9 Smart home office gadgets to boost your productivity

With the current global pandemic, many companies are having their employees work remotely. For many people, it's something they've never done before. And if you've never worked from home before, there is a lot you need to prepare for. It's a whole new world, and distractions are plenty. But with these smart home office gadgets, you can get your work out of the way and get to what you really want to do—bingeing Netflix.

A home office Mac setup / Credits: Daniel Korpai via Unsplash

It’s a bit scary right now. Every time you turn on the news, something else is shutting down, and there’s a new announcement about coronavirus. Officials and companies are implementing strategies to help stem the spread of COVID-19, and one of those strategies to have employees work from home. This is a great option to keep things going and to keep people safe and not spreading germs around. But if you’ve never worked from home before, you’re going to face some challenges. You need the right smart home office gadgets to help you work it all out.

The biggest challenge you might face is a hit to your productivity. You’re used to sitting in your office or cubicle and being able to focus on the task at hand. But at home, you’re faced with an unending stream of distractions. There are dishes in the sink, laundry to put away, random chores you’ve been putting off… And if you have kids, it’s even worse. Headphones are one way you can focus more easily, but we’ll be covering those tomorrow—since you can also use them to binge Netflix.

The most important thing is to try not to stress. We’ve rounded up some smart home office gadgets to help you create the perfect workspace that will help you be more productive as you fill out those reports and sit on endless conference calls.

MOFT Z 4-in-1 Invisible Sit-Stand Laptop Desk lets you be more versatile

Get used to working comfortably no matter where you are with the MOFT Z 4-in-1 Invisible Sit-Stand Laptop Desk. Just as the name sounds, this sit-stand laptop desk is a one-piece paper structure you can easily fold up when not in use. In fact, it can fold up to a thickness of just 0.5 inches and can fit in any storage space of your choice. Additionally, the origami-inspired Z structure makes the laptop desk even more versatile. You can enjoy one mode for standing and three-modes for sitting. This will help you develop a healthy sit-stand working posture at home.

TimeFlip2 Interactive Time Tracking Device tracks your productivity

Keeping track of how you’re spending your time is hugely important to becoming more productive. And the TimeFlip2 Interactive Time Tracking Device is a great way to get started with being more mindful. This time tracker features twelve sides so that you can have a wide variety of tasks assigned to it. And it comes with stickers so you can customize it to your specific needs. You’ll have an embedded green LED light for visual cues of your times status, and it has a Pomodoro timer to split work into sprints for maximum efficiency. 

Twelve South StayGo USB-C Organized Desktop Hub hides the mess

The Twelve South StayGo USB-C Organized Desktop Hub gives you extra cord length between it and your computer. Because Twelve South knows that hubs are super convenient, and sometimes they’re completely necessary. However, the tangle of cords that comes with them can be a nightmare and only serve as a distraction. Instead, this desktop-friendly hub has a cable long enough to hide your hub away under your desk or behind your computer. And this USB-C desktop hub still has all the ports you need: 4K HDMI, three USB-A, Gigabit Ethernet, SD, and micro SD.

Lenovo ThinkSmart View Microsoft Teams Display provides a dedicated screen for calls

Designed to help improve productivity, the Lenovo ThinkSmart View Microsoft Teams Display makes remote work easier. With this dedicated display, you can communicate with coworkers anywhere. And by using this dedicated video call screen, you can keep the chatter and collaboration off your primary computer. That allows you to engage with your Microsoft Team on one screen while continuing to work on another. Finally, pair it with a Bluetooth headset to reduce distracting noise from outside your call.

Samsung T7 Touch Portable SSD unlocks with your fingerprint

The Samsung T7 Touch Portable SSD keeps your files safe wherever you go, even if it’s just to your house. Featuring a built-in fingerprint scanner, this portable SSD stays locked until you open it. So it eliminates your worries about work falling into the wrong hands. Additionally, the Samsung T7 Touch includes password protection and AES 256-bit encryption. Weightwise, the SSD is light at just 58 grams, and it can store up to two terabytes of data. Furthermore, it also boasts a reading speed of 1,050 MB/s and a writing speed of 1,000 MG/s, allowing for quick file access.

Blueberry Stress-Reducing Smart Glasses help you understand your mental effort

The best way to mitigate stress is to understand it. With the Blueberry Stress-Reducing Smart Glasses, you can. The safe, clever Blueberry headset combines brain sensing and electronic tinting to help you understand your mental effort and guide you to perform. This wearable tech uses the information it receives from constantly monitoring your brain activity and heart rate and translates it into how much mental effort you’re using for the task at hand. Blueberry uses all of that data to give you a gentle haptic nudge. This little nudge can help you stay on track or even alert you when it’s time to take a mental break. 

TileRec Mini Voice-Activated Recorder records any conversations

With the TileRec Mini Voice-Activated Recorder, you get a discreet, pocket-size voice-recording device. It’ll ensure you don’t miss a thing from an online class or a fast-paced work meeting. Designed by ATTO DIGITAL, this efficient gadget encompasses the ideal balance between form and function. The TileRec records Hi-Q MP3, using a 128 kbps bit rate. And you can set it to record in continuous mode or in voice-activated mode to capture sounds within 15 feet (360º). This MP3 voice recorder is just two inches square and fewer than 3/4″ thick, fitting almost anywhere. Furthermore, it weighs only 15 grams even though it’s made of virtually indestructible aluminum.

SideTrak USB Screen Portable Dual Monitor makes you more productive

Working with a dual monitor is a fantastic way to improve your productivity. And if you’re used to working with a dual-monitor setup, you know how awful it can be to work at home without it. Now, there’s the SideTrak USB Screen Portable Dual Monitor. This USB monitor is easy to carry and plugs into your laptop to give you the dual screens you love so much, even when you’re not in the office. The screen works with most Mac laptops, PC and Windows laptops, and Chromebooks within the 13″–17.5″ range.

Winston Online Privacy Device protects your information

Prevent big tech, advertisers, data brokers, hackers, or even the government from accessing your data with the Winston Online Privacy Device. This hardware filter installs between your modem and router to protect your information online, all without monthly VPN fees. Because when you’re at home, you don’t have your company’s secure network. And the last thing you need to do is spend time battling a computer virus. Installing in just 60 seconds, this plug-and-play device will keep your information safe. It works with any connected device, giving you total peace of mind. Finally, from your laptop to your smartphone to even your smart  TV and connected light bulbs, Winston protects everything on your home network.

At the end of the day, working from home is going to be something that you’re going to love, or you’re going to hate it because you can’t get anything done. Even if you hate it, some of these smart home office gadgets will help. Once you’re tracking your activity with the TimeFlip2, you’ll be able to make improvements to spend more time where it matters. And once you start using dual screens, you’ll never go back. If you’re newly working remotely because of the pandemic, how are you coping? Let us know in the comments.