Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

13 Must-Haves to Level Up Your Work from Home Office

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The links in this post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on a link.

We’ve been working from home for months now. If you’re still just getting by, it’s time to level up your work from home office! 

Before COVID and my return to the classroom, I always worked from home. My office space is a little work nirvana. The bright space is personal yet professional-looking on Zoom, ergonomic, and ensures that everything I need to be successful at work is right at my fingertips. 

Must-Haves to Level Up Your Work from Home Office

I’ve tested many products over the years and my tried and true ones that never leave my side. These favorites can help you level up your work from home office until it’s safe to return to your building.

But you might not ever want to go back to your building after outfitting your home office with these products.

All33 BackStrong Chair ($799)

It might have been ok to sit in any old chair at the beginning of work at home orders. This pandemic has gone on far too long to suffer in a chair that isn’t working for you. I’ve always been a fan of chairs with seats and arms that can raise and lower to fit my body. The All33 chair takes home office seating to a new level.

I recently received the All33 Vegan Leather BackStrong Chair and am in love! If you’re going to get yourself a gift to level up your work from home office, start with this chair.

Designed by Dr. Dennis Colonello, a world-renowned chiropractor with over 35 years of experience, the All33 BackStrong Chair supports perfect posture for all 33 of your vertebrae. The unique Sit In Motion® technology and its “bottom up” motion cradle your lower back to relieve crucial pressure points throughout your spine and body. The bottom up motion is like a bucket you sit in and to take full advantage of the movement, I like using a stool under my feet.

The BackStrong Chair also helps reduce shoulder and neck strain while you sit. It allows for natural movement of the pelvis and back to stimulate circulation. BackStrong promotes movement, improving flexibility and encouraging an increase of oxygenation and respiration.

The chair features foldaway arms that allow you to move closer to your work for less strain on your body and eyes. I only wish the arms moved up and down for height adjustment like my old chair’s arms did. The seat height adjusts pneumatically while the seat swivels 360 degrees and rolls on smooth rolling casters. It comes in either vegan leather or cloth and can be assembled in about 10 minutes.

The BackStrong Chair is an investment so if you’re not sure about it when you first sit in it, the company has a 60 day money back guarantee. I liked immediately but do take your time trying it and make your decision before your 60 day trial ends.

Webcam ($19.99)

If you’ve been using your laptop camera for video calls for the last 9 months, do yourself and your colleagues a favor get yourself a webcam. Webcams were sold out everywhere this spring but now there are plenty of affordable options that will help the clarity of your video calls and improve your angle on-screen. I bought myself the Toyuugo 1080P Full HD Webcam (pictured above) on Amazon this spring for under $30. Now the price has gone down to $19.99 making it a steal! 

Ring Light ($16.99)

The best place to work is facing a window. The natural light will illuminate your face so students can see you but if you’re still not happy with the image quality, a ring light can do wonders to level up your work from home office! A ring light casts an even light, reducing shadows in the face and minimizes blemishes, while illuminating the eyes. This 6” right light won’t break the bank and will make a big difference. If you need more light, I recommend going bigger with this 18” Neewer Ring Light Kit ($71.99).

My 18” Ring Light Kit sits on a full size tripod behind my monitor with my webcam perched on top. It provides perfect light any time of day whether I’m teaching, conducting parent-teacher conferences, or filming client videos. Just beware that your kids might try to steal it for their TikTok or YouTube videos!

Bluetooth Headset, Earbuds, or Over the Ear Headphones (starting at $45.99)

Help eliminate the “can you hear me now” problem of sound quality with a new headset, earbuds, or over the ear headphones. The style is highly personal due to comfort, but look for a headset, earbuds, or over the ear headphones that provide echo cancellation, a noise-cancelling mic, and digital signal processing (DSP) to block out unwanted noise. Also look for in-line controls to adjust the volume and quickly unmute yourself.

Here are my picks in the various styles:

Keurig ($99)

Who doesn’t want an in-office coffee station to level up your work from home office? The Keurig K-Mini is the perfect size for a home office and days where you are on back to back calls.

level up your work from home office

If you don’t have space for a Keurig, consider Cauldryn ($149.99), the heated coffee mug that works with an app to ensure your beverage is always the right temperature.

Vejo ($130 for the Starter Kit)

Vejo Review

If juices are more your thing than coffee, you can’t go wrong with Vejo. I got to try out this portable pod-based blender earlier this fall and loved the different blends. Vejo’s 22 different blends are thoughtfully formulated to make it easier to bring proper nutrition into your daily life. Each blend contains up to 50% of your daily recommended fruits and vegetables. Want more information about Vejo? Read my Vejo Review: Portable Pod Blender for Premium Plant-Based Nutrition.

Tervis Tumblers $19.99)

For cold beverage lovers, Tervis Tumblers are the way to go. Tervis drinkware reduces sweat or condensation so you can say goodbye to that puddle of water pooling on your desk that threatens to seep into important papers. The lids help protect your laptop or keyboard from water damage and a straw is always a nice accessory so you can quietly sip while on mute during long Zoom or conference calls. There are no shortage of designs so choose you can choose prints & patterns to match office décor or show your love of favorite tv & movies, sports teams, super heroes, pop culture icons, and more.

