From distractions and procrastination to poor lighting and questionable internet connections, working from home isn’t as easy as it sounds. And if you’re someone who’s spent most of the year working from your laptop in your living room, then you’ll certainly understand the difficulties that come with separating your work and your personal life.

Working from home comes with plenty of challenges. However, if you have the right setup and all the necessary office supplies (like the ones available on TabShop or similar online pages) you need to make your workspace productive and comfortable, you might just never want to go back to the office again! Here we’ll explore 5 WFH essentials you shouldn’t be working without.

Printer ink supplies

There’s nothing more infuriating than trying to print a document, only to be told there’s no ink. Or to run out of ink halfway through! When we don’t have plenty of office supplies, we get stressed and our productivity suffers. You don’t even have to spend a fortune, check out these HP inkjet cartridges at low prices and stock up now! The more prepared you are, the smoother your working day will be.

Good Internet

We’ve all been there, you’re on a ZOOM call and suddenly, everyone freezes or your connectivity collapses and your team are left with an image of you with your mouth open and your eyes half shut. It’s not a good look If your home Wi-Fi isn’t up to scratch and it’s incredibly frustrating. A secure connection is essential and you should ensure you have the best package from a reliable provider.

Ideally, you should be using an ethernet connection and not Wi-Fi for your internet as this is faster and more reliable. This needs to be properly wired from your internet hub to your home office by a professional. You wouldn’t want to call in an emergency electrician because wires had been crossed or pulled out.

A supportive chair

When we’re comfortable, we work better. It’s that simple and investing in a high quality, ergonomically sound office chair will not only keep you comfortable but also prevent back and neck issues further down the line. Back pain is incredibly debilitating, so make sure your chair is the right height and you’re perfectly aligned with your workstation.

Comfy clothes

Yes, you’re dealing with clients, customers and colleagues but within the walls of your own home, comfort is king. This means no more stiff shirts and strict dress-codes, pull on those baggy lounge-pants, slip on those sliders and enjoy working in maximum comfort. Just remember to smarten up a little for those team meetings via video call.

Bonus tip: Keep it comfy but avoid working in your PJs if you can! Getting dressed every day promotes productivity and is better for your mood and wellbeing. And if you’re liable to be pulled onto an emergency ZOOM call at any time, you wouldn’t want your boss to see your Hello Kitty PJs anytime soon!

And finally, blue light glasses

With no water cooler to stand around and nowhere to specifically take your lunch break, when we work from home, we tend to spend more time staring at our screens than we normally would. This can play havoc with your eyes and potentially lead to vision problems such as digital eye strain, headaches and blurred vision. Investing in some blue light blocking glasses can help reduce your exposure to blue light and protect your eyes from strain. Always have a pair handy at your workstation!