Three Things: A Neurodivergent Writer's Work-from-Home Essentials
What helps me get shit done (flexibly)
Welcome to Three Things— a condensed version of my favorite things. This time around, I will be sharing my work-from-home essentials, as well as some musings about a work-from-home setup versus a hybrid one. It’s going to be a bit meaty, so spare yourself a few minutes to read this!
When I entered my tech job last year, I thought that having a hybrid work setup was the one for me. A hybrid setup meant structure and discipline, which I sorely needed for my ADHD brain. It worked to a degree, but office life got the best of me. I experienced burnout and homesickness, despite having my own space to call home during office days.
Because of my experience at my tech job, I’ve come to realize that working remotely is the best setup for me. Working from home means that Berry and I get to bond, I get to eat healthier food, and I get to work on my hobbies. I also get to unmask and stim more freely.
Given these benefits, allow me to share three items that allow me to stay comfy and productive as a neurodivergent creative during office hours (and beyond):
My semi-flexible planning system
As someone who has a dislike for traditional planners and organizational systems, I’ve found a way to keep things organized, but in a more flexible way.
My current Notion setup, which is based on @HelloMayuko’s template
I’m currently in the process of organizing my tasks and engagements digitally, so I’m back to using this weekly planner setup developed by Mayuko. It’s easy to use and it doesn’t feel overwhelming to tweak. Notion, in general, has a great set of templates that you can customize according to your needs.
I also have my Google Calendar to help me stay reminded of important dates on my phone or on my laptop.
A sneak peek at my bullet journal
However, my memory issues can get in the way of me being productive, so I always have my bullet journal and some sticky notes with me to help me remember. My bullet journal is what I usually use to plan out my day.
When it comes to work though, I’m glad that my previous workplaces (and my new one) have embraced productivity tools such as Asana to document our tasks. It makes task tracking easier, especially when it comes to managing deadlines and our individual workloads.
A laptop stand or a stack of books to elevate your laptop
I used to be one of those workers that do not use a laptop stand to help with work. I thought that my mere efforts would pull me through. However, having a laptop stand has made a difference in how I do my day-to-day work. It makes me look (and feel) more put together, while also compelling me to slouch less.
Instrumental music or a podcast as background noise
I cannot live without some form of background music or noise. Whether it’s for taking walks or doing tasks, I need some music to keep me stimulated. Instrumental music inspired by coffee shops, lo-fi beats, or soundscapes from Endel work best for me when I write. For the lattermost option, Endel has a focus timer that you can customize when you need to do actual work, similar to the Pomodoro method.
I’m still figuring out more systems in my day-to-day life, so please be gentle with me. Anyway, I hope this post helped!
Until the next brain dump,
Lea