Aside from the obvious, one of the best parts of the work-from-home revolution is being able to outfit your workspace as you see fit.
And if you spend your days squinting at a tiny laptop screen, yelling into a tin-can microphone, and wondering if your spine is going to make it into the next decade, you’re doing it wrong.
So take some of that money you’re saving on your commute, coffee, lunch out, and post-work happy hours and redirect it toward some items that’ll let you work more efficiently and more comfortably.
These must-haves are absolutely, positively worth the extra dough. Here they are in order of most to least important.
The best network you can cobble together
For most office-goers, the workday is a delicate balance between the three hours of actual work your job requires and the five hours you have to kill by making yourself look busy.
At home, on the other hand, you can do other things with that downtime. So the idea is to create a much downtime as possible, and one way to do that is to do your job better and faster.
If your video calls are constantly pixelated, your files take eons to upload, and your high-speed internet is anything but, you’re stealing precious time from yourself.
Don’t settle for basic internet if you’re relying on it for your livelihood. Upgrade to the fastest connection you can afford. It’s the silent, unsung hero of productivity.
But fast internet speeds aren’t enough: you need also need to sling those bits and bytes around your home with speed and precision. Look into mesh networking equipment that leverages the Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 standards: Amazon Eero, TP-Link Deco, Google Nest, Netgear Orbi, and Netgear Nighthawk are all solid options in the $300–$400 range.
Monitors: go big and stay home
A very, very close second to high-speed internet: get yourself some decent monitors.
My favorite setup? An ultrawide monitor for files, web browsing, email, and the like, and a large-ish, high-res, standard-width monitor for project work.
Look for something with good resolution (4K is nice, but QHD is often plenty), decent size (27 inches is a sweet spot), and good ergonomics (height adjustable, tilt, swivel). Ultrawides and 4K monitors can be had starting at around $200 each.
Having more screen real estate means less tabbing, less window wrestling, and more actual work. Your eyes will thank you, too, as you won’t be hunched over a tiny laptop screen squinting at spreadsheets.
A backside-worthy ergonomic office chair
Funny thing about office life: the internet is often on the slow side, decent monitors are hard to come by, but those office chairs—especially if you work for a big company—are generally kind of awesome.
It’s the one thing that’s hard to replicate at home without spending some coin. But your derriere spends more time in that chair than anywhere else, so pamper it.
If you really want to throw down, think Herman Miller, Steelcase, or something equally overengineered (in a good way). You can also find some surprisingly good chairs in the $200 to $300 price range as well, though.
A smart desk with height control
This might feel like the ultimate luxury and it’s possible that it’ll eat up the bulk of your budget, but trust me: your future self will thank you.
Standing desks aren’t just a fad; they’re a legitimate way to break up the monotony of sitting and they’ll help keep your blood flowing.
A smart standing desk, one that glides effortlessly between sitting and standing with a push of a button, is a glorious thing.
FlexiSpot, Uplift Desk, and Fully are all solid contenders that allow you to seamlessly transition throughout your day. If you’re not keen on spending on a motorized desk, keep an eye out for manually adjustable ones. They’re quieter, cheaper, and only take a few seconds longer to adjust.
A decent microphone
Once you’ve gotten yourself all kitted out with the above items, it’s time to turn your attention to communication.
While a great microphone isn’t going to make or break your career, it sends the message that you’re serious about work and, better yet, the good ones have features that can block out unwanted background noise like lawnmowers and barking dogs.
Splurge on a dedicated USB microphone like Logitech’s Blue Yeti Nano or the Rode NT-USB Mini run a very reasonable $100. Your colleagues will thank you, your clients will respect you, and you’ll finally sound like the articulate, highly competent professional you are, right? Right?!
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