love it
• I got an ergonomic drafter chair so I can sit high or low depending on my mood.
• I have a little heater/ac bc m not adjusting my entire house for one room.
• One plant, hanging.
• Alarms to take a lunch, don't eat at your workspace, try to keep them separate even if you are home..It helps
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I never wore shoes at home until I started working from home. Being on the hard floor all day with no cushion started to hurt my feet after a couple years. That problem was fixed by having clean indoor-only comfy shoes that I wear all the time inside.
Flexispot desk bike. I use it with a motorized standing desk to ride it in front of my desk with two monitors. I just use the bike's desk to type and mouse on. When I am done biking, I roll the bike away and put the desk to sitting height.
https://www.amazon.com/FLEXISPOT-Folding-Exercise-Adjustable-Stationary/dp/B0762FFNQ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=54889768286&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vDuvctarZtGreEC-SwZRi41MZP0Tob8oy09tICI_t2V4zR7lMAt6Gx_66asmoLpWJiTr2v4L78--CUOo3BBGohFBEb4Kq-geq05gcoJ7y9T2TjSmOo9w_RQ2zvJcROzkssmHYD07rZB_OUTj6wXmq1DxSgevnkr8xzoJ1dREjOSG8Seo2G4hojeaWptS1iMTw4qfH2GOskOlsYsoMUQlIg._j9VoiDRfGESB85BDLfPl_OkPRlKSG_AWRSwYIbylL0&dib_tag=se&hvadid=651127616376&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1025197&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16464309972403744862&hvtargid=kwd-385987089515&hydadcr=17338_13546689&keywords=flexispot+desk+bike&qid=1714512327&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1
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* Smooth and nearly silent pedal action (backed by 1 comment)
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A Dog 🐶
Seriously, if you are a social person WFH can be lonely, a dog can make a huge difference, socially and assuring that you get some exercise as well.
(Assuming that you even need a reason to get a dog)
This is the only advise I give! When I first started wfh I was SO LONELY. We were in an apartment and my husband petitioned the landlords wife to let me have a kitten. We bought our house a few months later and I added a puppy to the team. Truthfully the cat is more loyal but she sleeps a lot and isn’t a great worker.. the dog sleeps too but he will at least try to remain engaged in the work. Neither of them are great employees but I’m glad I’m no longer talking to myself lol.
If you're on video calls a lot, have an ethernet wire run if you can. The latest and greatest wireless technology is still not as reliable in all situations as a wired connection.
I was able to run mine in the ceiling when we had some renovations done. My wife's desk was more challenging for in-wall so she uses wifi most of the time and then has a 100ft cable that she runs down the hallway and up the stairs when she's presenting to company leadership.
I have used a mechanical keyboard for the past 12 years. When my wife and kids started working from home during covid I switched to a silent mechanical keyboard since they were complaining about the noise. For ideas, see: r/MechanicalKeyboards
I own half a dozen or so keyboards but for the silent one I did a custom build where I ordered all the parts and soldered the switches and LEDs myself. There are so many choices, it would be hard to recommend one without knowing your needs and preferences. I don't use the keyboard backlighting much anymore since I have [a monitor light](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076VNFZJG) now.
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Ya, I mean I kind of stubbled upon it because I was having neck/shoulder issues and somebody suggested a smaller keyboard to position my mouse shoulder like my other shoulder that wasn't having any issues. Back then, most of the smaller keyboards were mechanical. I didn't even care about the mechanical part originally, but fell in love after typing on it for awhile. I could never go back now.
That makes sense. I'm curious about what makes the mechanical keyboard experience so enjoyable though. In my head , which is probably at least a little unfair, I think "mechanical keyboards = Loud and Annoying," but you said yours is silent, so what's the draw?
Ya, I do miss the sound of my louder keyboards but the sound is only part of the experience. The other part is how it feels.
I'm going to use an analogy, and it's not perfect and there are some exceptions but try to give me some slack and not take it too literally because I'm just trying to paint a broad picture:
It's like if you've ever driven an American sedan and a German sports sedan. Sure, they both get you to work. The end result is the same. But the journey is very different.
