Home office - 3: my 10 best tools

Part 1: Home office - my routines

Part 2: Home office: designing rooms well

In my 20 years of working from home, I have learnt to really appreciate some tools. I'll introduce you to my favourite tools here - maybe it will inspire one or two of you.

Home office: practical tools

1. office mug

Nothing works for me without tea or decaffeinated coffee. That's why I have my office mug, which I practically only use for work. And I have a French coffee cup that I only use on Sundays. The brain is a creature of habit: both cups signal to the brain that it's time to work or relax.

2. laptop stand

Sitting all day is not for me and it shortens my life expectancy by almost five years. I like to live a healthy life. That's why I had my brilliant boat builder build me a laptop stand to suit me and my laptop. Two to be precise:

One laptop holder is mounted on a treadmill. So I can write while walking. Yes, that works. I'm doing it right now. I'm currently walking 3.1 kilometres per hour and writing at the same time.

This way, even on days when I'm in the office a lot, I achieve my goal of running at least 5 kilometres a day.

My second laptop holder is a desktop laptop holder. It is height-adjustable. I can work on it standing up. At the kitchen counter or even by the stove when it's very cold in winter. Boat builder Helge builds these ingenious parts to measure on request.

3. dynamic stool

This is a stool that keeps my spine moving even when I'm sitting. This also helps to prevent neck and back pain.

4. sports equipment

Trampoline, Kettle-Bells and Hella-Hup, swinging stick. Get some exercise during breaks. I rarely feel like going to the gym, but a few minutes on the trampoline, strengthening my arms or moving my back is always possible and does me good.

5. blue light filter glasses

Too much blue computer light in the eyes leads to less melatonin being produced, the hormone you need to sleep well.

Firstly, I try to stop looking at electronic devices at least two hours before going to bed. Secondly, I use special computer glasses with a blue light filter. They ensure that less blue light hits my retina and I can sleep better.

Home office: tools for focus

6. electronic planner

I can't remember everything I have planned. That's why electronic planners are very helpful for me. I use To-Do-Ist for my tasks because it is so streamlined and has no frills, and I can also schedule tasks or set them to repeat, e.g. clean the stove every week.

I use Click-up for my team, which is great for keeping track of the projects you're working on with several people.

7. paper planner

I like electronic planners. But I still need my daily tasks to be visible on paper in front of me. I use a classic calendar planner. I write down the three most important tasks for the day and all the small stuff too. I enter appointments in red so that I can see them more easily. I've heard that I've been so absorbed in writing that I've forgotten appointments...

If there isn't enough space in the planner, I use neon-coloured notes. Neon because the eye doesn't notice white notes. A brightly coloured note draws more attention to itself and helps to keep track of jobs, even when there are calls, emails and other distractions.

8. green pen

I used to always cross out completed tasks. At some point I found that rather destructive. Now I mark completed tasks in green. This symbolises that I have helped something to grow: a person during coaching or through the texts I write or a piece of organisation in my company.

9. wingwave music

At night during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase, the eyes move back and forth quickly. This helps us to process experiences better and reduce stress. In the Coaching live or on the phone I consciously use this to Release fears and blockages.

I also have a Quadro booklet written about how to make it work for yourself. Release blockages can use.

We experience a lot of stress. If you are constantly looking more or less fixedly at a screen during the day, the stress remains in your body and mind. Sleep is often not enough to relieve the stress.

Special Wingwave music activates gentle eye movements through alternating tones on the right and left, helping to reduce stress and improve concentration. I use the music practically every day, especially when I'm tense and can't concentrate. The music is also available as an app called Wingwave available.

10. the switch-off button

I like working, I really like it. I love developing things that empower people and help them move forward. But the more tired I get during the day, the harder it is for me to stop. I still want to do this or that.

It's good for me to set a time in the morning when I want to stop working and switch off the computer. It also helps me to set a nice activity for afterwards, e.g. cooking, gardening or meeting up with friends - live or virtually.

I finish the working day by planning the next day and then I press the switch-off button and enjoy the other good things in life.