In partnership with ONvocal
I have a random love for what’s-in-my-bag videos on YouTube.
Truth be told, filming these kinds of videos would be a big reason why I would be active on YouTube in the first place. But that’s another topic for another day.
I find it endlessly fascinating the things people have in their bags or homes, or on their desks.
Does it help them get more work done?
Is that always on their desk, or just for the shot?
It looks pretty! But is that chair actually comfortable?
I thought I’d give you a peek at my own desk (the rest of the office being a mess), and the items that help me stay productive and focused during a work day.
desk – chair – pinboards – computer – headphones – phone stand – picture block – tumbler – humidifier
pen cup – favorite pens (1, 2) – orchid – notebook – sticky note block – pink notepad
My iMac was the best purchase I made in 2015. The large screen means I’m not hunching over my laptop, and it’s been fantastic for editing photography and creating graphics. I just swapped the old AA battery-powered keyboard and trackpad for the newer mouse and keyboard (which can be charged via an iPhone charger), and I’ve been really happy with the longer battery life. This iPhone dock keeps my phone within easy reach and constantly charged. That said, I keep it on airplane mode during deep work sessions so I won’t be distracted by e-mails or social media notifications.
In all honesty, I should keep the phone in a drawer during these sessions. But baby steps…
I’m always testing new headphones, and have been using the OV headset from ONvocal for a few weeks now. It has all the features I look for – wireless, great sound quality, and a solid microphone.
I’ve found it hard to find a pair that has both a great mic and audio sound; with most of the wireless headphones I’ve tried, you get one or the other. The OV has both in spades.
It took a little time to mold the earbuds to be comfortable, but now they rest snugly in my earbuds. I’ve found I’m most productive when I have something in/on my ears to stay focused, even if I’m not playing music at all. It’s also great to not have to hold my phone during work calls – the OV’s microphone and audio is crystal-clear, and I won’t have to bend my neck to balance the phone while typing notes or to pick up Rho if he wanders in the room (and beelines for the stapler).
One of the most unexpected (and frequently used) features of the OV is the Alexa voice commands. We have two Echo speakers in our home, and Alexa is basically a member of our family. I’ve gotten so used to requesting her to play music, check the weather, and tell me the news when in the kitchen. It’s nice having that same functionality with my headphones. Granted, Alexa can often mishear you (and play ‘Lady’ by Regina Spektor instead of ‘Lady Gaga’ that my son earnestly requests), but I’ve noticed that there are fewer errors when dictacting to Alexa via the OV than when I’m yelling at my Echo in our room.
When I’m feeling stuck on something, I like to get away from my desk and go for a quick walk in the park. Not having to grab a pair of headphones or switch them is great – I can just request the OV to play Enya and clear my head while getting some fresh air.
Walking breaks. They’re honestly game-changing.
After trying every app and journaling technique out there, I’ve gone back to basics – a simple Moleskine Cahier notebook and a modified version of bullet journaling combined with the Deep Work method. At the end of every week, I write down everything that has to get done the following week on the left page – blog posts, pitch decks, reports, and e-mails and letters. On the right side, I write out every day and four checkboxes for each task, and a ‘time spent’ column as well. This system helps me stay focused on what I need to do each day, and assess my progress by reviewing the time spent column (1 checkmark for every Pomodoro).
In the second half of the notebook, I scribble an outline of every blog post and newsletter. I like to do this first thing in the morning, right after I’ve meditated. I’ve found that this wakes my mind up immediately, but it also ensures I have created. If my day ends up getting derailed (which it does often, with home installs or last-minute meetings), I’m able to roll with the punches better since I’ve already worked on my high-priority work.
Would you like a review of my planning system? COMMENT below and let me know!
I used to spend my Pomodoro breaks scrolling through Instagram or catching up on my Feedly. After reading Deep Work (outstanding book, get it immediately), I immediately swapped those ‘break’ tasks with coloring.
Most of my work is rooted in creation – writing, photography and graphics, creating decks, and writing some more. Switching from creating to consumption (which we do with social media) requires a lot of effort for your brain. Now consider how many times you switch back and forth from creating to consumption to creating in a single day. It wears your brain out, and is partly why you’re so drained at the end of the day. I’m still struggling with this, honestly. ‘Pausing’ my inbox during a 2-hour deep work stretch has been helping, as is coloring during my breaks instead of scrolling social media. I’ve admittedly fallen behind on my e-mails, and need to figure out a system that balances communication with creation. If you have a system that works, let me know in the comments below!
Some other random essentials on my desk:
– my water tumbler – this baby holds 30 ounces of liquid (25 when you factor in ice), and I try to drink 4 of them a day to keep up my water intake. Getting up to refill it (or to use the bathroom) also helps keep me moving during the day.
– a plant – this beautiful orchid from UrbanStems adds a little bit of beauty to my desk. It seems to be more resiliant than the other ones I’ve owned, and brings life to my desk (literally).
– Artifact Uprising block prints – I’m overdue to print more recent pictures of Rho from the app, but I love looking at his tiny, chubby baby face when I’m working. Anytime he comes in the room, he grabs the prints and says “baby!!!!” with zero realization that the baby is him.
– Notepads – I have two notepads on my desk – this sticky note block from MM.LaFleur and this monogrammed pad from Minnie & Emma. For personal notes, I’ll write them on the former and stick them inside my notebook. I don’t use the larger notepad quite as much, but will write out errands or shopping lists on them. I find it’s easier for me to have a physical list than to have it on my phone.
– Humidifier – I talk about this humidifier in detail here, but it’s been a huge help during the changing seasons and for helping my ongoing sinus problems. I like to add a few drops of essential oils in here to add scent without burning a candle.
What’s on your desk? Any must-have items or tips to be your most productive? COMMENT below and let me know!
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This post was sponsored by ONvocal. I was gifted the OV and compensated for creating this content. All opinions are, and will continue to be, my own.
