Amazon Picks: Work From Home Must-Haves
I’ve been working from home for about 10 years, and I have purchased MANY gadgets, tools, tech, books, and more to help me in the day-to-day work of running my business. Some of them were worth the purchase, while others were a waste of money. Below are my current Amazon picks for things you must have when working from home.
Note: links contained in this post are affiliate links from which I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you.
Amazon Picks for General Office Supplies
Pilot FriXion Erasable Pens (5 Pack)
These pens are HANDS DOWN my favorite office supply purchase EVER! If we’ve known each other for awhile, we’ve probably had a conversation in which I sing the praises of these pens. They’re amazing for writing notes or managing a paper calendar. If you make a mistake or have to reschedule something, keep your paper clean by erasing your text then re-write, as needed.
Swig Tumblers and Travel Mug
If you’re working from home, there’s an unspoken rule that you must have multiple beverages sitting with you on your desk. I love Swig products because they are sturdy, hold a large volume, and keep my beverages hot/cold for a long time! Pictured above is the 22 oz tumbler. This one most closely resembles the one I have, but there are many color options to choose from.
Pictured here is a 20 oz tumbler. I have this navy stripe design because it coordinates with my Embellish Marketing branding (gotta love coordinating brand products!).
This is an 18 oz travel mug. I have a similar style, and there are MANY other design options to choose from on Amazon.
Weighted Cable Clip Cord Holder for Desk
I have a weighted cord holder on my desk, and it’s awesome for managing the cords that sometimes get too tangled and unruly. I like this style because it’s weighted and doesn’t require adhesive to stick to the surface, therefore not potentially damaging your desk.
Clear Chair Mat for Carpet
No matter if you have carpet or hardwood/vinyl/tile flooring in your workspace, you should consider a chair mat to help protect your floor, especially if you have a rolling chair. Years of rolling around on your floor will eventually yield noticeable wear and tear, so be proactive by protecting your floors with a mat.
Amazon Picks for Tech Accessories
Tomtoc Laptop Sleeve
When you invest in a Macbook, you want to protect it as best as you can. I did a lot of research and found the Tomtoc Laptop Sleeves provide the high-quality protection that I was looking for. It fits perfectly in my messenger bag that doubles as a laptop bag, and it keeps my Macbook protected anywhere I take it. I have had this exact item for several years now, and other sizes and colors are available depending on the size you need to purchase for your own laptop.
USB Charger Block
Tech devices these days often come with some variation of a USB charging cord, but no power block to plug it into. I recently bought a ring light that had a USB cord for power, and I needed to get a charger block to use with it. This specific product offers dual ports, one for USB A plugs and the other for USB C plugs.
USB C Adapter
My new Macbook doesn’t come with USB A (“normal” USB plugs), only USB C ports, so I had to purchase an adapter that I can plug into the USB C port, then insert a normal USB plug on the other end to connect with my computer. This is a small but handy gadget!
Western Digital 2TB Passport for Mac Portable External Hard Drive
Despite many of us using the cloud for digital file-keeping, it’s still important to back up our computer files in the off chance that they disappear or become inaccessible due to a computer failure. Additionally, if you opt to save on the cost of purchasing a new computer by getting a smaller hard drive, an external hard drive can offer a more cost-effective way to expand your computer’s storage capabilities. This link is to an external hard drive specifically for Mac computers; for all other computers, check out this version from Western Digital.
Blue Light Blocking Glasses (2 Pack)
If you’re staring at a screen most of the day without eye protection, you need to get yourself some blue light blocking glasses ASAP! Our electronic devices emit blue light that can damage our eyes over time with prolonged exposure. Wearing glasses that block this blue light helps reduce eye fatigue, headaches, and long term eye damage. This particular product has numerous color combinations available on Amazon.
Amazon Picks for Books
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This is a quintessential book about being a good human, and as a result, learning how to successfully engage with others in the workplace. This is one of my favorite book club picks, and I highly recommend reading it every so often just to be reminded of the importance of treating people well.
Win at Work and Succeed at Life by Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller
If you’re struggling with how to balance work and life, especially as a business owner, Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller (father-daughter duo) outline practical steps to take to be successful in both areas. Suggestions are practical and thought-provoking.
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers
If you need a pump-you-up, you-got-this-girl, motivational life and business coach, Rachel Rodgers has you covered. She wrote this book to educate women about how society has stacked the deck against women being financially successful and then outlines practical tips and mindset shifts that will help women make smart decisions to pave the road to becoming more financially successful. Warning, there is some strong, four-letter word language in this book.
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
If you experience a cycle of winning only to be immediately met with resistance or some negative experience, perhaps you’re experiencing an Upper Limit Problem. We’ve all been conditioned that we can only have a certain amount of success before our brains will self-sabotage. If you’ve felt that you’re stuck in a cycle and can’t get ahead, read this book to learn how to break through that rut.
Business Made Simple by Donald Miller
For practical (and simple) business tips, Donald Miller wrote a book designed to help business owners and employees better understand how business works. The author’s intent is to help you skip the MBA program and learn everything you need to know in 60 days. The book offers a supplemental training program in which videos are delivered by email every day, so you can learn more about each day’s topic.