Must-Have Office Supplies for Teaching Remotely

Office supplies for teaching remotely are so important! I started working from home a little more than 2 years ago. Being able to sit down, focus, and not run around like a chicken with my head cut off was amazing! I had a pretty basic set-up with a comfy chair, a quality desktop computer, and a nice, big desk.

I thought I had everything I needed to be successful. My body, on the other hand, thought differently. I quickly learned why humans were not meant to sit in front of a computer all day! Check out this awesome TED Talk on why sitting is bad for you.

After only a couple of months working from home, I started to get migraines. I’d never had a migraine in my life before that point! It was shocking to me how my regular headache medicine didn’t work and how I felt kind of out of it for an entire 24 hours!

I suspected the problem was caused by staring at my computer screen. I installed a Chrome extension that reminded me to look in the distance and rest my eyes during specific intervals. This helped, but I was still getting the migraines.

I decided to give blue light glasses a try (even though I secretly thought they were a bunch of baloney). I ordered an inexpensive pair from Amazon and VOILA! No more migraines!!!

Over these past 2 years, I’ve had sciatica pain, carpal tunnel issues, and more. I’ve tried out MANY office supplies, and today I wanted to share my favorite with you! These office supplies will make a huge difference in your comfort and help you work at home or at school!

Ergonomics in Mind

• Armrest Extender – This is the newest addition to my office. I started to get a numbing sensation in my forearm after using a mouse all day. After doing some research, I found out that I need to keep my arm at a 90-degree angle, and this armrest helps me do that. The numbness in my arm was getting so bad that it was waking me up at night, but with this armrest, I no longer have any problems!!
• Seat Cushion – I developed sciatic pain shortly after I started working from home. I did targeted stretches that helped, but the pain didn’t stop until I got this cushion!
• Foot Rest – This footrest has also been a game-changer in helping me keep those 90-degree angles through my knees.
• Blue Light Glasses – These glasses are very inexpensive, but will make a huge difference in your life!!
• Standing Desk – This particular standing desk doesn’t come with a top. You can attach it to a desk you already have, and it moves your tabletop up and down electronically. I already had the cheap IKEA tabletops in my office, so my husband just added this to give me the option of moving the desk up and down! Standing helps me regain focus and get my blood and oxygen moving!
• Left-Handed Mouse – I realize that I’m talking to a small percentage of teachers here, but I wanted to give a shout-out to all my underrepresented lefties! My husband thinks this mouse is so hard to use, and I LOVE IT! Where has this been all my left-handed life?!?! On top of being designed for lefties, it is also ergonomic! Here’s a link for the right-handed one as well : ) (Also forgot to mention, it’s wireless, which is another wonderful feature!)
• Keyboard – I don’t personally use an ergonomic keyboard (yet), but some people swear by it!
• Office Chair – When I first started to work from home, I went to Home Goods and got a super cute, Pinterest-worthy chair. It took me about 2 hours to realize that cute doesn’t equal comfortable. My sciatica started acting up almost immediately! This one does the job!

Before working from home, I created a Pinterest board with tons of cute office inspiration. I never intended for my office to have all the comforts of a nursing home, but here we are. LOL! Taking care of your body and minimizing the long-term effects of sitting are most important!

Make Your Life Easier with Office Supplies

My husband tried to convince me to get two monitors for our computer for YEARS! I told him we weren’t online gammers so why would we even need that?!? Well, one day he just ordered one, set it up, and my life was changed! LOL, how did I ever live with only one monitor before? (He’s currently trying to convince me we need 3 monitors, but I think that’s a bit excessive : )

• Tiered Tray – Teachers always have more than one project going, so this is a must-have for the home and classroom! I also use a 5-tiered one in the classroom to store all the copies, read-aloud books, etc. I need to do this for each day, and I label the shelves Monday through Friday!
• Vornado Fan – I actually got mine at Costco, but here’s a link to the same model on Amazon.
• Mini A/C Unit – I don’t have A/C in my house, so this little mini-unit that you add water to is a lifesaver during San Diego summers!
• Computer Monitor – Just do it, you can thank me later! : )
• Desk Mount for Monitors – This was another purchase that my husband thought would be helpful, and I deemed unnecessary. He turned out to be right again (don’t tell him I said that). This mount lifts your monitors off the desk, giving you space underneath. So much more room for activities!
• Light – What I like about this light is the different ways it can be rotated. I also like that it’s slim and doesn’t take up much room on the desk. Finally, you can switch back and forth between a bright white light (my preference) and a softer, yellow light (my husband’s preference). Saves us from arguments with all of the options it provides.

Get in the Right State of Mind

Besides office supplies, little changes I’ve made to my routines and environment over the last 2 years have really helped me to stay focused throughout the day and keep my energy going strong!

• Essential Oils Diffuser – I’m not a crazy essential oil lady, but I do believe you can “Pavlov yourself” and train your brain to focus or relax with different scents.
• Yoga Pants – I’ve really upped my loungewear game over the last couple of years. I think it’s important to change out of your pajamas and choose an outfit (even if it’s just yoga pants and a comfy top).
• Calm.com – This website (or app) is perfect for when I’m feeling overwhelmed with my to-do list. The soothing nature sounds always relax me and help me to focus. You can use this website for meditation, focus, or even to help you fall asleep at night. Fun fact – the nature sounds make my dogs fall asleep super fast!

• Daily Walks – I try to take time for daily walks around my neighborhood. My anxiety levels are much lower when I take the time for a walk. I used to take my walks in the afternoon, but I kept putting them off. Now, I get them done first thing in the morning and feel so much better. Prioritize your health!
• Sleep Cycle App – This is a new app I’ve been using to make sure I get my booty out of bed and go for a walk in the morning. You set a time that you’d like to be woken up. Your phone monitors your sleep and wakes you up in a 30-minute window when you are sleeping the lightest. It’s designed so you don’t get woken up during deep sleep and feel groggy.
• Stand Up Timer – This Chrome extension goes off at set intervals and reminds you to stand and take a walk around the house or classroom. It’s important to stand up and get the blood flowing throughout the day!

These are the things that have helped me most over the past 2 years of working from home. I’ve tried out A LOT of different products and routines to help me stay focused and keep my body from hurting!

I’d love to know if you have any products or ideas that you have loved using while working from home or during this time of distance learning! Let me know in the comments below!

Check out my other resources for distance learning!