Toggl Track Staff Show Off Their Workstations
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Toggl Track Staff Show Off Their Workstations

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Toggl Track is a fully remote company, with people scattered across the world (in 19 different time zones). Our meetings our virtual, our office is virtual and even our water cooler chats are virtual. But our workspaces run the gamut from bedroom corner to attic suite to Airbnb, and are as varied as our routines. Below, Toggl Track staff share their work from home spaces, schedules and other very important daily rituals, involving sports equipment and custom-made sandwiches.

Emma – Creative & Content Marketing 

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

I’m currently based in Toronto, Canada. I’ve worked from home for almost 5 years. It’s a great way to avoid the winter. 

What does your typical work day look like these days? 

I used to split my time between my home office and an artist studio space I share, but I’m staying home for the time being. Though if I’m honest, I already spent about 80% of my time in the home office anyways, so it’s not a big change. 

Can you describe your office setup?

Being in a big city with high rents, I don’t have a separate room for my office. Luckily I have a large bedroom which has a nook that I turned into my office. I’ve got a big desk, lots of shelves and a really cozy chair. 

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

Hmmm, I’m not really sure—I’ve never Toggl’d it. It really depends on the day. Sometimes I work all day at my desk. Other times I don’t touch it. I’d say I spend about 50% of the time at my desk setup and 50% in other places in my apartment. 

What kind of other places in your apartment? 

Since I’m in a small place I share with roommates, my ‘other’ places are kind of limited. That said I pretty much work everywhere – standing up at the kitchen counter, on our balcony, the living room couch, the bathtub.

Wait, the bathtub?

I mean, not while bathing. It’s a holdover habit from my previous apartment. The Wi-Fi signal was really weak in my room, so I would have to go to the bathroom to upload any large files. Eventually I just started sitting in the bathtub since everything loaded much quicker. I don’t do it a lot now. I mainly work from the desk or my cozy chair. 

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

I think my top three are my laptop stand, my notebook, and a candle. The laptop stand has really saved my neck. Before it, I had a lot of back pain. I also bring it with me when I travel. 

I use my notebook for all my to-dos. I think because I use software for almost every element of my job, having a physical notebook that I can quickly turn to for direction really benefits me. I’ve tried almost every to-do software out there but they’ve never worked out. I’m paper forever. 

The candle is kind of a work from home hack. I light it whenever I start work. It’s an olfactory trigger that my work day has started. 

What about software? Top three?

I love Notion so much (I’ve got a bit of a reputation for it at this point). I use it for all documentation, project planning, content calendars, freelancer briefs, etc. It’s really simple and just looks so nice. 

I’m also constantly in Sketch making graphics, doing page designs, etc. It’s simple, quick and really versatile. Also I’m biased towards desktop apps since having lots of tabs open on my browser makes me anxious.

It feels like a cop out to say Toggl Track, but time tracking is the one thing that actually keeps me on track. Even before I joined Toggl Track, I’ve always used timers. I started time tracking/ time boxing in university and I’ve really never had anything make such a big difference on my productivity. I use the desktop app every day. 

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

Soccer/Football! I have a bad habit of crossing my legs when I sit. It’s led to some bad knee pain. I accidentally left my football under my desk one day and figured out that if I have something to rest my feet on/ play with, I don’t cross my knees as much. It’s really helped. Plus it’s nice to take breaks and just toss the ball around.

Janika – Product Designer

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

Tallinn, for a bit less than one year.

What does your typical work day look like these days?
I wake up usually quite early to do my favourite thing in the day—eat breakfast. I mean I go to sleep dreaming about breakfast. When I get to the living room-kitchen I tell Alexa to play some morning music and take quite some time to enjoy my coffee and eat the Janika-super-sandwich.

Wait, super sandwich? Can you briefly describe this sandwich?

There are two types of super-sandwich. One is with salmon and one is with ham, but both consist of dark bread, cream cheese, salad leaf, fried egg (sunny side up), topped with either salmon or ham and cheese. Then if you start eating and cut the egg in half the soft yellow yolk makes it taste super nice… Actually, it is quite a normal sandwich, but it is the best part of the morning.

Back to your work day. 

