Winter 2021 Setup
My desk setup as of January, 2021.
Where is my Desk: My desk is located in the second bedroom of our home, in a room that now serves four main roles: office, reading nook, guest-room, and, thanks to COVID, impromptu gym. The smaller space & need for versatility is partially why we've kept this space as minimal as possible. Keeping the setup rather sparse not only fits with our design aesthetic, it also allows the office to be quickly packed up and for accessories to be swapped or moved around as needed.
How I use the Desk: Before the pandemic, I had a 9-5 patient-facing position at a care centre. As the pandemic spread across 2020, my role at the care centre shifted to a remote post to minimize staff and patient contact as much as possible. Overnight, a desk that was used exclusively in the evenings and weekends for hobby projects & browsing became converted into an area where I spent 10-12 hours a day connecting with patients over the phone, doing paperwork, & conducting Zoom meetings and online workshops.
I'm also not the only person who uses the office, as my spouse has moved to work remotely as well. It helps that our setup remains minimal so that the busier person on any particular day can have an office and quickly set it up exactly how they want, while the other one of us works in another area of the home - usually the kitchen. Minimizing our electronics' footprint and keeping items easily moveable also helps accommodate our work's shifting demands.
My Desk & The Stuff on it (from Left to Right)
Bird of Paradise Plant: Despite it taking up nearly 20% of the room, having this plant is worth it! The Bird of Paradise plant is super forgiving, easy to maintain, and has added a lot of vibrance and character to our office.
Enamel Mug: Why this is my favourite mug transcends rational reasoning. Enamel mugs are the silliest things to own - they quickly dissipate heat, turning that delicious piping hot cup of coffee into room-temperature bean juice in mere seconds - yet I love them nonetheless. This particular mug comes from Worthling.
Coaster: I use a coaster because I want my marriage to survive. This particular one is the Dot Coaster from EQ3.
HomePod mini: The OG HomePod that resided in our office was moved late last year to create a stereo pair with the TV, and in its place now sits the HomePod mini. Perfect for our office's size, the HomePod mini is an ideal device for controlling our smart devices and listening to music between appointments and meetings. At the moment, I'm not using it as either a speaker or mic for my appointments, preferring the AirPods both for comfort and patient privacy. Available from Apple.
Quatchi Vinyl: Quatchi was one of four mascots of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada, who had dreams of becoming a hockey goalie during the Olympics. I think he's flippin' cute, so I've kept his little figurine on my desks for years now. No longer available.
Desk Mat: I wanted a thin mat for our office to create a bit of contrast, protect the desk, & make writing and using a mouse easier than on a bare surface. I also wanted it to be made of vinyl to prevent stains and oils from soaking into the mat. This particular mat is from Yikda, but they're a dime a dozen on Amazon.
iPhone & Dock: I have as many as six hour-long appointments with patients a day, and because the majority are held over the phone, never has my iPhone been used so much as an honest-to-goodness phone! In February 2020, my monthly call time was under 4 hours, but by the middle of 2020, it had swelled to over 40 hours a month, nearly all attributed to work. The Apple Lightning Dock is also an excellent accessory for making sure the phone stays charged throughout the day and is also where we quickly recharge our AirPods. iPhones are literally available everywhere, and unfortunately, it seems like Apple is quietly phasing out their docks.
Mouse: I've been using Apple's Magic Mouse since it was released back in 2009. I even bought Apple's battery charger accessory ages before the mouse was rechargeable via lightning. And I know this might be a hot take, but I love this mouse! The touch surface for scrolling is perfect; I don't desire a mouse with shortcuts or additional buttons and have gotten so accustomed to its fit & performance that I haven't cared to look beyond it. Available from Apple.
Keyboard: I'm way out of my league when it comes to knowing anything about keyboards. It seems like there's a whole subculture of keyboard fanatics, and my ignorance would make every hair on a keyboard aficionado's neck stand on end. Previously I'd been using the Magic Keyboard and only recently switched to the Keychron K3 after backing the Kickstarted started back in September of 2020. And I only did that because I saw them in the background of various YouTube videos and convinced myself that I should also have one for no particular reason. I'm enjoying it, though I will say it has taken some adjustment coming from the Magic Keyboard due to the increased key height and the pressure of the red switches I purchased it with. Available from $69 from Keychron.
Laptop Stand: I used to be a spry young man who scoffed at the idea of ergonomic design. Then I turned 30. I could get away with staring down at a laptop for an hour or two at a time, but when I began working remotely, the long days started to destroy my neck. I opted for the Twelve South Curve SE in matte white since it complimented the desk and the minimal aesthetic I was after while raising my computer to a comfortable eye-level, an instant godsend for my neck and back. There's also enough room underneath to tuck my keyboard and mouse if I need to make room on the desk temporarily. Available for $59 from Twelve South.
Laptop: The M1 MacBook Air. I can't stop gushing about how much I've been enjoying this computer these past few months. I'm also using the MasiBloom keyboard cover to keep dust off the keys & to keep them the getting discoloured by oil when I use the laptop off its stand. I can't speak highly enough about this cover, which offers a matte texture and a flexible keypress that feels both very comfortable and doesn’t interfere with my typing experience. I've used other keyboard covers in the past that result in keypresses feeling very mushy, but this case has been the exception.
Headphones: Sky Blue AirPods Max. Originally I'd ordered the Silver pair, forgetting how neurotic I would become about the band becoming discoloured over time. The Sky Blue pair struck the ideal balance with the lighter aluminum ears-cups I liked paired with a darker headband that would hide wear better. Overall I only have positive praise for the AirPods Max, and have enjoyed using them for nearly everything I do. The only time you won't see me wearing them is when I'm working out, outside (too cold at the moment), or taking a photo of them for this entry.
Headphone Stand: Of all the items pictured in this photo, this is the one product I wouldn't recommend pairing with the AirPods Max. I was initially taken by the Master & Dynamic headphone stand's design, but I fear that the knurled metal where the headphones rest risks tugging and potentially tearing the canopy on the headphones over time. I've switched to using a brushed aluminum stand from Monoprice, which is not only a lot cheaper but feels a lot friendlier to the AirPods Max.
Fidget Top: After being shown a million ads for the Forever Spin tops, I finally succumbed and ordered a stainless steel stop and spinning base. Available in a range of metals at Foreverspin.com.
iPad: I keep my iPad on hand as a means of accessing my remote desktop if I need to review my work calendar, as a second screen to check email, or to read an article or watch a YouTube video between tasks. And when I'm not on the clock, I might keep a hockey game on the second screen. In the setup, you see pictured, my iPad functions as a second screen, though I find I am generally content with the real estate of my 13" MacBook Air.
iPad Stand: With pens, files, and tops occasionally flying across my desk, I wanted to have something to elevate my iPad from the desk itself. The OMOTON iPad stand is sturdy and has been a perfect match for my needs, with a minimal footprint and design, all while being relatively inexpensive. It also affords me the option of using my iPad in portrait orientation.
Desk: What you see pictured is the 140cm Blum desk from the Canadian furniture outlet Structube. Their stuff generally looks a little chicer than most IKEA stuff, but the build quality & fit and finish are lacking. Thankfully this desk has held up well, and we modified the ash legs a walnut colour to better match some of the other pieces in the room.