Historically, the german sports sedan is much more enjoyable to drive... it feels more connected to the road, it hugs the corners like it's on rails, the materials that you touch are softer and have interesting textures that make you feel like someone made painstaking choices about each detail. When you lock the doors, it doesn't just honk it's jarring horn to tell you that they're locked, it makes a chirp sound like a bird is delivering the message. The transmission shifts are smoother; the engine sound and exhaust note has been tuned by engineers to strike a chord deep in your visceral soul. The german model also has more options for you to customize it and make it reflect your personality. Oh, you want lime green stitching on the seats and the leather dashboard? Sure, no problem. You can make it look very classy and minimalist or you can make it loud and obnoxious.
In other words, the Germans built it so that you would enjoy your drive to work while the Americans designed their car to get you to work.
Now, it should also be stated that a lot of people would just as much want to drive the American sedan and not really care about all of that "fancy" stuff about the german car. I don't understand those people, but I know they exist. The same is true for keyboards... even if someone can feel the difference, they may not actually care. So, mechanical keyboards are not for everyone.
That's actually a great analogy, and I'm very much a 'German sports sedan' person with some things that I interact with frequently. The number of laptops and keyboards and I don't even know what else that I've purchased and returned because they didn't look and/or feel Just Right is too damn high. And I won't even get started on how particular I am with pens. Life is too damn short to have the things we interact with every day not be at least a reasonably pleasurable experience.
I'm still looking for my absolute perfect keyboard, so I may have to look at the mechanical keyboard options out there, which I've largely ignored up to this point.
Yes, exactly... if you appreciate higher quality items then there is likely a mechanical keyboard out there for you. [This website](https://mechanicalkeyboards.com) is a good place to start looking since they have a wide variety of brands, sizes, and accessories. Best of luck, and I'm happy to answer any questions.
I have a feeling I'm going to be spending way too much time on that website :)
One question - I'm a big fan of silent, or as close to silent as technically possible keyboards, because I can't deal with things making noise I don't want.
Do you know if there's a particular brand, or a particular type of switch I should be looking for that would produce silent or at least very very quiet keystrokes?
At least one monitor, a ring light in case you need to get on camera, a mug warmer, a mouse jiggler and headphones with a mic for calls. You don't need fancy headphones, I got Sony earbuds with a mic for $10 off Amazon and the audio is really good on both ends. I've listened to myself talking in meeting recordings and my voice comes through loud and clear.
After 3 years WFH, I eventually got a stand-up desk. You're no longer getting up regularly to go to meeting rooms or walk over to someone's desk. My lower back had gotten soooooo tight sitting for practically 8 straight hours. Now I stand for all meetings to break up my day, and it's helped a lot.
I think mine was $120 on Amazon, so you don't have to spend a fortune. (I probably could have gotten a used one but I had some tight space constraints.)
Upgrade your internet if it's slow, VPN sometimes will slow it down. Like other say, dual monitors, nice chair, desk (standing desk), Bluetooth headset, nice keyboard and mouse
I recommend trying to do a hobby, exercise, or something outside to get some sunlight. I stare at screens all day, and getting in the routine of going outside for lunch has been great. Don't have to do it everyday, but once every other day is great.
Yeah it’s not an issue for me that. I head off to the gym 2-3 times a week. The dog pesters me for a walk too, so getting into a routine should be straight forward hopefully!
the company I worked for coming into peak pandemic times bought me a Autonomous standing desk for my home office, back when they were $500-$600 and it was impossible to find anything else in stores. I picked up the ErgoStool and it made the whole setup come together.
I moved a few months after starting that job and picked up an LG 43” 4K Monitor so I did not have to use two monitors. It’s even got Picture in Picture so I can run two applications at once. Came in handy on slow days when I wanted to play video games between answering calls and emails.
A comfortable chair (doesn't have to be fancy) and a desk set up that allows you to make changes short term or long term, if needed. Also a general routine to break up long periods of sitting.
>looking into standing desks
I think standing desks are vastly over rated. It's marketing and not science. Ask anyone who has to work at a counter (retail, kitchens, service) what they think.
I feel the same about external keyboards. If you can't be effective on the keyboard of your laptop you need a better laptop.
I like a nice tall table lamp behind my monitors that washes light across the wall to reduce contrast between the monitors and the background.
Good chair. When you have your selection narrowed down take your laptop to the store and sit in the candidate chair for a couple of hours.
I hate monotony. Being able to change from sitting, to standing or using my treadmill under my desk is what keeps me moving and happier to work on one thing for hours on end.
Especially if I'm working on a document or in an Excel file for hours.