Then I pick one from my two common working spots: the living room corner with a bean bag chair or from the “office”. I usually use the morning time to take on more time-consuming or focus-needing tasks. After lunchtime I focus more on discussions in Slack and smaller tasks. Sometimes when I need a break I use my approximate lunchtime to go for a walk or do a YouTube workout. Usually around 5 or 6 p.m. (depending on when I started) I finish up to focus on my hobbies or some DIY projects.

Can you describe your office setup?

I have two setups. One is in my office, which  I am sharing with my husband. One is in the living room corner with a bean bag chair. I like to move around to clear my head and let new thoughts in; that is why I have different spots set up for work. Now there are three…there is a beanbag chair on the balcony also.

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

I usually have one to three-hour working phases where I’ll spend working in one location and then I move to a new place.

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

Coffee in my alpaca mug—there is nothing happening before I get my morning coffee beside me. My notebook, Post-Its and four types of pens (pencil, thin and thick black permanent markers and a soft colored brush-pencil)—then taking notes can look nice, also. 😅  My AirPods: to listen to music and make calls. Or maybe even my beanbag chair…the best spot to write Slack replies in ;).

What about software? Top three?
Sketch to make UI designs in, Slack to have everyday discussion in and InVision to do prototypes or share designs to development.

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?
Wouldn’t say any of my items are unexpected—the less stuff I have hanging around there the better my focus…so I try to get rid of the clutter as much as possible

Vedran – Support Team Lead

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

I’m located near Zagreb, Croatia. I’ve been working from home for almost 10 years. 

What does your typical work day look like these days? 

One of the first things I do in the morning is to make coffee and clean a few dishes. While coffee is settling I do a short (15-20 minute) low-intensity workout. I then start working and generally grab breakfast after one to two hours. 

During normal times I try to finish with work by 17h and then go play some tennis and hang out with friends. These days I generally just hop on a bike around 14-15h and ride for about an hour or so. After coming back I grab something to eat and then proceed with work until around 21h. 

The long work hours are generally not a good idea (especially long term), but I do find that working helps me cope with the current world suckery.  

Can you describe your office setup?

I have a motorized standing desk from IKEA that never goes up (I made a mistake). One monitor connected to the laptop. My laptop always displays Slack while the monitor shows all the other stuff I’m currently working on. 

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

Generally around seven hours. However, lately it’s been 9-10 hours. I virtually never work outside of the home office and rarely use the laptop for leisure or entertainment. 

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

None of the office items are very important to me. I like my setup mostly due to the ergonomics. I can generally work from anywhere as long as the position is comfortable.

What about software? Top three?

  1. Slack: I like it despite the fact that not using it isn’t an option.
  2. aText: It’s an easy to use text expander.
  3. Todoist: A very good todo app.

I’d also include macOS in general as an honorable mention. I was a Windows user for 10+ users and only switched to MacBooks about four years ago. It occasionally annoys me, but nowhere near as often as Windows did.  

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

The only unexpected thing is actually the lack of items in the office. I am the opposite of a hoarder and tend to give away anything I don’t need. The office looks as though Data from Star Trek lives there. 

Jake, Support Team Agent 

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home? 

I’m based in the US in the state of Wisconsin, in the city of Sheboygan. Fun fact about Sheboygan: It’s the Freshwater Surfing Capital of the world! And I’ve been working from home for three years now. 

What does your typical work day look like these days? 

I’ve actually been trying to change things up recently with my normal routine to try and improve my mental and physical health. Upon waking, I try to fit in some journaling and yoga, then grab a cup of coffee and sit down at my desk. Then (about three hours into my shift), I’ll stop for some brunch. 

At the end of my shift, I’ll try to take a two-mile walk and come back to my apartment for some meditation, dinner and video games (I’ve only recently become a gamer, and I’ve found a lot of fun in joining up with my fellow Toggl Track coworkers and playing some fun games together). In pre-coronavirus times, I always tried to work from a local coffee shop at least once a week just to mix up the routine.

Can you describe your office setup? 

It’s ocated in a corner of my apartment living room. I use an Autonomous-brand motorized standing desk and two 27-inch monitors (one vertical for Slack, and the other for my main work view). The monitors are hooked up to my main computer (a Macbook Pro) via a docking station. 

How much time do you spend working at your desk? 

Typically seven to nine hours. 

