Desk Tour

The pandemic has definitely brought some adjustments when it comes to work life – the main one being the transition to working from home. For me, having a work space that supports productivity is absolutely crucial as I write my dissertation. So, I partnered with FlexiSpot to give you a desk tour with some of my favorite tools to make sure your home office is inspiring and productive.

Home Office Musts

Creating my perfect home office is a mix of making sure I’m comfortable and having the right set up to make tasks easier. Here are a few of my basic “musts” for my office.

1. Two screens – While it’s totally possible to work off a laptop, it is so much easier to work with multiple documents at once when you have two screens. For me, I prop my laptop up on some books to make it even with my monitor (I’ll discuss more later).
2. Good lighting – Especially if you’re working late, a well-lit space will help reduce eye strain, make you look more professional on video calls, and set the mood for your space.
3. Proper writing supplies – If you’re like me, I still take plenty of notes on paper. I always make sure to have pens, pencils, and paper readily available.
4. Aesthetic – Some people may tell you this doesn’t matter, but for me, a cute set up actually motivates me to work. You know that saying, “if you look good, you feel good, you do good?”
5. Coffee – enough said.

My Office Space

I’m going to try and breakdown my space by item/purpose and I will provide links wherever possible!

Desk

I have to start with my newest addition to my home office: my FlexiSpot Vici Duplex Standing Desk!

In the last few years there has been a huge increase in people using standing desks – and for good reason. A few scientific studies have reported on the benefits of standing desks in terms of discomfort while working. More studies are being done to assess some other health benefits standing desks may provide (1).

FlexiSpot was nice enough to help me incorporate one of their adjustable standing desks into my home office. I love the ability to have programmed heights that I can set to easily transitions from seated to standing. I’m someone who deals with a lot of back pain, so it is nice to be able to stretch out and stand up while still getting my dissertation writing done.

If you’re interesting in getting your own FlexiSpot Desk, this link will get you $15 off a purchase over $150!

Monitors

Like I mentioned above, I like having two screens to work off of. This is because often times I have multiple documents open when I’m writing. However, I know that a second monitor is not always in the budget for students. In all honesty, I actually use an older TV as my second monitor. All you really need is an HDMI port to be able to extend your screen. However, now a days even monitors aren’t that bad. I found this one through Amazon for under $100.

I use my laptop as my second screen. In order to make them about the same height, I just stack some books underneath! This set up has worked super well for me thus far to allow me to get more work done without breaking the bank.

Mouse and Keyboard

It’s not really feasible to use my laptop keyboard if its propped up on books. So, I invested in an inexpensive Logitech wireless mouse and keyboard set that attaches to my laptop via a USB. Amazon has really great options for mouse and keyboard kits, or even for buying them separate if that’s more your thing.

Another Amazon find I’ve been loving is my ergonomic mouse pad. The cushioning around the wrist helps make using the mouse way more comfortable. It also is grippy on the bottom so it won’t move around on your desk. An added bonus is this one comes in 33 (!!) different prints.

Lighting

An article published by the UNC business school discusses how light can actually influence your productivity. Studies have shown that warmer toned lights are better for relaxing but cooler, bluer lights are better for productivity (2). In my office, I chose to swap out the lightbulbs in my fan for a cooler, “daylight” color to help me stay more focused.

There are a few other benefits to proper lighting in your office. One of which is eye strain. If you are constantly squinting due to inadequate light, it can cause headaches and eye fatigue. I also chose to bring in a lamp next to my desk. The one I have is just an $11 cheapie from Walmart, but it does the trick!

Finally, maybe not lighting specific, but staring at screens all day also affects your eyes. I have started wearing blue light blocking glasses to reduce some of the strain on my eyes. Not only eye strain, but your sleep can be effected by too much screen time as well (and seeing as I don’t get enough sleep as it is…). A study done in 2017 showed that participants that wore blue light glasses showed a 58% (!!) increase in their nighttime melatonin levels (a hormone your body makes to control sleep-wake cycles) (3, 4). Companies like Zenni Optical have affordable blue light glasses options in a ton of different frames. I have this pair currently.

Writing Supplies

I don’t think I need to say much about this one, but having pen and paper readily available is a must for note taking. While I do have notebooks for organizing notes, I also like to keep small pads of paper on my desk to jot down last minute ideas or phone numbers etc.

We all know Target has adorable stationary, but Amazon has some great finds too. I tried to put together some of my favorites below, including my favorite pens made from recycled bottles –

Aesthetic/Inspiration

I said it before, but I’ll say it again. When my space looks good, I feel good, and then I am more productive. A couple of things I have included in my space to make it more aesthetically pleasing include a map wall hanging, a great smelling candle from a grad student run business called The Scientist Co., my cute mouse pad I talked about earlier, a cheeky mug, and my plants!!

I plan to do a full post on best indoor plants soon, but here are some reasons I keep plants in my office: First, they’re pretty. Second, they make me happy. Third, they help purify the air! (Well, at least we think they do.) Many people believe that plants are good for purifying the air – and it is true that laboratory based studies have shown that plants are able to remove chemical toxins from the air. However, many laboratory studies are completed in small confined chambers with high levels of pollutants. In real life, your office is a much bigger space with much lower concentrations of harmful pollutants. This TIME article does a good job at showing both sides of the story (5). But, I personally love plants so I will always have a few to add some green to my space.

If purifying the air is a big concern of yours, FlexiSpot also offers a “FlexiHome” True HEPA Air Purifier to help clean up the air in your office space. It is a tad noisy, but especially in older houses and apartments, cleaning up the air can help you feel better and breathe easier.

Finally, including some inspiration is also a good idea. I have a few of my awards hung on my wall to remind me that I’m capable when the imposter syndrome sets in. But you don’t have to put awards, you could put your favorite quote, or a note from a friend. Really just something to remind you that you can do this!

Caffeine

I’m sorry, but I didn’t make it to my final year of my PhD without a slight caffeine addiction. I like it in all forms (coffee, tea, energy drinks) and at all temperatures (hot or iced). I will say, I could not live without my french press though which makes waaaaaay better coffee than any Keurig could (sorry). I will link my trusty Amazon press here.

Summary

Hopefully this short run-down gave you some items, or at least some inspiration, for setting up your perfect home office. Comfort and utility are key to productivity. Good luck with your work from home adventures!

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