5 Best Home Office Gadgets Every Parent Needs
Working from home isn’t easy – and the right gadgets can make all the difference. These items will elevate your workspace and make it something you look forward to coming back to each day.
A laptop stand raises your device 6.5 inches, enabling you to sit up more upright and get closer to the screen. It works great with dual monitors.
1. Ergonomic Office Chair
Home office chairs that meet ergonomic standards can help you start work more quickly, reduce back pain, and stay focused throughout your workday. A quality ergonomic office chair should offer comfort in the short term as well as support during long workdays.
Steelcase Series 2 chairs feature adjustable seat depth for optimal user comfort when sitting near their desks, without straining their necks or pushing their knees against the edge of their seats. Furthermore, Herman Miller Mirra 2 Butterfly features a built-in leg rest to provide extra support when sitting for extended periods of time.
If you’re on a tight budget, the Secretlab Titan Evo gaming chair offers an affordable solution to marathon gaming sessions. While its appearance might not rival that of Steelcase’s elegant model, it still looks stylish enough for most home offices and features adjustable back support with plenty of adjustability plus a headrest pillow – though some users may find the firm cold cure foam uncomfortable.
2. Surge Protector
A surge protector (sometimes called a surge suppressor) protects electronic equipment like computers and monitors from voltage spikes that could otherwise damage them. It acts like a power strip in terms of design – with excess current being diverted away from your gadgets by metal oxide varistors within its casing to ground wire instead of reaching your gadgets directly.
A comprehensive surge protector should include at least 12 AC outlets to connect all your electronics. This Tripp Lite model boasts a critical auto-shutoff feature and impressive joule ratings while offering useful telephone and coaxial connectors built-in.
If you spend much of your workday sitting hunched over your laptop, an ergonomic computer stand like the Twelve South Curve can help bring the screen closer to eye level and improve airflow so it doesn’t overheat, while also enabling multitasking easier and more productively. Aukey offers similar stands at less than $15. Additionally, an all-in-one printer with large tanks ensures pages can be printed without running out of ink quickly and reliably.
3. Dual Monitors
No matter your profession – video editor, multitasker office worker, serious gamer – using two monitors simultaneously will dramatically enhance productivity. They’re also perfect for online study or video chat calls between friends.
For optimal viewing experience, look for monitors with narrow bezels that create an uninterrupted viewing experience when placed side-by-side. This minimizes distractions and maximizes screen space so you can focus on your work without needing to scroll or switch between screens.
To maximize flexibility, invest in a monitor capable of rotating to landscape or portrait orientation. This feature enables you to keep a document or website open on one screen while easily accessing other pages or apps on the other – this feature is particularly beneficial for writers and artists who rely on documentation while creating their work, while it can also serve streamers who wish to watch chat windows or live streams on a second monitor.
4. Cable Management System
Cable management is often an overlooked component of home office setup. Messy cables not only look unsightly and pose safety hazards; they also slow you down at work by increasing time spent finding needed cables or connecting devices when they’re disorganized. A reliable cable management system will keep all your cables tidy and easy to access.
An effective cable management system – like a ring type cable management system – enables you to arrange wires into one convenient hub so they are easier to reach, while decreasing the likelihood of crushing or snagging and saving you money in replacement costs.
Another fantastic way to organize cables is with the use of a laptop stand, like Twelve South Curve’s. These stands raise your device 6.5 inches off of the desk so you can sit upright with direct eye contact to your screen for reduced back strain, improved airflow, ergonomic workspace design and easier plug-in accessories like headphones or USB drives.
5. Desk Organizer
Desk organizers are an essential piece for those who wish to maintain an orderly workspace. By assigning each item its own place, it becomes much easier to locate what you need when necessary and builds the habit of returning everything back where it belongs – preventing clutter and keeping the home office looking professional and neat.
An essential addition to any desk is a multi-compartment stationery organizer like this one from Yamazaki (a Strategist favorite), featuring slots for pens, paper clips and sticky notes. A minimalist pencil tray also provides dedicated space for your pens so they won’t roll away unintentionally!
A desk laptop stand can help keep your home office neat and orderly by offering a space for your computer, notebooks and supplies. Add a portable storage trolley so your equipment can easily be brought out at the end of each day. Cable management systems also help create an orderly workplace as they reduce visual distraction caused by cords cluttering up the workspace as well as potential tripping hazards.