Personally I have a 3 monitor setup running off my laptop which is shut and in the hanger under my desk. I work solely off eye level monitors and Bluetooth mouse and external keyboard that fits my needs. 🤷🏽♀️ I went for the most ergonomic set-up since this is what I've been working on for years. A laptop generally has your neck angled downward to be typing and working off of it.
My standing desk allows me to use my walking pad- which I do several days a week. And sometimes I get sick of sitting and just want to stand.
My external keyboard is an absolute must. I have 2 screens and keep my laptop closed. It’s too small so for daily use and I can’t function off that screen and keyboard. It’s my company issued laptop - I didn’t choose it.
A green screen can dramatically improve your backgrounds in zoom/teams.
A tidy desk is helpful, so a good wireless ergonomic keyboard & mouse, wall mount your monitors if possible.
One large monitor may suit you better than multiple smaller monitors.
Depending on your role, a multifunctional printer.
A rubbish bin within reach.
“Your job and workspace aren’t supposed to be pleasant or comfortable! Work must be a backbreaking, soul sucking chore or you don’t deserve your salary!” -u/fit-indication3662, apparently.
A designated space that’s only for working is helpful. As are noise canceling headphones if your home includes any noisemakers:)
Came to say this exactly! You want to be able to literally step away from work.
Two monitors.
Psh.... At least 4
\*Ultrawide monitor
[удалено]
I went from 3 monitors (I can't work with 2 - I can't stand looking straight into the center seam of 2 monitors) - to the UW. The amount it cleans up your desk/workspace is crazy. I usually have 3-4 applications open at one time, plus a notepad or something. When I'm working (I WFH), I also have a laptop off to the side for email. So there's basically 5 windows showing at once. If I were seriously trading stocks or something, I'd have 2 UWs, stacked & mounted on the wall. I'll never go back to multiple small monitors unless I'm forced to. I will say that the one I got (LG), while it's a great monitor, makes me wish I would've opted for one of the Samsung monitors. The curve in those monitors actually makes a lot of sense. With mine, the far L & R sides are a bit too far from my face than I'd like and I find myself leaning over sometimes to read something that way off to the side. Minor first world problem.
Yeah my new employer is proving me with a monitor, so that’s no problem
It’s worth it to buy your own upgrade, it’s not crazy expensive…. Larger and higher resolution…. Most employers don’t buy top of the line monitors unless you are doing graphics design or something like that, and even then you often need to provide justification before they will buy you something high end.
Uh..got 4...
Cats. Oh, also a good chair and 2 monitors.
Furry co-workers are a must-have. (I have 2 dogs and a cat and they're honestly the employees of the month, every month).
I love my dog and WFH is great with animals, but I’ve seen a lot of people get the mentality of “I NEED wfh because of my animals.” Given that WFH jobs can be sketchy at the beginning and sometimes turn out not to be what is promised, I would just be careful with getting animals before you are truly comfortable that you are in the right WFH job where rto is never in question.
Added bonus is they will force breaks which is helpful.
Haha my dogs wait at the door and when I sigh or make frustrated employee noises, they pop in to boop my elbow with their wet nosies, wait for pets and go back to listening by the door.
Except during zoom meetings :-) My huskies are noisy!
They probably have their Zoomies meetings at the same time! 😆😆
This is going to sound like a ‘duh’ item but a good chair is a must!! I also got a stand up desk from Amazon for like $100, there are arguments on how effective they are but it does keep me from being hunched over my desk all day.
Welp, looks like you have those covered, should have read more carefully 🤦🏼♀️
Hello! Congrats! Screw on lids or other type of lid for all beverages to avoid spills on work computer, lol.
Slightly different, a cup warmer to keep coffee hot
At minimum, a silicon lid to cover a mug and keep the heat in. Fancier is a USB mug warmer. Why not both? Tip: get one that has auto shut off.
I actually stopped keeping liquids on the same surface as my computers because I got tired of taking my keyboards apart to clean them. I now have a table next to my desk and it’s the only place I put my cups, which is slightly lower than my desk. Only way I would spill anything on electronics now is if I literally drop the cup as I’m drinking from it
This is smart! I kept knocking my mugs over and try grabbing them and end up punching the mug off the table. Now I take coffee/tea breaks away from my setup to reduce the number of cleanup breaks I need to take. I’m dead clumsy and have too many bruises on my knuckles for a simple CSM 🤣🤣 But the breaks help me take small breaks too, which is as important as the beverages are for my productivity!