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

Nothing, to be honest. So long as I can see my laptop screen and type without dropping my laptop, I can work from anywhere.

What about software? Top three? 

  1. Slack: Can’t live without it! Best team communication software ever
  2. Spotify: I like having some background music playing while I work
  3. Trello: Whenever I have any kind of project work both in and outside of work, Trello helps me to stay organized and focused

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

A Canon M50 on a tripod with a vlogging microphone. I’ve been toying around with vlogging recently, and it sits on/next to my desk at all times…just in case inspiration strikes.

Paul – Technical Lead

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

I currently live in and work from beautiful Galway City in Ireland. I’ve been working from home since 2013, which has allowed me to keep the same great job despite moving three times, including countries!  

What does your typical work day look like these days?

I’ve come to prefer a relatively rigid schedule, getting up early, going straight to work in my home office and taking only minor breaks for breakfast and lunch. This usually allows me to be done with work around 4 p.m., leaving me lots of time to spend with family, friends and working on various hobbies and projects.

Can you describe your office setup?

My home office consists of two distinct parts.

My standing desk and workstation is where I do most of my work—I find the large screen indispensable for looking over schedules, diagrams, and documentation. My iPad also comes in handy for quickly checking emails, doing some digital drawings and most importantly, tracking my time.

My second desk is for more creative purposes, from work-related drawing and sketching out ideas on paper (I’ve learned to not underestimate how much using an actual pen can help the thinking process) to crafting and drawing in my free time.

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

I work exclusively in my home office which helps me separate life and work and allows me to avoid distractions with my family at home. Most of the time is spent sitting or standing behind my desk, though I’ve been known to get up and pace during exciting meetings on occasion.

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

The number one object in my office is my big mug which you will rarely find not containing green or peppermint tea. Something else I could not go without is my mechanical keyboard—if I’m not in a meeting, I spend most of the day typing, and my fingers deserve nothing but the best.

Honorable mentions go to the three little cacti on my windowsill. “Honorable” both because I hardly notice them at work—though when I do, they always bring a smile to my face, especially when one of them decides to flower—and most importantly because they are the only plants that have ever survived longer than a month under my care.

What about software? Top three?

  1. Todoist: A good todo list app is the only way for me to maintain the illusion of being organized.
  2. Slack: Communication, communication, communication. It’s one of our company values, and the biggest part of my job.
  3. Sublime Text: I do all my writing and note taking in plain text using only Markdown for formatting. Currently I have 12 different windows open across multiple desktops, and I really don’t want to count the number of tabs. It’s worse than my browser somehow.

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

Apart from the complete set of Isaac Asimov’s Robots and Foundation series, a Fallout bobblehead (+1 Charisma—I’ll let you be the judge if it helped) and the complete set of Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks (and, of course, a highly curated collection of dice), the wall behind me bears a large towel print of one of Toggl’s most famous comics, signed by the featured Jon Skeet himself. This towel is as important to me as it is nerdy and obscure to pretty much anyone else.

Caitlyn – Partnerships Manager

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

I’m based on the U.S. West Coast, in Oregon, and have been working from home for almost two years.

What does your typical work day look like these days? 

Because I work with an international team, my best time-zone overlap is in the morning. So I usually start my days with meetings, catching up with and responding to discussions on Slack, and responding to emails. This leaves my afternoons for more focused work. I also time-block, because I struggle with context-switching. So once I’m done with my daily communication catch-up in the morning, I’ll take a break for breakfast. Then, when I come back to my computer it’s easier for me to focus right in on my next task. Same with a break in the mid-afternoon when I generally go for a walk or do some yoga—I focus on one dedicated task before the break and a different one after. The opportunity to clear my head in between improves overall focus.

Can you describe your office setup?

I have a desk on one side of my living room and all my office equipment lives there, but I only really work from the desk when I need to be on a video call. Otherwise, I work from the couch 80% of the time. I share the house with my husband who also works from home, but his home office is upstairs whereas mine is downstairs, which works pretty well to reduce mutual interruptions during the work day.

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

Just a few hours a week. I only work from a desk when I absolutely have to. Otherwise I prefer a more comfortable spot where I can put my feet up.