Logitech M330 Silent Wireless Mouse ($17.99-$25 from Amazon, depending on color)

One of the best purchases to level up your work from home office is a wireless mouse. I always feel tethered to my computer when I used to use my classroom desktop but I never have to worry about the length of the cord or getting it caught up in the papers on my desk. I’ve been using various models of Logitech wireless mice for years. They’re ergonomically designed for all day use and fit perfectly in my hand. Plus, I love having the freedom from a cord!

My current favorite is the Logitech M330 Silent Wireless Mouse. I’ve been using it for at least 3 years and is as silent as advertised. I never have to the click of the right or left mouse button or noise from the scroll wheel plus it provides freedom for movement, is more compact than a corded mouse, and helps reduce the clutter in my workspace.

Ergonomic Mouse Pad ($9.99)

Give your wrists some relief from mousing with an ergonomic mouse pad in a fun design. Less than a month into online classes, I found that my wrists were hurting from resting on my desk and bought myself this fun floral print mouse pad with a gel wrist wrest. Sounds indulgent but my wrists are happy, so I consider this purchase well worth the $9.99. Not a fan of floral? iDonson makes 5 other designs in two different mouse pad shapes so choose the pattern and shape you like most.

Salty Britches Winter Skin Relief Ointment ($12.95)

Do you ever sit at your desk on calls and realize how dry your hands are? I do which is why I keep a small bottle of lotion at my desk! With all the handwashing and applying of hand sanitizer, I’m loving the moisturizing properties of Salty Britches Winter Skin Relief Ointment. This small business makes a special formula that is water resistant so it provides a soothing long lasting barrier that truly soothes dry skin. Salty Britches is preservative free, non GMO, made in the USA with domestic and imported raw materials, and never tested on animals. I also appreciate that Winter Skin Relief Ointment is formulated to not freeze in colder temps, but will melt in the heat.

Spa Girl Life Candles (on sale for $27.50, free shipping)

For those days where you just need to channel some creativity, vision, calm, or find yourself wishing for a day at the spa during your work day, The Spa Girl Life candles can level up your home office by providing work space zen. Each candle’s soothing scent helps elevate your senses while transporting you to a place of inner peace. Each candle is paired with two small crystals and a journal card designed to increase awareness and aid in meditation. There’s even a page on The Spa Girl Life’s website that features guided meditation videos. Can’t decide on a scent? The Spa Girl Life Candle Sample Pack includes 7 six ounce candles to inspire and uplift the soul every day of the week.

Fashom

If you’ve resorted to online shopping or shopping your closet for the past 9 months but are in need of some fashion inspiration, Fashom can help! While most of the products in the post help you level up your work from home office, this one is about YOU and your style!

Fashom makes it easy to get started with wardrobe help when you need it most. Just take a styling quiz and a stylist will be in touch with pieces selected just for you. Once you preview and select 5 favorites, they’ll be shipped within 48 hours. When they arrive, try on the items and keep what  you love and return the rest in just 3 days.

Shipping and returns are always free. And while this may sound like all those other subscription boxes, it’s anything but since Fashom allows you to request boxes when you like. With no schedule required you can get some wardrobe help when you need it. First styling session is free, future styling sessions are $20/box but the fee is applied as credit to your purchase when you keep items from your order.

SPLENDID SPOON (FROM $65)

Must-Have Subscription Boxes for Kids, Teens & Adults

If you’re constantly having a working lunch or find yourself reaching for string cheese in your snack drawer in between calls, Splendid Spoon can help. Splendid Spoon features nutrient-dense smoothies, soups, grain bowls, and noodle bowls made from plant-based ingredients that are delivered ready to eat. These healthy meals that feature diverse flavors from around the world.

managing teacher stress

Splendid Spoon Green Goddess Quinoa Bowl

Grain and noodle bowls arrive frozen so you can keep them in the freezer until you’re ready to eat them. Or store them in the refrigerator upon arrival. Simply microwave for delicious, nutrient-rich meal that you can feel good about eating. And those smoothies? They’re perfect to keep you going between busy days packed with Zoom meetings and managing online school. Choose from over 50 meals and skip deliveries any time. The Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner + 1 Day Soup Reset (pictured above) is normally $185 but on sale for $160. You can also get $100 off your first 4 boxes until 12/6 when you order your boxes by January 31. 

2020 Holiday Gift Guides

AGE APPROPRIATE GIFT GUIDES:

SPECIALTY GIFT GUIDES:

I hope you enjoy this year’s picks and wish you happy and stress-free holiday shopping!

Samples were received to facilitate this post and affiliate links are included. No compensation was received for this post or hosting this giveaway and all opinions are my own. Images courtesy of the companies featured.

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Comments

  1. Lisa Gerhardt says

    Great suggestions that are fo everyone on my Christmas list! I just did some stocking stuffer shopping! 🙂