To be honest, my first couple months of working from home didn鈥檛 go well. I wasn鈥檛 focused, wasted too much time, and felt trapped in my house. But nine months later, I鈥檝e come to love my home office and will most likely have trouble transitioning back. To help you upgrade your own work space, here are my suggestions for gear that will get you cruising听into (and well past) the new year.
The Mind Journal Jotter ($40)
I鈥檝e always had a notebook for听my to-do lists, but I upgraded to this journal because it takes my weekly planning routine up a notch. I still use it听to make lists, but an included checklist asks me to think about how I鈥檓 feeling each week and then prompts me to write down some larger projects I鈥檇 like to tackle, plus a few things I鈥檓 grateful for. Those three extra activities take just five minutes听but have a larger cumulative effect that leaves me feeling more grounded and organized.
U-Turn Audio Orbit Plus with Preamp ($379)
This piece of gear has single-handedly transformed my work space. Most important, it鈥檚 become the metronome for my day, forcing听me to stand up and flip or change听the record every 20 minutes or so. Those little breaks are good for my body and my concentration. It also does a good听job of setting the mood. I invested in some classic jazz records and love exploring a whole musical genre while I get work done. This model from U-Turn is my go-to because it doesn鈥檛 need an amp鈥攊t plugs right into your speakers instead鈥攁nd because it offers听great sound for the money.
Yeti Rambler 18-Ounce Bottle with Chug Top ($30)
I wasn鈥檛 drinking enough water the first few months I was at home. I鈥檇 get to the end of the day and have a headache. Now, however, this bottle stays on my kitchen table (a.k.a.听my work space) at all times. When it鈥檚 sitting there in front of me, I remember to drink and feel much better come听five o鈥檆lock. I like the Chug top鈥檚 small opening, which is听easy and satisfying to drink from. I鈥檓 also听a fan of the Rambler, because when it鈥檚 not getting me through my day, it鈥檚 also super functional听for outdoor adventures.
J.L. Lawson and听Co. Event Horizon Spin Coin ($34)
We all need small breaks throughout the听day. In addition to changing my records, I鈥檝e also started using to take a quick mental pause. Constructed听from nearly pure iron, with a ceramic ball as the contact point, it spins for a surprisingly long time and makes for a nice distraction when you鈥檙e tired of staring at a computer screen. Two minutes of top spinning leaves me feeling much better than the ten听minutes of Instagram scrolling that used to occupy my writing breaks.
Modern Sprout Coastal Fan Palm Hydro Grow Kit ($19)
Plants make any work environment more pleasant.听But instead of buying ones that were already established, I wanted the challenge of growing something from seeds. Modern Sprout makes it easy by sending you everything you need, from the seeds to the pot听to detailed instructions. I chose the , because after a few years and some attention, it will grow into a fairly large indoor plant.
Taylor Stitch the Hardtack Sweater ($248)
This is听my Mr. Rogers sweater. When I听put it on every morning, it signifies听my transition to work. Made from Yak wool, which is almost听as soft as cashmere but significantly more durable, it鈥檚 immediately cozy and keeps me warm on cold days when I don鈥檛 feel like running the heater. Its thinner weave means it layers well: I wear it under听a coat when I walk the dog and will use it as my midlayer while backcountry-skiing this winter. The isn鈥檛听cheap, but the price听has paid听for itself, as听it鈥檚 easily one of my听most-used pieces of clothing.
Haflinger GZ Slippers ($125)
I鈥檓 a big fan of gear that serves multiple purposes. fall into that category:听they鈥檙e great house shoes that I can also wear outside. The boiled wool keeps my feet comfortable with or without socks, while the rubber soles are thick听enough for walking the dog or quick trips to the store. And with medium-high arches, my feet are supported听at all times. Style-wise, they鈥檙e a mix between slippers and clogs, so they go with pajamas and jeans alike.