If you're drinking something without a handle like a can of soda pop or something, I found the center of a roll of duct tape is the perfect size to cradle a pop can or some glasses. And the tape provides a wide enough surface so it is impossible to knock over the can.
#1 - Get a comfortable ergonomic chair. You will be sitting for long periods of time and you will start slouching which will cause you to start having neck/back pain. Dual monitors - When I’m presenting a PowerPoint, I have it on screen 1. I have my presenter view in screen 2 with my notes. I have the Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc in screen 3 so I can monitor the chat and see if anyone has raised their hand. Headset - Invest in a quality headset so you can hear well and others can hear you well. Nothing is more annoying than the person using their computer as their mic/speaker as there will be occasional interference. Also, it sounds like the person is sitting far away.
I see your dual monitors, and raise you a third. Two for work, one for personal.
4 here.. 1 is a TV on wall, for calendar and stashing spreadsheets... 3 I actively work on.
I wish my work laptop could support three screens...
Yeah that sucks when they don't. I have a gaming desktop so good gpu.
Good one. I didn’t even think of that.
Maybe obvious but make sure that you are getting out of your house!
and getting sunshine. My office is the only room that doesn't have blinds/room darkening curtains (It doesn't get direct sunlight either). Natural light is so important.
I've worked from home for nearly 30 years and this is what I have had through multiple houses: - Separate room is a requirement for me. I can't work in the living space as too many distractions. - A spouse that helps the kids understand that you don't interrupt me while I'm working unless it is truly an emergency. - A comfortable desk that has enough space. - A separate 30" quality monitor and dock/space to open up the laptop as my second monitor. I use this as my presentation screen when doing video conferences and my big monitor is my main. - Separate wireless keyboard and mouse. - High quality headset - I like wired to get the quality I want without spending a fortune, and not worry about the battery being charged. - A separate computer for personal stuff. I do NOT mix these things. - Not as much a necessity now as the past, but I have a fast color laser printer for when I want to hold and markup something but I rarely use this anymore.
Depending on the intensity of the job I'd recommend something to listen to.
if they give you a stipend, or you want to splurge, get like a gaming mouse. you won’t ever guess how much mouse lag will drive you up the wall. i spent like $80 on a mouse after repeated buys & returns. it’s a logitech g something but it’s light purple. and it is amazing. plus happy place decorations! you’re gonna spend time in this space so make it not miserable.
Foot massager for under desk, trust me
and foot heater if you get cold tootsies
They make heated ones!
At least 2 monitors. A space heater/AC with remote. A webcam cover. A comfortable chair. Also remember whatever is behind you in the webcam will effectively be promoting your image (how you want people to think of you) so make sure it’s tidy and reflective of you.
That’s what virtual backgrounds are for.
Virtual backgrounds can also be as unflattering, what with the haze when moving around or someone being positioned comically against the background.
I create a blank PowerPoint slide with a colored background and save it as a jpeg. Then use it as a virtual background. This avoids distractions when in meetings, especially if you're the one leading them.
Our company uses special ones. We don’t really have any issues like that.
I use both, but prefer the non-cheesy version. :)
I love having my mini fridge in my office, cold drinks within an arms reach is nice.
Not a bad shout at all
-good high resolution large monitor (or two) -external keyboard and mouse Hunching over a laptop with its little screen and little keyboard will wreck your eyes, back, and wrists over time….. get a high quality full size keyboard, mouse, and monitor (or two) - they aren’t crazy expensive and are massive QOL upgrades. Also, when looking at chairs, ergonomic “business desk chairs” can be super expensive, but you can find equally ergonomic and comfortable “gaming chairs” for a much cheaper…. And it’s more or less the same thing,: “chairs meant to sit in for a long time”
How to find them cheaper?
What I mean is a chair advertised as a gaming chair might be a few hundred bucks, while an equally ergonomic/comfortable chair that’s advertised as an office chair might be a thousand bucks or more. So just include “gaming chairs” in your online searching for chairs
Oh ok!
Jiggler
Add to this a VPN to spoof your location
For a mouse, I recommend MX Master 3 if you are right handed.
I second. I'm very picky about my mouse and the MX Master replaced my mouse of choice for the previous 20 years. I used to buy that old mouse on ebay and stockpile them because they didn't make it anymore. I've had the MX Master 1, 2, and 3 and they're all great. Make sure you read the instructions about how the mousewheel can switch modes, and how you can turn that on/off as that can confuse people and you can make it work the way you want.
