Work From Home Holiday Essentials
Many of us have been lucky enough to work from home for the past 7+ months. But with the holidays approaching, our office space may need to travel as we visit loved ones.
If you choose to travel for the holidays, please do so with care.
For the past two and a half months, I have been visiting my parents on the East Coast and bouncing between states for extended periods of time. In that time, I set up four different home offices. I put together this work from ~another~ home essentials guide. It will help you stay efficient and focused while preparing for those coveted PTO days. Read until the end to see the Ultimate Holiday WFH Check List!
Define Your Workspace: Establishing a clear working space is so important. Ideally, this would be somewhere private, quiet, and with good light (bonus points for facing a window). Since holiday WFH offices are temporary, privacy is not guaranteed. I set up in the middle of a living room for October, and still managed Q4 effectively. Find a Desk/Table to organize all of your working items. When you’re at that space, it will notify your family that you need to work.
My dad didn’t have an extra table or workspace, so I bought this inexpensive Amazon desk. While a bit wobbly, for $90, it has been a lifesaver.
Bring or Buy the Important Tech Items: Before I headed back to the East Coast, I shipped a new monitor home. My job is nearly impossible to do without one, and shipping mine/or lugging it on the plane seemed risky. I also packed my laptop stand, mouse, and keyboard in my checked luggage. These have been invaluable to my productivity and I’m glad I brought them.
Important Extras: I brought my most used pens, notepads, and a calculator. My ring light is key for late meetings, since I work west coast hours (12pm-9pm). I wish I brought my surge protector, but I bought one when I arrived. I have no clue where my dad stores his pens or paper, so I recommend tossing them in your bag.
Don’t Go Overboard and Save The $$$: The holiday WFH set up is temporary, so making it cozy and cute is not the priority. The real priority is maximizing your efficiency and productivity.
Rather than buying an office chair, my mom had an extra seat cushion. That, combined with an old chair has been a perfect seating option. This was one of the ways I was able to save money and time on my temporary traveling office.
Packing most of the essentials you use in your home office is the most effective way to save money when traveling for the holidays.
Check out the ultimate holiday WFH packing check list below. And remember to schedule those PTO days!
If you are traveling to see loved ones for the holidays, please take every precaution to be careful. Check out my Covid Travel Blog on how to stay safe on airplanes.
What are your WFH essentials? Let me know in the comments below! 🖥
