Zoom meetings. Endless emails. Excel spreadsheets. Slack chats. These are just a few of the catchphrases that will make almost any at-home worker cringe. For those who have found themselves stuck at home recently, maintaining the boundary between job life and personal life can be tricky.
Distractions are also plentiful at home, be it kids, pets, roommates, or partners. Fortunately, creating a designated home office space, one filled with helpful technology, is more affordable than ever before. The essential tech devices on this list will inspire even the most burnt-out to plow through their daily tasks and increase their productivity tenfold.
Dual Monitors: ASUS Pro Art Display PA278QV
Trying to get work done on a small screen at home is often a total drag. One of the best ways for at-home workers to up their productivity and increase their attention spans is by investing in dual monitors that make multitasking a breeze.
ASUS's Pro Art Display PA278QV is a 27-inch beauty that comes equipped with anti-glare features that help with eye strain, as well as dozens of customizable display options. It includes a Mini DisplayPort, DisplayPort, HDMI, and dual-link DVI-D -- giving users plenty of choices when it comes to connectivity.
Get Dual Monitors: ASUS Pro Art Display PA278QV Here
Ergonomic Keyboard And Mouse: Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Wireless Desktop Keyboard And Wireless Mouse L5V-00001
While it may seem ridiculous to spend more than a few dollars on a keyboard and mouse, officer workers know too well the kinds of arm, neck, shoulder, and back pain that comes along with sitting at a desk all day. An ergonomic keyboard and mouse duo is one of the smartest investments that anyone who spends a lot of time on a computer can make.
Not only do these specially-curved devices alleviate the strain put on hands and wrists, they making typing and clicking much, much easier. The best option on the market remains Microsoft's Sculpt series, which has the added benefit of being wireless.
USB Hub: Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub
Devices rule supreme these days, and many devices still need to be plugged in at some point -- whether for charging, uploading, or sharing. One of the most essential yet often overlooked products needed in every home office is a USB hub.
These hubs give users the ability to connect all kinds of extra devices to their computers and Sabrent's 4-port USB 3.0 hub is an economical and reliable choice that keeps all the wires that accumulate in one place.
Get USB Hub: Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub
Laptop: ASUS F512JA-AS34 VivoBook 15 Thin And Light Laptop
It's important for at-home workers to get up and move around throughout the day. For those who feel like they need to bring their tasks with them, investing in an affordable, yet high-powered laptop is the way to go.
The ASUS VivoBook 15 includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage, as well as a backlit keyboard and 15-inch HD display. Its Intel i3-1005G1 CPU achieves up to 3.4 GHz of processing power, which means it's ready to handle multiple assignments at once.
Get Latop: ASUS F512JA-AS34 VivoBook 15 Thin And Light Laptop Here
USB Webcam With Built-In Microphone: Logitech C270 Desktop Or Laptop Webcam
Now that Zoom has replaced the morning conference room meeting, a webcam with a built-in microphone necessary for all home offices. Instead of a hulking webcam that is difficult to plug in and set-up, most webcams available these days are compact devices that are simply connected to a computer or laptop through a USB port.
Logitech's C270 webcam with a built-in microphone reaches up to a 720p video capture resolution. Its clip design allows it to hang on almost every monitor imaginable, no matter the size or shape.
Get USB Webcam With Built-In Microphone: Logitech C270 Cesktop Or Laptop Webcam Here
Bluetooth Headphones: Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
It's not mandatory to spend a lot on noise-canceling wireless headphones. The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid headphones block out every distraction, from busy city streets to banging in the room next door.
These Anker wireless headphones also boast an impressive 40 hours of battery life, meaning that streaming upbeat instrumental beats for eight hours straight is totally feasible. The memory foam ear cuffs also keep them from providing any discomfort.
Get Bluetooth Headphones: Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Here
Wireless Laser Printer: HP LaserJet Pro M15w
Even though most information is exchanged digitally these days, having access to a printer is needed for avoiding those occasional trips to FedEx or the local library. An affordable wireless printer, like HP's LaserJet Pro M15w, is an added convenience few at-home workers ever regret investing in.
What's great about the M15w is works with the Amazon Alexa smart speaker, making it even easier to use. Either through a Wi-Fi network or the printer's own Wi-Fi Direct system, it's possible to print from nearly any device.
Get Wireless Laser Printer: HP LaserJet Pro M15w Here
Backup Driver: Western Digital My Book
Cloud storage technology is the wave of the future, but some people like the added security of backing up their computer content on a physical driver. Western Digital's My Book is a password-protected and encrypted external hard drive with fantastical specifications.
A single-drive My Book has 6TB of storage and those who want more storage space can go up to 36 TB on a single or dual-drive device.
Get Backup Driver: Western Digital My Book Here
Surge Protector With USB: POWLIGHT Surge Protector
This may like an obvious investment, but some home officer workers are too busy managing job duties to think about keeping their space organized. Soon, all those device wires become a tangled mess that is impossible to suss out.
That's why buying a surge protector with USB ports is a good idea. The POWLIGHT surge protector comes with 12 AC outlets and four USB ports that will keep office devices safe, coordinated, and easy to disassemble when necessary.
Get Surge Protector With USB: POWLIGHT Surge Procter Here
Smart Lights: NiteBird WiFi Dimmable 800 Lumen Warm White A19 E26 2700K LED Lights Bulbs
Natural lighting in a home office changes throughout the day, and being able to quickly alter artificial lighting makes getting through work a breeze. Smart lightbulbs use apps, smart speakers, and voice controls to turn off, brighten, dim, or adjust their settings.
A four-pack of NiteBird Wi-Fi smart bulbs is a wise investment. Just make sure the lamps or fixtures in your home office will work with the smart bulb's various settings.
Get Smart Lights: NiteBird WiFi Dimmable 800 Lumen Warm White A19 E26 2700K LED Lights Bulbs Here