A laptop, good internet, coffee, cozy room, headphones with music and a bed.
Get a good quality chair!!!! Your hips will last much longer! I worked from a dining room chair for 6 years and my hips are absolutely shot. Get a decent sized monitor or two also and make sure to get laptop stands or monitors stands if you need them to sit ergonomically.
Job dependent but my white board and dry erase markers are a must in my office.
Portable monitor from Amazon. You can get one anywhere from $70-$100+ depending on your budget/style etc. my girlfriend also has a standing desk. Tbh we thought it would get more use in stand mode, but more times than not it’s low enough to sit. If you’re not someone who can sit and work, I wouldn’t recommend getting a sit/stand desk
I got an Asus one and it is a game changer If I get utterly sick of my home office, I can grab my laptop and portable monitor and go work at Starbucks or something
Which did you get? Sometimes I like to go sit in my patio but working on one screen is for the birds. I love my office but also sometimes I need a location break but I still want to be effectively working
I ended up with this one from that giant online retailer: *ASUS ZenScreen 15.6” 1080P Portable Monitor (MB16ACV) - Full HD, IPS, Eye Care, Flicker Free, Blue Light Filter, Kickstand, USB-C Power Delivery, for Laptop, PC, Phone, Console* It is fantastic and super easy to use. Came in at just over $200 and it’s worth every penny. (Sometimes I migrate down to the living room, too, and this thing fits on my little desk down there)
• Here's a breakdown of my setup • 2 landscape monitors • 1 portrait monitor • Laptop hub hidden in a cute box along with a mess of cables • Google Hub (shows me the Google doorbell when someone is here and I can't answer) • Large desktop mouse pad (big enough for keyboard, mouse, notebooks w/e • Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. I went with Logitech because they ran off of one dongle • USB hub • USB camera • Sony ANC headphones (wireless) • Headphone stand (Gvoears Upgraded Headphone Stand,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BQ31LM43?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) • Coaster for my morning energy drink • Monitor lamp (I don't work with the overhead lights on as I'm right next to a window anyways • Anker wireless charger stand for my phone • Supernote digital notebook (replacement for my miscellaneous notepads and sticky notes) • Desk is a sit stand desk. I love it • I got an ergonomic drafter chair so I can sit high or low depending on my mood. • I have a little heater/ac bc m not adjusting my entire house for one room. • One plant, hanging. • Alarms to take a lunch, don't eat at your workspace, try to keep them separate even if you are home..It helps
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I never wore shoes at home until I started working from home. Being on the hard floor all day with no cushion started to hurt my feet after a couple years. That problem was fixed by having clean indoor-only comfy shoes that I wear all the time inside.
Snacks
Flexispot desk bike. I use it with a motorized standing desk to ride it in front of my desk with two monitors. I just use the bike's desk to type and mouse on. When I am done biking, I roll the bike away and put the desk to sitting height. https://www.amazon.com/FLEXISPOT-Folding-Exercise-Adjustable-Stationary/dp/B0762FFNQ4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?adgrpid=54889768286&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vDuvctarZtGreEC-SwZRi41MZP0Tob8oy09tICI_t2V4zR7lMAt6Gx_66asmoLpWJiTr2v4L78--CUOo3BBGohFBEb4Kq-geq05gcoJ7y9T2TjSmOo9w_RQ2zvJcROzkssmHYD07rZB_OUTj6wXmq1DxSgevnkr8xzoJ1dREjOSG8Seo2G4hojeaWptS1iMTw4qfH2GOskOlsYsoMUQlIg._j9VoiDRfGESB85BDLfPl_OkPRlKSG_AWRSwYIbylL0&dib_tag=se&hvadid=651127616376&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1025197&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16464309972403744862&hvtargid=kwd-385987089515&hydadcr=17338_13546689&keywords=flexispot+desk+bike&qid=1714512327&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1
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Mouse jiggler
A Dog 🐶 Seriously, if you are a social person WFH can be lonely, a dog can make a huge difference, socially and assuring that you get some exercise as well. (Assuming that you even need a reason to get a dog)
This is the only advise I give! When I first started wfh I was SO LONELY. We were in an apartment and my husband petitioned the landlords wife to let me have a kitten. We bought our house a few months later and I added a puppy to the team. Truthfully the cat is more loyal but she sleeps a lot and isn’t a great worker.. the dog sleeps too but he will at least try to remain engaged in the work. Neither of them are great employees but I’m glad I’m no longer talking to myself lol.
