With the coronavirus keeping us indoors more than ever, our homes have become much more than the place we live. They’re now daycares, schools, offices, and reluctant staycation destinations.
Because our homes are fulfilling so many different roles now, it’s essential to make the most of them. Here are six investments to consider during the pandemic to make your home work for you.
- A Productive Home Office
While working from home isn’t new, more companies and employees are telecommuting than ever before. Some of us are even finding our homes completely replacing our offices. It’s important to invest a solid home office setup to stress, strain, and even injury.
Invest in a height-adjustable desk (bonus points if it goes from sitting to standing) and a monitor setup that keeps your eye level at a place that’s about 25–30% below the top of the screen.
Similarly, invest in high-quality office furniture, or an adjustable, ergonomic office chair. Look for one with lumbar support for your lower back and armrests that allow your elbows to bend at 90º as you type. Purchasing a home office setup that will minimize your discomfort and maximize your productivity will help working from home feel like, well, not so much work. If required, invest in back braces that hold up your back in the best position, preventing strain while sitting for long hours.
- A Quality Bed Set
Even the most comfortable office chair can’t help you recover from a bad night’s sleep. Sleep is one of the most important ways your body repairs itself, manages stress, and fights sickness. If your mattress or bedding is old or uncomfortable, it’s time to invest in something new.
Your mattress should support your particular sleep style (back, side, stomach, or a combination) and be made from quality materials. If you sleep on your side, you’ll need a softer mattress. Combination sleepers stay in the medium range, and stomach sleepers will need a firmer choice.
Bed sheets also play an important role in your sleep. Higher thread count sheets are softer and more comfortable. Pay attention to the material as well. Percale or simple, breathable cotton are best for warmer months. Flannel or even wool will do well if you live in particularly cold climates.
No matter what mattress or bedding you choose, investing in high-quality products and materials will help you sleep better, positively affecting every other aspect of your life.
- Kitchen Appliances
Especially if you have kids to feed, time-saving kitchen appliances and gadgets can go a long way toward easing your time at home during the pandemic. While restaurants are open in some places, most of us are cooking at home a lot more than we used to.
Consider investing in a quality crockpot so you can assemble dinner in the morning or the night before, and not have to think about it again until the timer goes off. Also think about big-batch cooking, like making a large lasagna or casserole, so leftovers will last a while. Stand mixers can help cut your baking time down significantly.
Additionally, there are dozens of small gadgets on the internet to help you save time. From 3-in-1 avocado tools to vegetable choppers to greens strippers that remove leaves from stems in a flash, these gadgets can help you make the most of the time you spend in the kitchen.
- Self-Care Appliances
Self-care may feel like a luxury right now, but we assure you, it’s more important than ever. Investing in a few small self-care tools can help lower your stress levels. For example, consider a bamboo bathtub tray so you can soak in a relaxing bath while keeping your book, candles, or a glass of wine within easy reach.
Or, consider a diffuser. Scent can have a powerful effect on our mood, and an essential oil diffuser can help spread natural peppermint, lavender, or whatever your favorite scent is throughout your home.
So whether it’s as simple as a new bathrobe, a set of candles, or a foot massager, choose the self-care tool that’s right for you and snag it to help you relax.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Despite all the time we’re spending at home, sometimes we have to go out. Whether it’s for groceries or other supplies, it’s important to protect your family on these excursions.
Coveralls, face masks, and gloves are all good ideas for local, short trips. Reusable, durable cloth options are great for this. However, if you only have disposable ones, make sure you know how to properly manage medical waste.
If you have a big family to help protect, it may be best to get a big box of masks and gloves to keep by the door for anyone who goes out. Young children might not take to wearing masks with patience, so be sure to provide positive reinforcement and rewards when they keep them on. Ordering fun masks themed with their favorite movies, shows, or characters can help lighten the experience for everyone. Also, always lead by example and wear your PPE correctly.
- A Small Yard Pool
Especially if you have a large family, investing in a pool is a great way to get your kids playing outside safely. You don’t need to have a large yard or a built-in pool, either. There are dozens of above-ground and inflatable options to fit almost every size and budget.
Even if you’re “only” using an inflatable pool, be sure to follow safety practices and use safety devices to help prevent accidents. Never let children play in the pool without an adult watching. If the pool will remain up and filled for multiple days, consider erecting a fence or other barrier to keep eager children out.
This small investment can bring your kids hours of joy, and help keep them cool when temperatures rise. They’ll be so tuckered out after playing, they might even let you get work done in your new productive home office.
