Many of us are working from home for extended periods of time for, well, the first time. Hopefully no surprises here, but our team is fully remote at RemoteOffice. Before joining the RemoteOffice, I worked at a tech company in San Francisco that had a surprisingly strict no-WFH policy. So when I transitioned to fully remote, it quickly became apparent that I needed to create a comfortable and productive work space within my home. In my opinion you're doing yourself a disservice if you post up with your laptop at your dining room table without much thought given to where and how you'll be most productive and feel most comfortable at home.

Below are 5 mistakes I made when working from home for the first time. After I invested in fixing each of these, working from home became far more enjoyable. 

1) Grab a mouse pad and wireless mouse

If you're working on your laptop with a track pad, you're slowing down your productivity. I highly recommend investing in a wireless mouse and a solid mouse pad that'll make you feel warm inside when you use it. Below are solid options from Amazon and RemoteOffice:

• VicTsing wireless mouse from Amazon. This is your classic wireless mouse and works like a charm. 
• Jelly Comb wireless mouse from Amazon. This one is my favorite - it looks great and also works like a charm. 
• RemoteOffice rectangle aluminum mouse pad. One of our most popular products that looks great next to MacBooks. 
• RemoteOffice round aluminum mouse pad. Another RemoteOffice staple. For the price, mouse pads don't get much better! 

2) Sit somewhere with natural light

You'll be amazed at how natural light can make you feel more cheerful while at your workspace. For bonus points, open up a window and feel that natural breeze! 

3) Elevate your eyesight with a laptop stand

If you're like me, you probably start hunching about 5 minutes after sitting down. Investing in a laptop stand that raises you computer up to eye sight can work wonders for your posture. Below are a few of our favorite options:

• The Mighty Laptop Stand from RemoteOffice. This is a great option if you've got a consistent spot that you like to work from home from, and won't be moving throughout the house too much.
• The Stash Laptop Stand from RemoteOffice. This is also a great option, but because of how small it folds down to, we recommend this option if you move around quite a bit and like to elevate your laptop while on the go. 

4) Light a candle

It's amazing how scent can change the mood and make you feel more productive. Lighting a lemon, cinnamon, or lavender candle is proven to make you feel more "in the zone" and will help you transition to work mode. 

5) If possible, create a dedicated workspace 

By creating a dedicated workspace, you'll experience a mental shift. Trust me on this one. It's weird, but it will be easier to connect and disconnect from work. It'll also give you an excuse to add accessories and tools to your workspace that will allow you to feel more productive. Plants, a calendar, a few nice pens in a pen holder, etc. will give you the tools needed to get the job done. By adding these to a dedicated workspace, you won't feel pressured to move your stuff around every time you want to get work done. 

Thanks for reading these tips and for stopping by RemoteOffice! Don't forget to check out our latest assortment of awesome products! 

— Jayla Cook, Marketing Associate