Home Office Essentials All Copywriters Need
If you’re like me, you’ll be spending an awful lot of time in your home office. Here’s what I have in mine!
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I honestly love working from home. My dog gets let outside whenever he wants. If I need a new coffee, I can refresh in seconds. I can choose my hours, which lets me get essential things like vet visits and therapy done during the week.
However, one of the tricky things about working from home is that you need your own office supplies. This also means keeping track of your receipts for tax time, budgeting to ensure you have enough supplies, and re-evaluating your stock. Your office can look any way you want it to -- but the important thing is that it functions as an office should.
Here are some of the essentials that help me run my business smoothly.
I love a good acrylic organizer for keeping my office supplies neat and tidy. Since I am a highly visual person, the see-through aspect of this product is a lifesaver. If I'm in a meeting and need a pen quickly, I can grab one without having to rifle through a drawer. Plus, they adapt to basically any decor. I'm not a massive fan of the regular office supply aesthetic, so these also appeal to me visually.
The type of organizers I use are marketed for makeup users. Still, I find that they fit pens, business cards, paper clips, whiteboard markers, headphones, and other little office essentials very well.
2) Notebooks
Everything might be digital these days, but it helps to have something to write on during face-to-face digital meetings.
Regardless of your preference, I've found that I always need a notebook to scribble something down. I love moleskin's cahier plain journals (because I'm also a doodler), but even a college composition book will do!
3) Mailing Supplies
Copywriters do send out mail -- and if you're a social media manager, remote assistant, or even run your own side hustle in your spare time, you'll want to nab some mailing supplies.
Envelopes are a must-have, even if you don't think you'll ever need them! As a freelance writer, I thought all my business would be strictly online. But as I branched out into different industries, I found out that I was actually sending mail out from time to time. Make sure you have both manila folders and regular envelopes. Personally, I like to make sure that the type I get is peel and seal… because who wants to lick a bunch of envelopes all day long?
Packaging Tape. Every once in a while, you'll need to send out a package, tape down some folders, or even do some odd jobs in the office! Packaging tape makes a huge difference.
Stamps. Enough said!
Sharpies are great for many different office projects -- I always have them on hand.
Personalized return labels. These aren't a must-have, per se, but I find they make a huge difference in saving time. When you have a lot of time, sometimes investing in a return address can save you time and money.
4) A Good Organizer
Some people swear by organizing apps, some by physical planners.
I swear by both -- but ultimately, a good organizer should work for your unique way of thinking.
I use Todoist to keep me on track during the day. I'll enter the tasks I need to get done and estimate precisely how long it will take me to do each. Then, I'll set alarms for the time that I should ideally have each task done by. Todoist has a free version of the program, but I enjoy the upgraded version, which allows me to color code by client, set my helpful alarms, and more.
However, my brain remembers things more thoroughly when I physically write them down (you know, with pen and paper). Currently, I use the RocketBook reusable planner -- which is set up not only to save paper but to allow you to digitally save and organize your writing, notes, and more.
5) A Large Desk
When I moved to South Texas, I had to leave behind my old desk -- which initially devastated me. It had everything I thought I ever needed-- which is to say, a lot of storage.
I still miss that desk sometimes, but I recently upgraded to a much larger desk, which turned out to be just what I didn't know I needed. I currently use an L-shaped desk purchased on Wayfair.com. It is big enough to fit my laptop (with a laptop riser, because I don't know about you, but I'm not too fond of laptop neck), organizational shelving for my pens, pencils, business cards, and inboxes), as well as my printer and a plant.
I don't recommend a specific desk because I think desks should differ based on the person's personality using the desk, but make sure to get one large enough to suit your needs.
6) A Comfortable Desk Chair
Wheels? No wheels? These aren't the only things you'll need to think about.
Even if copywriting is only your side-hustle, you'll be spending a lot of time sitting when you write. A good desk chair should have lumbar support and fit your body comfortably. For larger people (myself included), I recommend opting for chairs without armrests, as armrests are not typically built to accommodate our bodies and may be uncomfortable to sit in for extended periods.
Wayfair managed to have a desk chair with armrests that worked for me (I'm plus-sized), but just barely. I don’t think I would recommend it, in retrospect, because it doesn’t have the best lumbar support.
7. A Great Computer
If you're working from, you've got to have the right tools.
I've used both Apple computers and HP computers. I like both for different reasons, but I firmly believe you don't need a specific brand as a copywriter. I was sad when the MacBook I had in college died and frustrated that it died my senior year of graduate school -- when I needed a computer badly but didn't have the money to buy a good one.
I suggest investing in a good laptop, even if it's a tight financial squeeze. The one I currently use is a bit cheaper than a MacBook but functions just as well. It's light and fits into a backpack easily, and has a screen size that works well as a standard desktop.
Personalize Your Office
Your office will not look like my office.
I've got a bunch of bizarre stuff in here, as well as my home office essentials. There's a red fox skull in a glass case. A package of fake mustaches. A plastic dinosaur. A cat tree. A cactus. A dog bed.
Get the fundamentals first -- like a computer and desk -- and work up from there. But ultimately, you should strive to make your office as homey (but professional) as you can. After all, it’s your workplace. You might as well like where you work.