10 things to help you work from home when away from home

These small solutions are ideal for any workspace.

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If you have plans to head to your vacation home this summer or rent one to take advantage of your office’s remote policy while you still can, then you’ll likely have to readjust to a new working environment while still trying to enjoy your new locale. However, your new work spot might come with a slew of problems like spotty Wi-Fi, not enough outlet space, or too much noise.

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But, you can easily fix these problems with a few handy products that can make a massive difference in your summer workspace. Below are 10 things that’ll make working from home while away from home much more enjoyable.

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1. A quality Wi-Fi extender

Get fast Wi-Fi signal everywhere.

Annoyed that the Wi-Fi in your rental just can’t seem to reach the one quiet spot in the house? Get a Wi-Fi extender. After some rigorous testing, our experts’ named the TP-Link RE220 as the best affordable Wi-Fi extender as it’s easy to set up and has an Ethernet port for non-WiFi-enabled devices. It’s a cheaper option if you only need an extender for this one location, and it has decent performance that will allow you to casually browse the web or edit a Google document.

Get the TP-Link RE220 WiFi Extender from Amazon for $24.99

2. A planner to keep your schedule on track

Keep your schedule extremely organized.

An amazing planner can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your schedule on track while away from your usual workspace (or when you’re in the office, honestly). With its monthly goals and notes sections and sticker sheets, this highly-rated one will keep you extremely organized and on top of all your important tasks. And, if you’re looking for ways to boost your efficiency, there is also a reference section, a habit tracker, and segmented days

Get the TF Publishing Preppy Stripes Planner July 2021-June 2022 from QVC for $34.99

3. A set of noise-canceling headphones

Drown out pesky noises.

Sometimes—regardless of how many times you tell your family or friends to be quiet during your important meeting—there is still a lot of distracting background noise, making noise-canceling headphones essential for working from your home away from home. The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the best noise-canceling headphones we’ve ever tested because they hold up to 30 hours of battery life, are wireless, and include impressive features like active noise cancellation. They also offer incredible sound quality and still feel comfortable after wearing them for hours, which is good for a long day of meetings.

Get the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones from Amazon for $348

4. A portable lap desk to work anywhere

Work from your bed, couch, or floor comfortably.

In a rental home, a couch or bed might become your new office—and that’s totally okay. To make it more productive and not burn your lap with a hot laptop, this lap desk will provide a more comfortable and ergonomic experience. This one has a built-in phone slot and mouse pad that make it simpler to work without a hard surface. According to more than 15,000 Amazon reviewers, this lap desk is incredibly functional and feels super comfortable, which is likely why it has a 4.8-star rating.

Get the Standing Desk Home Office Lap Desk from Amazon for $29.99

5. A power strip with ample space

No need to stress about outlet space.

One major problem when working from home? Finding enough outlets to plug in all your devices. Enter this power strip. It has the seal of approval from more than 8,000 Amazon reviewers because it’s well-made, has plenty of plugs (three outlets and four USB ports), and is very functional. Ideal for small spaces with only one or two outlets, it’ll ensure your laptop, monitor, phone, and more are charged up and ready to go.

Get the One Beat Desktop Power Strip from Amazon for $16.19

6. An on-point lighting kit

Never worry about Zoom lighting again.

That dark room in your vacation home that’s become your temporary office isn’t going to cut it for your important Zoom meetings. An easy solution is a video conference lighting kit. This one from Lume Cube has warm to cool lighting options, clips right to the top of your laptop, and offers Up to 14 hours of uninterrupted run time for those long days of meetings.

Get the Video Conference Lighting Kit from Lume Cube for $69.95

7. An air purifier

Remove dust, pollen, and other allergens from the air.

While working from your new space, you may have encountered unexpected irritants like dust or pet hair. Aside from helping you breathe easier, an air purifier can reduce allergens and other airborne particles that make the space uncomfortable. This one from Winix is the best air purifier we’ve ever tested as it has thoughtful additions like a sleep mode, a light sensor that automatically adjusts, and a timer. It also has a practically non-existent noise level, easy-to-replace filters, and the ability to immediately improve air quality.

Get the Winix 5500-2 from Amazon for $159.99

8. A supportive back cushion

Reduce back, hip, and leg pain.

With more than 14,000 Amazon reviews and a 4.4-star rating, this popular back support cushion will make sitting in an uncomfortable dining chair less painful. Made of a comfortable memory foam material in an ergonomic design, this cushion is designed to provide optimal comfort while claiming to reduce pain in your back, legs, and hips. Our senior audience development manager has used it for years and raves about it. She says it has made a major difference in her back pain and loves that it’s easy to remove and attach to any chair

Get the LoveHome Memory Foam Lumbar Support Back Cushion from Amazon for $26.99

9. A wireless keyboard

No need to strain wrists while typing important documents.

The last thing you need is your wrist feeling stiff while you’re in the middle of writing up important work documents or presentations. That’s why it might be time to invest in a more ergonomic wireless keyboard. After testing a variety of wireless keyboards, we found that this one from Logitech is the best. We love it because the quiet keys are easy to move your fingers over, it connects seamlessly to any computer, and it has backlight illumination so you can actually see the keys during late-night work sessions.

Get the Logitech MX Keys Advanced Wireless Illuminated Keyboard from Amazon for $99.26

10. Apple AirPods Pro

Work outside more comfortably with these headphones.

For those who want to tune into your music and plug into work without the need for bulkier noise-canceling headphones, the Apple AirPods Pro is a great option. They’re the best Apple earphones as they offer amazing noise cancelation, an impressive battery life, and are easy to use—even for users who don’t have Apple devices. They also come with an interchangeable silicone ear tip to ensure they’re comfortable, too.

Get the Apple AirPods Pro from Walmart for $197

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