“How do you do this every day?”

My friend A has never worked from home one day in her 16-year career.  Last night, she sent me that text message with a picture of her head laying on her keyboard.  “I just want to sit in a conference room and talk to other people.”

Working from home is different than working in an office.  The mindset is different.  The discipline needed is different.  So when I find something that makes working from home a little easier, I grab onto it.

Blue Light Glasses. You will be shocked how much your screen time is about to increase.  All of your work, all of your meetings, every important piece of  your day now exists inside a computer screen.  And your eyes shouldn’t suffer because of it.

These blue light blocking glasses from The Book Club are my favorite.  They’re clear, so they’re not distracting and go with everything.  And they’re so light that I forget I’m wearing them.  If you’re looking for a similar pair at a lower price, try these Livho glasses in a two-pack for under-$15.

A Timer. When you work from home, you need to take breaks.  But you also need to make sure those breaks don’t takeover your afternoon.  We’ve all taken that 10-minute break to look at Instagram and looked up 30-minutes later surprised by the time.

I keep a small, 15-minute hourglass on my desk.  It’s decorative, but also functional.  If I need a short break, I let the sand help me measure time.  This one from Swisselite comes in several colors.

The hourglass usually works because I put it in my line of sight.  But every now and again, when I’m writing a brief and need to be diligent about time management, I prefer to use my kitchen timer.  I bought this one because I liked the sleek design and the big, visible numbers.

A Diffuser. Last Christmas, a friend gave me this Vitruvi ceramic diffuser as a gift.  As a person who likes unscented things (deodorant, shampoo, lotion, etc.), the idea of using essential oils in a diffuser didn’t really appeal to me.  But she swore that she  found their Bergamot essential oil kept her energized throughout the day.

I don’t use my diffuser all the time, but I’ve discovered that I can use the scents to train my brain.  Bergamot and grapefruit is work time;  their Grove scent is for  when I need to relax after a stressful day.

Looking for a beautiful, more affordable diffuser?  I love this white one and this small wood one caught my eye.

A Charging Dock. I switch between my laptop and my iPhone all day.  One minute, I’m answering Instagram DMs, the next minute, I’m writing campaign Facebook posts, and then, I’m on a video conference with my boss.  But when my phone doesn’t need to be in my hand, it’s sitting in my Native Union wireless charging dock.

The dock charges my battery and keeps my phone in the perfect position to check notifications and answer FaceTime calls.  Before I bought this one from Native Union, I owned this less-expensive one.  Unlike the Native Union dock, that one will charge almost any smartphone, Apple, Android or Google.

An Acupressure Mat.  Typing all day, hunched over a computer isn’t great for your body.  Add to that an industry full of stressful situations and people, and the tension just builds up in my neck and shoulders.

Hitha and Grace Atwood kept talking about how much they loved this acupressure mat for alleviating soreness in the shoulders, but I refused to buy one. Until, after a particularly bad week at work, I decided that I was being stubborn and should give it a try.  Oh wow.  The first time I used it, my whole body felt better.  It might be the best $20 that I’ve spent recently.

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What makes working from home easier for you?  Leave your tips and product endorsements in the comments.

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