Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Desk Update: Easy Ways to Improve Your Workspace

desk update easy ways improve workspace laptop on the in modern office v2
Image used with permission by copyright holder
If you’re like lots of people, you spend a lot of time sitting at a desk. Your desk might be nestled into a cubicle, it might command the center of an expansive corner office, or it might be tucked into a nook in your apartment. It’s not where your desk is located that we’re discussing today, it’s what you have done to make the desk itself the best damn desk it can be. And we’re not even talking about replacing the desk with a whole new unit; if you want to upgrade to a standing desk (see what I did there? Aw yeah) or get yourself that Cocobolo desk from Better Call Saul, go for it.

Today, though, we’re discussing easy and affordable ways to make the desk you already have a bit more excellent. You’re going to spend hours sitting at your desk every day, so why not spend an hour or two improving your space? And for the record, we’re talking about practical, functional updates; when it comes to decorations, that’s up to you. You gotta do your thing…

Fresh Air – The Desktop Air Purifier

If you suffer from allergies, a weakened immune system, or your desk simply sits in an environment prone to poor indoor air quality (which people yammer about so often that you’ll even see the abbreviation IAQ all over the place), then treat yourself and your lungs to a desktop air purifier. You can find many fine units out there for well under $50 (though top-of-the-line units are much more expensive), most of which can reliably rid the air of all particulate matter larger than two microns in size (that’s wildly small, FYI). Cleaner air can not only improve your overall health, but it might even keep your thought process more crisp and productive.

Put Your Feet Up – The Desk Hammock

Desk-Hammock

Ah, how good it feels to put your feet up at the end of the day, right? But wait, why are you waiting until the end of the day to elevate those tired dogs of yours? With a fine desk hammock, you can kick back and relax right there at your desk. Most desk hammocks, also called desk foot rests by some, cost between $10 and $20 and take about three minutes to install. You can adjust the hammock height to lift your feet a few inches off the ground while you sit forward and type, write, or assemble a puzzle when you should be working, or you can raise the hammock to the same height as your chair and lean back for some quick at-desk R&R.

Fresh Food at Your Fingertips – The Desktop Garden

the-desktop-garden
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Adding a compact hydroponic garden to your desktop offers you three distinct benefits. First, the lights used to grow the plants in these units simulate sunshine and can help elevate your mood and increase your productivity. Second, as the herbs, vegetables, or fruits grow there on your desk, you’ll benefit from a localized reduction in CO2 and increase in oxygen because, you know, plants. And third, once your little desktop garden starts to produce tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, or whatever other edible whatnot your chose, you can eat it. Just FYI, in case you missed that part when you started looking into the whole food growing thing. Prepare to spend about $200 for a great unit.

Less Sound Sounds Good – Filter the Noise

Imagine trying to conduct your work while riding on a busy subway train, with the clamor of the tracks, the cacophony of voices, and the din of phones, music, and more assailing your ears. And now imagine trying to work while riding along on a runaway stage coach as a band of outlaws chase you, your papers blowing comically over your shoulder as you spill coffee on an anachronistic laptop, while the tobacco-stained face of the driver turns toward you and shouts: “Now what’n the sam hell is that thar thing, mister!?” OK anyway. The point is that noise can be quite distracting, and you owe it your peace of mind and productivity to filter it out. You can do this with noise-cancelling headphones or a white noise machine. Or you can stick some earplugs up in there if that’s your thing.

Steven John
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Steven John is a writer and journalist living just outside New York City, by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, by way of…
The Ghostbusters have a new ride in Frozen Empire, courtesy of Mercedes Benz
Mercedes Benz Sprinter plays a pivotal role in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
The ECTO-Z makes its debut in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.

Later this month, the Ghostbusters will be back on the big screen in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire. And while three generations of the team are coming together, there is a big addition to the crew: The ECTO-Z. At an event in New York City, Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled the Ghostbusters' new ride, which is a customized Mercedes-Benz Sprinter that follows in the footsteps of the iconic ECTO-1 from the first three films.

Given the larger size of the second and third-generation Ghostbusters team, it was only natural that they would need a vehicle that could carry all of them to the scene of a haunting anywhere in NYC. As for the name, it comes from original team member Dr. Winston Zeddemore, as played by Ernie Hudson. Ghostbusters: Afterlife established that Zeddemore is now the financial backer of the Ghostbusters and the de facto leader of the team.

Read more
Everything points to Apple TV+ making a change you’re not going to like
Is an ad-supported tier coming to Apple TV+?
The Apple TV Plus Logo

It turns out that TV worked pretty well under its old model. According to a new report from Business Insider, Apple TV+ may be the latest streaming service that's set to introduce an ad-supported tier and charge those who don't stream with ads a premium fee to access their great shows and movies.

At this point, the report is still speculation, but Apple has made several recent hires in the advertising space that seem to suggest the direction they're planning to take. The company recently hired former NBCUniversal ad executive Joseph Cady to serve as executive vice president of advanced advertising and partnerships, a move that comes following the company's hiring of another former NBCUniversal executive, Jason Frum, who joined Apple's video ad sales team.

Read more
From Gilda Radner to Ali Wong, these are the best female comedians of all time
These women from all generations will make you laugh out loud
Ai Wong comedian 2017 Moontower comedy festival

Hot take: I don’t care for straight male comedians. It’s not that they’re not funny, they’re just … I don’t know, boring? Maybe that’s reductive of me, but I never seem to leave a straight male comedian’s set feeling particularly inspired. And though some may argue that it’s not important for a set to "inspire" its audience, I’d actually argue that the opposite is true. For me, I want to see a comedian use humor to address real issues and say real things about the world, even if they do it in a completely goofy way.

Therefore, I tend to prefer female and female-identified comedians. They’re sharp, tough, and have often seen shit that makes their comedy feel raw and true. Undoubtedly there are male comedians who do this, too, but to a much lesser degree, in my very humble and very personal opinion.

Read more