Like many others, I’ve been thrust into the work-from-home life due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To be honest, I’ve always wanted to have the flexibility to work from home with my job and I’m taking the opportunity to embrace it. The applications and platforms I use are mostly all web-based, and our team has made great strides before this crisis began toward using cloud storage for file sharing. The job is meant to be one that can be done anywhere, but the organization I work for is certainly more traditional and old school than most others. That said, I’m using this unusual opportunity to think about what the future would look like for me down the road if working from home became a regular option. And I’m using this experience to make note of what I do and don’t like about it when compared to working in an office.

To make my daily life easier and to stay on track with tasks and some form of a schedule (something that’s infinitely harder to do when your child is also home while you’re working as opposed to being in school as they would be under normal circumstances), I’ve come to rely on a few specific products to make my workspace more functional.

Ember Coffee Mug

I tend to be a slow coffee drinker whether dealing with a pandemic or not. I saw the Ember coffee mug recommended by Ashley Brooke and Emily Ley, so I put it on my Christmas list last year. My husband bought it for me and I LOVE it. I’m scheming to find a way to get one to have in the office whenever we go back to work. The Ember coffee mug uses the heat from your original pour of coffee to keep itself at an ideal temperature you can set with the Ember app using Bluetooth technology.

Lumbar Support Pillow/Back Cushion

Spending so many hours a day in an office chair can be a recipe for disaster even on a healthier back than my own. I purchased this back pillow/cushion a few months ago when I noticed that sitting in my chair was contributing to back pain, and subsequent shoulder pain. With even more hours spent in this chair than usual these days, I’m pleased to report that I haven’t had any back or shoulder pain at all. This cushion easily slips over your chair and stays in place thanks to its taut band.

Essential Oil Diffuser

I like to diffuse oils to relax me and help me focus. I usually start my mornings now by sitting down at my desk with my coffee, setting my diffuser to run, and putting on some calming music or an upbeat, lighthearted movie or TV show on in the background (Disney+ has been excellent for this!) that can provide some white noise. Full disclosure: the exact diffuser that I use I purchased from Walgreens, but this one is a very similar design and price point.

Erin Condren Hourly Schedule Pad

The exact schedule pad I’ve been using is not available on the Erin Condren website because it was a Seasonal Surprise Box exclusive, but there are a few varieties of Erin Condren schedule pads available that I think can be just as effective. I do love to plan in an hourly format, especially as I try to stick to a schedule and sense of structure. If you are looking for something with an hourly structure, I recommend purchasing one of the Erin Condren Petite Daily Planners for this purpose. The Softbound Erin Condren Daily LifePlanner could be a great option for this too, and it’s on sale for less than $20 right now!

Tablet Stand

As I mentioned above, I’ve been trying to have some light-hearted content going on in the background. It helps me focus on the task at-hand and is a nice break from the rather sad and not-so-optimistic news. Whether you use a smartphone or tablet, it’s an inexpensive purchase that makes a big difference by displaying the content closer to eye level. It also has a clever design that allows you to loop your charger through the back.

Apple AirPods

Like many people, I was wholly against the concept of AirPods when they first came out. But my husband, who works for Apple, decided to buy me a pair for my birthday last year and they’ve become one of my favorite items to use every day. They’re discreet, easy to remove and put back in, and they don’t get in the way of working. In general, I tend to forget I have them in until an email notification or chat message dings. P.S. - He — nor Apple — did not sponsor or encourage this recommendation by the way ;)

These are the items that have carried me through this last week and a half of working from home. I’m no expert by any means, but as I started to give more thought to how my days were going (both the good and bad) I realized these products helped alleviate potential pain points. Other things that I think have helped are: a coaster for cold or sweaty beverages (I personally have ones from Rifle Paper Co.), a high volume water bottle to keep you hydrated during the day, and a pill organizer (that you can use for your daily vitamins) to keep you accountable and healthy.

You can clickthrough on the items above to purchase them for yourself or to learn more about them. Should you choose to purchase through my affiliate link, I may earn a small percentage of your purchase. It will not cost you anything extra, but helps me pay for expenses such as website maintenance.