Last year, when we first left the office, we cobbled together work spaces from what we had.  Coffee tables became desks.  Kitchens became offices.  Closets became meeting rooms.  And as we confront another winter spent working from home, I wanted to share some of the things that have made working from home a little easier.

Something to Keep Coffee and Tea Hot //  One of the things you forget is at the office you have reliable access to hot coffee and hot water.  At home, you’re on your own.

This Hastings Coffee Carafe lets me make a pot of tea in the morning and keep it warm, at my desk, all day.  You can also make cold brew or a spa water and the carafe will keep it cold.  As for how to your morning cup, I like this COSORI electric kettle.  My partner uses it to make pour over coffee with this Hario device and some filters.

Something to Keep Your AirPods Handy // I love my AirPods, the noise-cancelling has changed my life, but they are a beast to keep track of.  And wearing them in your ears for the entire day is not comfortable.  Enter the Tapper Air Pod Rope Chain.  The ends magnetically lock to your AirPods to keep them handy around your neck.

For a less expensive option, this Etsy paperclip chain checks in at $30.  This plastic connector from Target is also an option if you’re not feeling fancy, or you need something that will be sweat-proof at the gym.

Something to Keep You Warm // Air conditioning or winter cold, my office is chilly.  I like a not-sad-desk-cardigan that isn’t too expensive, because it gets heavy use over time.  And this is just one of those situations where, if I spill tea on a sleeve or get a pen mark on a cuff or wear out an elbow, I don’t want to be upset over it.

This & Other Stories Boxy Open cardigan is a nice option.  I also like this chunky cardigan from The Drop, also in plus-size.

Something to Up Your Zoom Game // In the past year, we’ve all learned the importance of good lighting.  Lume Cube makes the best options for getting that good, Oprah-quality light.  They make one that comes on a stand, one that attaches to the laptop, and the one I use to take Zoom calls from my iPhone, which has a microphone and a light.

Also, if you are on Zoom frequently, consider getting a separate webcam from Logitech.  My partner has this one, he likes the improved video quality and the improved sound.

Somethings to Block Noise // A white noise machine is the only way that I can take client meetings in an office space I share with my husband.  Even though we’re lucky to have two rooms to use as offices, they’re right next to each other, and the house is old.  And since my client meetings have the expectation of privacy and confidentiality, this is an easy extra step to make sure we can’t hear each other’s calls.

Also, some friends share an office, alternating Zoom schedules as much as possible.  This leaves one of them in the dining room when the other is on a call.  And putting this weatherstripping along the inside of the office door so they could both have some quiet, and I’m quoting, “saved our marriage.”

Something to Stay Hydrated // When I’m in the office, I drink a lot of water.  The cooler is right there, so every time I need to stand, I can just go grab a glass.  But at home, not so much.  This water bottle with a time marker from Arcana makes staying hydrated easier by reminding you how much you should be drinking as the day wears on.  And if you fall behind, it’s easy to keep track and catch up.  The Hydromate ones are also popular, but I like the way this one looks.

So what made your Work From Home life easier?  Any tips of tricks? Share them in the comments.