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

  1. Ring light for video calls: Working with international time zones, I sometimes have to be on a work call at 5am, when it’s still dark outside, so I don’t get the benefit of glorious ambient lighting. A ring light with adjustable brightness and cool/warm settings ensures that I am visible to my teammates and gives me a confidence boost during meetings, knowing that I look presentable.
  2. Ethernet cable: I rely on Wi-Fi most of the time, but have noticed some unnecessary delays and glitchiness when depending on Wi-Fi during video calls. So I keep a 20-inch ethernet cable coiled up on my desk and spool it out for a hardwired connection whenever I need to jump on a call.
  3. Bluetooth speaker: I can’t work in silence. And while the playful jingling of my cat’s ball helps fill some of the void, I find it much easier to focus with music in the background.

What about software? Top three?

  1. Toggl Track for time tracking: Shameless plug, I know. But seriously, I track all my work time. It helps me stay focused, because once I’ve started a timer going for a particular project, I’m more likely to keep working on that project than jump around and do unnecessary things like check Slack or email. When I have a timer running for team communication, then I can do those things, otherwise, it helps me stay focused on the task at hand.
  2. Slack: Communication is essential. Slack is how I stay in touch with my team, and I must admit that I get a bit lonely when most of my European colleagues log off and I’m more or less on my own most afternoons. That’s when I try and post personal/discussion threads, like about what favorite playlists people are listening to this week, because I know all sorts of good, human communication will be waiting for me when I log in the next morning.
  3. Notion: It’s our internal wiki and a vital information source. Not only do I keep track of all my own work in Notion, but I know that I can most likely find any information that I would otherwise have to ask someone for there as well. It’s just a matter of fine-tuning my search phrase.

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

Cats. My two sweet buddies hang out with me on and off throughout the day. If I’m feeling work stress, all I have to do is reach over and rub a fuzzy tummy and I get an instant shot of happy.

Dajana – Internal Communications Manager

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

I am currently based in a small town in northern Serbia called Sremska Mitrovica. I used to live in a bigger city, but decided to move back to my hometown after the coronavirus crisis started. Fun fact: The Roman name of my hometown is Sirmium. Sirmium was one of the four Roman capitals and ten Roman emperors were born in or near the city.

Can you describe your office setup?

I moved back into my parents’ house and turned their attic into my office. My old school desk is in use again! The most important thing for me is having a dedicated work area, so I put a lot of effort into making this space appealing to me—there is a lot of natural light, plants and books everywhere around.

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

I spend 100% of my working hours at my desk nowadays.

I am one of the people who learned how important a dedicated work space is the hard way. I used to start reading Slack messages while still in bed in the morning, continue through it while brushing my teeth, having breakfast and continue dealing with work throughout the day. This blurred the line between work and personal life and introduced a lot of stress into my life.

This is why desk space is sacred to me now. I don’t have work apps on my phone. I start my work day when I sit by the desk and finish it when I get up and close my laptop. All other areas in my house are dedicated to other things and not work.

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

  1. Noise canceling headphones because even in the attic, I can hear my mom talking to her mom over the phone.
  2. Laptop stand or external monitor to help my neck stay alive.
  3. Everything else I could live without, so I’ll cheat with numbers and tell you about four software programs I could not imagine my workday without.

What about software? Top three?

  1. Toggl Track: I fell in love with Toggl Track long before I started working here. I’ve never stopped using it, since 2014, and I cannot imagine my work life without it. It helps me know where I spend my time and stay focused on things that matter.
  2. Todoist: The second app I open as soon as I start my computer. All my to-dos are there and to be honest, I would have no idea what needed to be done if it weren’t for Todoist.
  3. Slack: Our virtual office and place where most of our internal communication happens. Also a place with all the memes and jokes.
  4. Notion: My newest favorite app. We are in the process of moving more and more information and documentation there, ever since we started using it at Toggl Track. It is just so pretty and simple to use.

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

A PS4. 🙈 I got it to play some games together with the Toggl Track gamer crew just for fun, but I am slowly turning into a gamer who spends hours playing Witcher all by herself.

P.S. I keep my PlayStation and TV on the other side of the attic, so my work space is still dedicated to work only 🙂

Olivia – Marketing Developer

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

I am a digital nomad–I travel nine out of 12 months in the year around the world and have been doing it for about 2.5 years. When I’m not traveling, I’m based in my home country, Malaysia.

