Working in two places: what do you buy twice and what goes in your bag?
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by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
Working from home and in the office means spending time on things that are in the wrong place. Here's what you should buy duplicates of, what belongs in your bag, and what stays put.
You're at the office and your charger is at home. Or vice versa: you're working from home and your good earbuds are in a drawer at the office. Anyone who works in two locations can easily lose half an hour a week to items that are in the wrong place — and usually the bad mood that comes with it.
September is when this becomes an issue again. Vacations are over, schedules are set, and many people are back in the office two or three days a week and working from home the rest of the time. This is a practical list: what you should buy in duplicate, what you only need once, and what should always be in your bag.
The rule: anything you touch daily, buy twice
It sounds expensive, but it's not. The items you use every day and constantly move back and forth are almost all just a few euros. The expensive things — your laptop, your headphones, your phone — you'll take with you anyway.
Divide your belongings into three groups:
Group
Examples
Approach
Buy in duplicate
Charger, cable, phone holder, drinking cup
One set per location, stays there
Once, take with you
Laptop, earbuds, notebook
Fixed place in your bag
Only at home or only at the office
Hub, second screen, desk lamp
Stays where you are most often
The mistake most people make is treating the first group like the second. A charger that goes back and forth every day is a charger you'll forget eventually. For a few euros each, it doesn't have to be that way.
What stays at each location
A second set doesn't have to be identical to your main set. It just needs to prevent you from missing something.
A place to put your phone down. A desk organizer with phone holder (€5.00) does two things at once: your phone stands upright during a call and your pens, keys, and USB sticks are no longer loose on the desk. If you only want to take it with you, a foldable phone holder (€7.95) is more convenient: it's flat and fits in a laptop bag. For on the go in the car, a magnetic phone holder (€4.95) works well.
Ports where you need them. At the place where you sit most often, you want one hub that handles everything. A USB 3.0 hub with 4 ports and a 100 cm cable (€14.95) has enough length to stay behind your screen. If you often work at a desk with more peripherals, the aluminum USB 3.0 hub with 7 ports (€9.95) is a cheaper way to make space. If more than one device charges overnight, an 8-port USB charging station (€14.95) takes over from a stack of power strips. If the outlet is too far away, a 2-meter USB 3.0 extension cable (€9.95) solves that without having to move your desk.
What should permanently be in your bag
There's a small set that never needs to leave your bag. Together, it weighs less than a book and precisely handles situations where you would otherwise get stuck.
Power on the go. A compact 3000 mAh power bank (€14.95) isn't meant to charge your phone three times, but it will get you through that last trip or last call. Charge it on a fixed day of the week, otherwise, it will be empty when you need it.
Your earbuds together. The silicone accessory set with carabiner (€7.95) attaches the case to your bag instead of letting it wander loose in a compartment. If you use them a lot on the go, an anti-loss cord (€2.95) prevents one from rolling off the platform.
Protection for your cables. Cables almost always break in the same place: just behind the plug. A set of 4 cable protectors (€1.95) is the cheapest way to make a charger last a few years longer.
A grip on your phone.Finger holder stickers (€0.95) may sound like a detail, but they make a difference on a crowded train or during a video call while standing in the hallway.
A second set only works if you check it occasionally. Go through these four points on Friday afternoon, and you'll start Monday without hassle:
Is there a working charger and cable in both places?
Is your power bank fully charged?
Are your earbuds in their case and not loose in your bag?
Is there a drink ready, or do you need to take a cup back?
If you keep this up for a few weeks, you'll notice that the number of times you lose something drops significantly. Not because you're suddenly more organized, but because less needs to move back and forth.
A few more considerations
If you work from home in a small space, a stereo speaker with phone holder (€14.95) can replace two devices: sound and a stand in one. And if you often deal with papers and mail at your home workspace, a desk organizer with tape dispenser (€30.00) keeps pens, tape, and notes in one place.
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