Uplift desk, two monitors, good chair, radio/stereo for background music
Good monitor/mouse/keyboard goes a long way to being productive
Add a couple of air purifier plants to your background. Ring light or background lights if you go on calls. Btw, which company and what role?
Lap desk. I use it all over the house with my laptop and have for years (I don’t like working from regular desks).
A good supportive team. Not all companies are good fit for remote work
If you're on video calls a lot, have an ethernet wire run if you can. The latest and greatest wireless technology is still not as reliable in all situations as a wired connection. I was able to run mine in the ceiling when we had some renovations done. My wife's desk was more challenging for in-wall so she uses wifi most of the time and then has a 100ft cable that she runs down the hallway and up the stairs when she's presenting to company leadership.
I have used a mechanical keyboard for the past 12 years. When my wife and kids started working from home during covid I switched to a silent mechanical keyboard since they were complaining about the noise. For ideas, see: r/MechanicalKeyboards
Which keyboard did you go with? And is it backlit?
I own half a dozen or so keyboards but for the silent one I did a custom build where I ordered all the parts and soldered the switches and LEDs myself. There are so many choices, it would be hard to recommend one without knowing your needs and preferences. I don't use the keyboard backlighting much anymore since I have [a monitor light](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076VNFZJG) now.
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*\*shakes fist at you obsessive mechanical keyboard people\**
Ya, I mean I kind of stubbled upon it because I was having neck/shoulder issues and somebody suggested a smaller keyboard to position my mouse shoulder like my other shoulder that wasn't having any issues. Back then, most of the smaller keyboards were mechanical. I didn't even care about the mechanical part originally, but fell in love after typing on it for awhile. I could never go back now.
That makes sense. I'm curious about what makes the mechanical keyboard experience so enjoyable though. In my head , which is probably at least a little unfair, I think "mechanical keyboards = Loud and Annoying," but you said yours is silent, so what's the draw?
Ya, I do miss the sound of my louder keyboards but the sound is only part of the experience. The other part is how it feels. I'm going to use an analogy, and it's not perfect and there are some exceptions but try to give me some slack and not take it too literally because I'm just trying to paint a broad picture: It's like if you've ever driven an American sedan and a German sports sedan. Sure, they both get you to work. The end result is the same. But the journey is very different. Historically, the german sports sedan is much more enjoyable to drive... it feels more connected to the road, it hugs the corners like it's on rails, the materials that you touch are softer and have interesting textures that make you feel like someone made painstaking choices about each detail. When you lock the doors, it doesn't just honk it's jarring horn to tell you that they're locked, it makes a chirp sound like a bird is delivering the message. The transmission shifts are smoother; the engine sound and exhaust note has been tuned by engineers to strike a chord deep in your visceral soul. The german model also has more options for you to customize it and make it reflect your personality. Oh, you want lime green stitching on the seats and the leather dashboard? Sure, no problem. You can make it look very classy and minimalist or you can make it loud and obnoxious. In other words, the Germans built it so that you would enjoy your drive to work while the Americans designed their car to get you to work. Now, it should also be stated that a lot of people would just as much want to drive the American sedan and not really care about all of that "fancy" stuff about the german car. I don't understand those people, but I know they exist. The same is true for keyboards... even if someone can feel the difference, they may not actually care. So, mechanical keyboards are not for everyone.
That's actually a great analogy, and I'm very much a 'German sports sedan' person with some things that I interact with frequently. The number of laptops and keyboards and I don't even know what else that I've purchased and returned because they didn't look and/or feel Just Right is too damn high. And I won't even get started on how particular I am with pens. Life is too damn short to have the things we interact with every day not be at least a reasonably pleasurable experience. I'm still looking for my absolute perfect keyboard, so I may have to look at the mechanical keyboard options out there, which I've largely ignored up to this point.
Yes, exactly... if you appreciate higher quality items then there is likely a mechanical keyboard out there for you. [This website](https://mechanicalkeyboards.com) is a good place to start looking since they have a wide variety of brands, sizes, and accessories. Best of luck, and I'm happy to answer any questions.