What does your typical work day look like these days? 

I have two work schedules that I alternate depending on my timezone (I try to have an overlap of at least 4 hours with the team). I start early and head to any open space, usually the lounge of the hostel I’m staying at or a coworking space. I start work after a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee. I eat lunch at my desk and hopefully finish work by 3 p.m. This gives me time to head out and explore before it gets dark. If I’m on the other side of the world, I will do the exploring first and try to be back at my desk by 1 p.m. Some weekdays, I skip exploring and just stay indoors all day.

(Photo context: I’m stuck in an Airbnb. 🙁 I can’t head out to any open spaces due to the Covid-19 lockdown).

Can you describe your office setup?

A table with my laptop and tiny mouse, preferably with a comfy chair. I need a table. I’m not one who can work on a hammock by the beach or on fancy hipster couches. Bonus points if I can find a pillow for some back support.

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

90% of my working time, which amounts up to about five to seven hours depending on how busy the day is. If there isn’t much work to do or if I feel like procrastinating, I go exploring but still stay connected on Slack on my mobile in case there are questions from the team that require my input.

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

  1. My mouse: I do a fair bit of design work every week and that is just not possible without one.
  2. My earphones: I’m always working in an open space and I don’t think those around me would be happy if I didn’t use these. 
  3. Motivation snacks: Because motivation. And snacks.

What about software? Top three?

There are three tabs that I never close on my browser. 

  1. TickTick: A to-do app which is a replica of Wunderlist (RIP).
  2. Toggl Track: I track my time for my hobbies and having it open reminds me to track my time. I actually don’t track any work time, although I’m trying to start a habit of doing so (32 minutes spent on this so far). 
  3. Google Sheets: I obsessively track some personal life data and I have to do data entry multiple times a day.

Wait, am I supposed to say Slack? 

No, it’s totally fine if an app for work is not in your top three. OK then, top three snacks?

M&M’s are my no. 1 snack, usually Peanuts or Crispy (Pretzel in some countries); never the original. Kinder Bueno is a close second. I’ve also just checked my life spreadsheet and it looks like I’ve eaten an obscene amount of ice-cream this year, so that too I guess.

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

Oh no. I live out of a suitcase, so my setup is as minimalist as it can be. It’s also hard to pinpoint any one thing considering my work desk changes fairly often. I’d say if I have a glass of wine on my desk, it’s an unexpectedly hard day at work.

Bryan – Frontend Developer

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

I am based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands although in the last few years I have been moving around quite a lot and living in different places, coming back to Amsterdam whenever I need a little bit of stability again. 

What does your typical work day look like these days? 

I get up, check my phone, make some coffee and yogurt with cereal and get to it! In the afternoon I usually go out for a walk or a run which is definitely a nice perk of working from home. During Covid-19 times we all get a bit lonely sometimes so I join the 24/7 watercooler chat!

Can you describe your office setup?

It’s pretty standard: a big monitor, elevated laptop on the left, keyboard and mouse.

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

Too long! (Sets a reminder to take a break in 15 min.)

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

I just got a 4K monitor and I must say it has been very nice. But overall I am not very tied to my workplace; I take my laptop with me to the living room from time to time as well. So I would say coffee is the only essential item.

What about software? Top three?

Vim, Slack, Zoom, and Random meme generator.

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

I just had a quick glance at my desk and found the following items: toothbrush, toothpicks, dental floss, a nail clipper, an emergency light and a knife. Dental hygiene is important.

Shantanu – Frontend Engineer

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

I am based out of New Delhi right now, currently practicing social distancing in my fortress on the 19th floor. I’ve been preparing for this for two years now.

What does your typical work day look like these days?

These days? We have a 24/7 Virtual Watercooler Chat (or as Thiago would call it, the 24/7 VIRTUAL WATERCOOLER CHAT) on Zoom. I usually join in to help with isolation.

I usually start my day at 8 a.m., make some breakfast, play some Animal Crossing and then hop on at my desk for the next 8 hours.

Can you describe your office setup?

