Five home office accessories that help me stay productive

Home office setups are popular, namely because they offer a quiet space in your house to be productive with a wide variety of things, be it to study, to work on finances, to work a remote job, or something else. But if you’re anything like me, then you might have a few essential items that make your home office exciting to use.

Home office setup.

In today’s roundup, I want to share some of the things that I have in my home office that I don’t think I could go without after using for so long. With any luck, perhaps you’ll discover something of similar taste and add it to your own.

16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro chip

16-inch MacBook Pro M2 Pro chip.

It’s a no-brainer that I need a computer to be productive in my home office, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple silicon is a no-brainer for me. This computer packs desktop-class power while still being portable enough to pack away in a traditional backpack, so I can be just as productive away from home.

While my MacBook Pro dons the previous-generation M1 Pro chip, Apple’s latest 16-inch MacBook Pros offer a faster M2 Pro or M2 Max chip, which provide boosts in performance and hardware capabilities. The Apple silicon within keeps up with even the most demanding tasks while maintaining all-day battery life.

Complete with a suite of Thunderbolt 4/USB-C ports, a built-in SD card slot, and the return of a dedicated HDMI port, this computer is ideal for creatives who might need the I/O for a desk rig setup complete with external monitor(s), digital cameras, external storage drives, and more.

Even when I’m just using this notebook as exactly that, I’m blown away by the sound quality packed into the built-in speakers and I appreciate the return of a non-butterfly keyboard since the keys feel more tactile and responsive to my presses.

If you’re interested in an Apple silicon MacBook Pro of your own to be more productive at home and on the go, then you can get a 16-inch model starting at $2,499.99 from Apple or a 14-inch model starting at $1,949.99 from Amazon.

FlexiSpot Comhar Pro Standing Desk Q8

FlexiSpot standing desk with electronic height control.

At the top of my list is the FlexiSpot Comhar Pro Standing Desk Q8, a remarkably sturdy and electronically adjustable desk that can be used in both sitting and standing configurations to suit your desired comfort.

This dual-motor desk supports a staggering 220 pounds of equipment and moves up or down with convenient touch capacitive controls that are built into a front-facing keypad. Fully depressed, the desk sits 24 inches tall, while fully extended, the desk sits 49.2 inches tall.

While the table includes built-in USB A and C charging ports, another thing worth mentioning is the built-in Qi wireless charger, which means you can set your iPhone down in an ergonomically convenient spot while you work on your computer.

The massive surface area of the desk provides a 55.1-inch-wide area to place everything you need for a day’s work, be it a laptop, a desktop, a printer, organization trays, a lamp, and more. Just below the surface is a 28.3-inch drawer where you can tuck away writing utensils and other home office items when not in use.

FlexiSpot stands behind their Comhar Pro Standing Desk Q8 with a five-year warranty on the frame, motors, and certain mechanisms, and with a two-year warranty on built-in electronics, such as the wireless charger and switch.

If you’re interested in a FlexiSpot Comhar Pro Standing Desk Q8 of your own, then you can acquire one at the company’s website for $699.99. A cheaper non-pro edition with a slightly smaller surface area, a single motor, and different table material is also available for $339.99 if you’re on a budget.

CalDigit USB-C SOHO Dock

CalDigit USB-C SOHO Dock.

I’ve had a USB-C-equipped MacBook Pro for what feels like forever now, and while my modern Macbook Pro has just a few more ports than my older ones did, I still find using CalDigit’s USB-C SOHO Dock to be useful.

Not only does this bad boy provide a whopping 100 watts of passthrough power to my computer to keep it powered while I use it, but it provides a legacy USB-A port, an Ethernet connection, an extra SD card slot, dual HDMI ports, and a bevy of other goodies that work over the very same USB-C connection as the power supply.

Conveniently, this leaves all the other USB-C ports open on my MacBook Pro to use with immediate USB-C peripherals, and all while letting me attach accessories that generally stay at home on my desk, like external storage, monitors, etc.

I’ve come to appreciate the slim form factor of the CalDigit USB-C SOHO Dock, and I also appreciate the color-matched aluminum since it looks like it belongs with my MacBook Pro on the same desk while it does all the heavy lifting my MacBook Pro wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.

In a pinch, the CalDigit USB-C SOHO Dock even works with the iPad Pro’s lone USB-C port, providing tons of I/O and external display support when you need it.

If you’d like to check out one of CalDigit’s USB-C SOHO Docks, then you can head over to Amazon to acquire one for just $79.99.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 charger.

My favorite way to keep my iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods Pro charged up is with a desk-side charger like the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 with MagSafe, and it should be easy to see why.

While it may be created by a third-party company, this charging stand looks like it was designed by Apple for Apple users. Complete with an official 15W MagSafe charger and an official fast charge-supported Apple Watch charger, this stand quickly powers your latest devices with ease.

The base of the charger seems inconspicuous enough, but it’s a Qi wireless charger that you can use to charge another Qi-enabled device, such as a pair of AirPods or AirPods Pro, or even your significant other’s non-Apple smartphone.

The BoostCharge Pro is made from premium materials including a sturdy metal frame that doesn’t wobble or buckle under weight like a lot of the plastic competitors do. Keeping in mind that it looks like an Apple product, anyone who has a Mac-based ecosystem will feel right at home with this charger since it looks great beside all your Apple equipment.

If you’re ready to power up your mobile devices while you get productive at the home office, then you can acquire a Belkin BoostCharge 3-in-1 charger with MagSafe from Belkin’s website for $149.99.

GTRacing Pro Series Gaming Chair

GTRacing Gaming Chair.

One of the most important things you can have in any home office is a comfortable seat; after all, you’re going to be spending a lot of time in it if you do any kind of professional work from home. Even if you don’t, it’s a good idea to invest in your body by getting a chair that won’t cause problems for you later in life.

The GTRacing Pro Series Gaming Chair is my go-to when it comes to keeping the hind quarters comfortable for long periods. The well-padded cushions surrounding the buttocks are supportive enough to encourage good posture and yet oriented in such a way that you won’t find your legs falling asleep from long sits.

GTRacing is the brand name that a lot of the knockoffs try to copy, but this chair comes with premium construction materials that feel as good as they look. Both premium leather and thickened steel are used in construction.

With arm rests that not only go up and down, but also side to side and pivot for the ideal angle, you can keep your arms comfortable during long work periods. The backside of the chair even pivots down to your preferred reclining angle, while two small pillows comfort your neck and lower back and the sides curve around your body to support your sides.

The GTRacing Pro Series Gaming Chair comes in several different colors to help set the tone of your workspace (or play space) and is available from GTRacing’s website for $159.99.

Wrapping up

Everybody has a different idea about what comprises of the ideal home office setup. These are five essentials from mine that I have no problem recommending to friends and family who might be looking for similar items, and that’s the reason why I’m sharing them with you today.

What kinds of essentials do you keep in your home office? Be sure to let us know in the comments section down below.