WFH Essentials? Help!

[TayOr]

I’d be very grateful for some advice. I’ve taken a new role which is quite flexible so it’ll be around 3 days at home, 2 days in office (and some weeks 0 days even depending on business needs).

I have never had a role where I’ve had to WFH so much and I wondered if anyone had any tips on what to buy? Previously when I’ve logged in to work I’ve just done it on my laptop on the kitchen table but I want to get proper equipment/an office set up so grateful for any tips on what you found useful!

Double monitors that you can plug into. Wireless keyboard and mouse. Comfy office chair and somewhere quiet to sit. A good webcam that has a microphone built in.
oh and fluffy socks.

Monitors, drawers, office chair, desk mat, keyboard and mouse. You want a docking station that you can just plug your laptop into. Agreement from the household not to disturb you

A designated working space that you can ignore during evenings and weekends, but is easy to access in the morning. So basically, if it has to be in a room you use for something else, think about how you can hide it when not using it.

A good chair and adjustable table, and setting them up properly, I have various rsi issues and having both adjustable has been a game changer. Also wrist rests for mouse and keyboard. If you get a desk that adjusts to standing height, a wobble board is really nice

Decent lighting for Teams calls - nothing worse than a floating head in the darkness.

Monitor. Mouse. Possibly a keyboard if you prefer that - personally I adapted to just using the laptop keyboard.

Table/desk and chair at the right height for prolonged keyboard use. I was fortunate in that an old table and a dining chair happened to be the right height for me so I didn't have to buy new furniture. They don't match but I don't care! Try out what you already have at home first.

I have a comfy chair, a rising desk, a spare monitor. I raise my laptop up so use that and the spare monitor to have 2 screens. A good mouse. I don’t have anything flash (screens are raised on old sweet tubs, nothing is wireless), but it suits me. Comfort is key for me.

I have an under desk foot thing that i can push up and down with my feet and set higher as a foot support game changing sat at a desk all day.

decent lighting

comfy chair you can change position in

decent cam and mic the headsets are awful if you will be in online meetings and calls

shelving and items to make the area feel cosy and “you” i have a bookcase i swap things around on to enjoy my work area

decent mousemat, again something thats “you” to make the area inviting

the biggest desk you can fit in a space and justify buying. Mine 2m x 70cm so i have so much space for things

A good chair with adjustable height and arms.
A second screen.
A laptop riser.
Wireless mouse.
Hot water bottle.
Variety of new hot drinks.
Thermal layers.
Variety of chewing gum flavours to avoid eating 🤣

Give your working space a really good deep clean and maybe even decorate the room so it's a great space to work in.

And a mat for the mouse! Mine works fine on the table top but I realised it had been wearing away the surface, so now I use a mouse mat.

A wireless keyboard is a great idea - I’d never thought of that! Some. I’m super intrigued about a standing desk - I’ve never had one! Does it make a big difference?

I love my standing desk, in fact I now stand all day, get too figity sitting down!. I agree with having a proper space to work, ideally somewhere you can shut the door, keeping home amd work seperate. I also take the dog out when I finish - I see that as my 'drive home' time which I'd previously use to forget about the working day!

It really helped my back, and I felt it made me more energised at work being able to stand up for some of it, also lets you get a walking pad to slide under if you want

Do you have any suggestions for one to buy? Google has sent me down an expensive path!

Does your employer not provide equipment? My work provide lap top, 2 screens, keyboard and mouse, headset and proper office chair. I just had to provide the desk and I have converted spare room into a proper office that I can close the door on when not working but is my private work space when I am

I treated myself to an ergonomic mouse so I don’t need to move my wrist, I was getting terrible wrist and hand pain. I have brilliant stand up desk which I love, 2 monitors. But my single best wfh essential is my hot water bottle 🔥 🔥 🔥

My standing desk was an accidental purchase really, I wanted a particular size desk top (when you have two screens, a laptop, a stand, etc you need a good deep desk. It was from Amazon and was not expensive and it’s great quality, I love it. We’ve since bought them for dh and ds as well

No - they provide a laptop but the rest is for us to buy. I had no idea companies provided!

See what your employer supplies. Mine supplies everything except the desk, although I'm sure if someone asks they might be able to supply a desk too - we have loads of spare flat pack for people to pick from.

But as standard everyone gets an office chair, screen, docking station and wireless keyboard and mouse. It's the expectation that the home set up will meet DSE requirements, if not you’re not supposed to WFH regularly.

They don't check, but you'd be on shaky ground if you claimed injuries or aches and pains and had been working without the right equipment.

@TayOr I have this electric adjustable desk which is only £65 on Prime today with a voucher

amzn.eu/d/9IOdtN3

Cross posted.

And @TayOr I have one of these monitors (work paid for my other which is a Dell). I will probanly get another of these, again total bargain. You don’t need to spend a fortune!

amzn.eu/d/9yX0K9g

An oodie, unless you want the heating on all day.

A work space that you can close off so work isn’t a constant part of your life.

a good coffee maker.

slippers, comfy jogging bottoms, electric grow so you aren’t blasting the heating all day.

good lighting.

healthy snacks! The temptation of the fridge is ruinous.

I would also be clear about boundaries. If people aren’t used to you working from home they may not understand you can’t be disturbed.

Focus on good ergonomics. That stuff the DSE assessment asks about.

Feet flat on the floor, knees at right angles, monitor at eye level.

That generally means a desk that you can adjust the height of to suit you, or using a foot rest if you’re using fixed height furniture. A monitor arm clamp gives you more desk space and more adjustment. If you’ll be using laptop screen, a screen riser and separate mouse / keyboard.