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Chelsea Clarke
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Remember when working from home was considered a privilege? Whether you recall your parents setting up their home office or you happened to snag one of those unicorn WFH positions, pre-pandemic, nixing your commute to the office and replacing it with working from your humble abode was a straight-up luxury.
Fast forward to now and…not so much.
While many of us were grateful to be able to shift our work responsibilities to home during isolation and beyond during the pandemic, the perspective change has been jarring. Zoom fatigue, pretending excitable dogs (or children) in the background don’t exist, and an increasingly blurred line between what’s life and what’s work are real factors affecting us daily.
But there’s something you can do when the existential dread of WFH becomes too much: Create an atmosphere.
Taking the intentional steps to define what it means to be “at work” (even if that just means a different corner of your condo) can help put you in the mindset to separate the two. Not only will it be easier to be more productive, but it’ll be a more pleasant space to exist in – and it’ll signal to your brain when it’s time to be in work mode – and when it’s time to shut it down.
Read on for our top six products to create an intentional work atmosphere.
Ember Mug2
It’s the home-office worker’s daily gripe: Your meeting went way too long (and could have been an email, but anyway) and now your coffee is ice cold. But fear not, because this smart mug doesn’t just keep your drink hot – it maintains your chosen temperature for up to 1.5 hours. Sip from the 10 oz size or 14 oz – for really long days. $169.95; ember.com
Soul Cycle Grapefruit Pop Candle
Lighting a candle can be an intentional action that signals that it’s time to work. We love Soul Cycle’s signature grapefruit scent, created in partnership with designer Jonathan Adler. Get 40 hours of burn time alongside your 40 hours of work. $42; soul-cycle.com
Cubii Total Body+
For many entrepreneurs, being sedentary is par for the course. But what if instead of scheduling your workouts, you could keep active during emails, phone calls, and Slack messages? This under-the-desk elliptical allows you to do just that, and it’s even got an upper-body pulley system should a free moment arise between being a total boss. $449; cubii.com
Speks Blots Silicone Stress Balls
Fidget toy or aesthetically pleasing desk décor? This modern stress ball does both. Whether you need somewhere to channel energy during the day or to help your thinking process in meetings, these squishy matte objects feel satisfying to hold and manipulate as you work out your inner frustrations. $24.95; getspeks.com
Humanscale Nova Light
This award-winning light was designed with ease of use and longevity in mind. Not only does it reduce eye strain and improve computer-based reading, but it’s also an energy-saving genius that can sense when it’s time to shut down. Equipped with one-touch dimming and one-hand adjustability, Nova is just as convenient to use as it is functional to your workday. $497; humanscale.com
Saje Peppermint Halo Headache Relief Roller
Endless hours of screentime can lead to serious headaches. But with this rejuvenating tincture of cooling peppermint, oxygen-promoting eucalyptus, and stimulating rosemary, relief is in the palm of your hand in a convenient roller application. This product was the inaugural release from essential oil company Saje, launched in 1992 – thousands of reviews later, we can see why it’s kept its cult-like status. $30; saje.com
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