Is using an accomodation like working from bed giving up?
I do not like laptops. The End.
I don’t know how people function without a dedicated workspace. I LOVE my desk. I always buy desktop computers. I haven’t owned a laptop since I stopped traveling for work in 2013-ish.
Sitting in a desk chair helps me focus. I like paper planners and I have TWO on my desk. One for family and home and one for work.
On the bookshelf next to my desk is my journal and personal notebook. I also have a daily planner where I log what I actually did in a day versus what I had planned.
I don’t pack light and that apparently includes my workspace.
So, traveling to different work spaces has never been my jam.
As I continue to figure out my health, I have realized that being able to work from bed may be an accommodation that I need to consider.
I fully understand that perfectly healthy people most likely work from a bed, couch, or recliner “on the reg”.
This is not a step back per say, it is a step forward considering I have not been able to post regularly on my blog for years.
Sitting at my desk didn’t matter because my brain fog was too severe to work. Now that I am feeling more stable, and building a business that can be sustained with the health situation I am in right now, being able to work from bed is a realistic situation.
So, is setting up an accessible work station admitting defeat?
Of course not.
Does it feel like it?
A little bit.
Only because I LOVE my desk and it makes me a bit sad not to sit at it. For someone else, the thought of “having to work at a desk” could be miserable.
I did have to buy a laptop in order to test this theory out. I fully realize that this is not something that everyone can just do. Thankfully, my son will use this laptop for school in August so the money needed to be spent either way. This gives me an opportunity to test out a few things.
Size: This is a 15” Dell laptop with a number keypad on the side. It feels huge, but 14” seems so small coming from a desktop. Only time will tell.
Operating System: I’m a Mac girlie. Y’all know that switching systems can always be a big deal. My son needed a PC for school so it was a great opportunity to test out if I “need” to stick with Macs. The simple fact is that they are so much more expensive, so replacing them is a whole thing. If you use both Mac and PC for work, please comment with all your tips!
Function: Can I get used to working on a laptop? I would think so! I truly think that I will be grateful that I can still get work done and preserve my energy. I just need to figure out which work can be done on the laptop. Video editing is the big stickler at the moment.
Accessories: Laptop Desks, mouse pads, reading pillow, planners and notebooks, etc. What do I need and what will work?
Laptop Desk: I have a laptop desk with legs and one without. I have a feeling that they will both will be helpful in different situations.
Caddy: I have a few caddies left over from our homeschooling days. I will test out what works the best. Do I want separate supplies just for my bed? Probably. I do not like having to bring things back and forth. I won’t have a choice for my paper planners and notebooks, but I can have a dedicated set of pens, mouse and a other few bits and bobs.
Back Support Reading Pillow: We have an old one, but with a quick search I am seeing so many cool new options! This may be my “reward” for having to set up a new accommodation. If you have a favorite, please send me a link!
Accommodations are so necessary and we should never feel bad or embarrassed to need them, but the transition can be hard. Being able to work from bed may actually be many people’s preference. But it will still take a mind shift and some money.
At the end of the day, this new accommodation isn’t fine tuned yet, but I was able to write this whole post from bed with pillows supporting my body so that I didn’t tire myself out too much.
I call that a win.