It’s a pretty standard developer setup. Dual monitors, a mechanical keyboard, my Mac Mini for streaming Plex, a Linux desktop to do actual work on and a small office plant. But the most vital part of the setup is the mood lighting that I have. They turn on automatically at 9:30 a.m. which acts a visual cue for me to start working; they also shut off automatically at 9 p.m. which is a sign that I should probably stop for the day (don’t ask me why the work period is 12 hours).

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

Ah…too much? I spend about eight hours at the desk. If I get too tired of sitting, I just switch to my laptop and start working while standing for a bit.

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

  1. My trackpad and mouse combo. To avoid RSI (repetitive strain injury)-related issues from my long hours of work, I like to switch my hand while using the pointer. Currently I alternate between the Magic Trackpad from Apple and Logitech MX Master.
  2. Pixel Stand: My wireless charger, for my phone and AirPods. My phone also functions as a photo gallery while on the stand, so it’s always nice to see photos from our Toggl Track meetups while I work.
  3. One (spare) Apple Watch: Yeah, the Apple Watch has pretty terrible battery life, so I have a spare one that’s always charging so I can just swap them when one dies. It’s the rule of two: two is one, and one is none.

What about software? Top three?

  1. Fantastical 3: It’s a pretty nice Mac calendar and weather application; gives me a great overview of my day.
  2. Things 3: Hands down the most flexible Task Manager app on the planet! I add everything from work to daily chores to it, so that I don’t forget anything.
  3. PocketCasts: My favourite podcast application; it syncs with every single device I own, be it iOS, Android or the Web!

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

My (growing) backpack collection: 🙈 I have some from Tom Bihn, Bellroy, Aer and Peak Design. I’m in pursuit of the perfect pack, you know the one sub 10L just enough to fit your laptop and iPad. It’s not easy to explain why I need the $450 bag, but I just do. 😀

Violet – Editorial and social media marketer

Where are you based and how long have you worked from home?

I’m currently based in Brooklyn, NY but am originally from Seoul, South Korea. A lot of my past work as a freelancer has been remote work.

What does your typical work day look like these days? 

I get up anywhere between 7 and 8 a.m. I listen to the news and do some stretches. I make coffee. I’m not naturally a morning person, so some days I’ll take a virtual workout class at 8 (in pre-coronavirus times, I would have gone to the gym). I don’t take regular lunch breaks but usually snack intermittently throughout the day. Sometimes I’ll run errands or shop for groceries during the day and return to work in the evenings.

Can you describe your office setup?

I usually work from my bedroom, but miraculously enough (given where I live) my room is spacious enough that I’ve managed to set aside a dedicated corner for work. I work at an old wooden writing desk that I found on the street. I’m not sure it’s great for my back or my posture, but it does look nice.

How much time do you spend working at your desk?

Most of the time I work at my desk. I’ll sometimes take calls away from my desk, by the window where the light is better.

What kind of other places in your apartment? 

On occasion I’ll work from our living room, but I go through phases.

What are the top three things (that are not on your computer) you can’t live without in your office setup and why? 

  1. A sweater: This dates back to when I did work in an office and I would inevitably find myself shivering. I find that this happens to me even when I’m working from home.
  2. Scratch paper and a pen: I have a pile of scratch paper that I use to jot down daily to-dos and discard at the end of the day. I also use it to take down meeting notes and sometimes doodle; it helps me concentrate.
  3. Room-temperature water: a seriously underrated drink. 

What about software? Top three?

  1. The entire Google Suite, but mostly Docs and Sheets. I use both to keep my tasks and other projects organized. 
  2. TextEdit: It’s great for stripping text of formatting and drafting everything from article drafts to emails, social media posts and sometimes even Slack messages. I use it like virtual scratch paper.
  3. Pocket: Friends will often send me articles (or I’ll stumble upon articles) and links while I’m working. Pocket is a handy way to save the links for later, rather than fall into an internet rabbit hole or leave yet another tab open.

What is an unexpected item or items in your office?

A dust-covered ukulele and various knick knacks with no practical purpose; things you wouldn’t necessarily find in an actual office. I’m not necessarily a hoarder, but I’m not a minimalist. I do better work if I find the workspace pleasant.

Read more: The Toggl Guide to Working from Home

The Toggl Team

Work tools to elevate your productivity – apps for incredibly simple time tracking and effective project planning.

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