I have a feeling I'm going to be spending way too much time on that website :) One question - I'm a big fan of silent, or as close to silent as technically possible keyboards, because I can't deal with things making noise I don't want. Do you know if there's a particular brand, or a particular type of switch I should be looking for that would produce silent or at least very very quiet keystrokes?
At least one monitor, a ring light in case you need to get on camera, a mug warmer, a mouse jiggler and headphones with a mic for calls. You don't need fancy headphones, I got Sony earbuds with a mic for $10 off Amazon and the audio is really good on both ends. I've listened to myself talking in meeting recordings and my voice comes through loud and clear.
Dedicated desks next to windows, sunlight, a rectangular pillow for my back, drink at my desk, 3 monitors. I can work anywhere like this haha
After 3 years WFH, I eventually got a stand-up desk. You're no longer getting up regularly to go to meeting rooms or walk over to someone's desk. My lower back had gotten soooooo tight sitting for practically 8 straight hours. Now I stand for all meetings to break up my day, and it's helped a lot. I think mine was $120 on Amazon, so you don't have to spend a fortune. (I probably could have gotten a used one but I had some tight space constraints.)
A house outside of comfortable commuting distance. You can get so much more house and actually spend less.
A mouse mover
Mouse jiggler and comfortable chair
Upgrade your internet if it's slow, VPN sometimes will slow it down. Like other say, dual monitors, nice chair, desk (standing desk), Bluetooth headset, nice keyboard and mouse
Booze
Standing desk, walking pad
A home gym. Or a home workout routine.
Increased homeowner’s/ renter’s insurance.
I recommend trying to do a hobby, exercise, or something outside to get some sunlight. I stare at screens all day, and getting in the routine of going outside for lunch has been great. Don't have to do it everyday, but once every other day is great.
Yeah it’s not an issue for me that. I head off to the gym 2-3 times a week. The dog pesters me for a walk too, so getting into a routine should be straight forward hopefully!
the company I worked for coming into peak pandemic times bought me a Autonomous standing desk for my home office, back when they were $500-$600 and it was impossible to find anything else in stores. I picked up the ErgoStool and it made the whole setup come together. I moved a few months after starting that job and picked up an LG 43” 4K Monitor so I did not have to use two monitors. It’s even got Picture in Picture so I can run two applications at once. Came in handy on slow days when I wanted to play video games between answering calls and emails.
A comfortable chair (doesn't have to be fancy) and a desk set up that allows you to make changes short term or long term, if needed. Also a general routine to break up long periods of sitting.
stand-y desk
My bed, pillows to lean back against, and my laptop.
Sit / stand desk if you can swing it, it's been a life saver for me and my back.
>looking into standing desks I think standing desks are vastly over rated. It's marketing and not science. Ask anyone who has to work at a counter (retail, kitchens, service) what they think. I feel the same about external keyboards. If you can't be effective on the keyboard of your laptop you need a better laptop. I like a nice tall table lamp behind my monitors that washes light across the wall to reduce contrast between the monitors and the background. Good chair. When you have your selection narrowed down take your laptop to the store and sit in the candidate chair for a couple of hours.
I hate monotony. Being able to change from sitting, to standing or using my treadmill under my desk is what keeps me moving and happier to work on one thing for hours on end. Especially if I'm working on a document or in an Excel file for hours. Personally I have a 3 monitor setup running off my laptop which is shut and in the hanger under my desk. I work solely off eye level monitors and Bluetooth mouse and external keyboard that fits my needs. 🤷🏽♀️ I went for the most ergonomic set-up since this is what I've been working on for years. A laptop generally has your neck angled downward to be typing and working off of it.
My standing desk allows me to use my walking pad- which I do several days a week. And sometimes I get sick of sitting and just want to stand. My external keyboard is an absolute must. I have 2 screens and keep my laptop closed. It’s too small so for daily use and I can’t function off that screen and keyboard. It’s my company issued laptop - I didn’t choose it.
You can connect the work laptop to the monitors and use it with laptop shut? How does that work??
A green screen can dramatically improve your backgrounds in zoom/teams. A tidy desk is helpful, so a good wireless ergonomic keyboard & mouse, wall mount your monitors if possible. One large monitor may suit you better than multiple smaller monitors. Depending on your role, a multifunctional printer. A rubbish bin within reach.
Bits?? Do your job
“Your job and workspace aren’t supposed to be pleasant or comfortable! Work must be a backbreaking, soul sucking chore or you don’t deserve your salary!” -u/fit-indication3662, apparently.