An Ode to Curly and Work-Life Balance, Part 4: Equipment
I think that we can all agree that work-life balance – whatever that means to you – is critical. Just consider the events of the past few years. (And, no Nationals’ fans, I am not talking about the Juan Soto trade.) I have offered my views on the roles that food, fitness, and service have played in forming my ideal of work-life balance. Now, a few thoughts on equipment.
Yes, equipment.
Ask yourself how many hours of each day you spend at your office or, if you practice in a virtual law firm, your home workstation. A lot, right? Isn’t all of that time better spent under ideal conditions? I was skeptical of that proposition until I had the opportunity a few summers back to cook on Peaks Island in Maine’s Casco Bay with this setup.
Yeah, those were some great cooks . . .
While my workstation certainly isn’t going to remind anyone of the Casco Bay, I would like to think that it has a positive impact on my day. And the quality of my work for my clients. My tips:
- Stand! While I am not convinced that sitting is the new smoking, I agree that spending long periods in a chair cannot be good for you. Make sure that you get some leg work in by using a standing desk. I liked the VariDesk Standing Desk Converter so much at a previous employer that I bought an additional one for my home. I would get one as big as your workspace can accommodate, but nothing smaller than the 30-inch model.
- And when you stand, make sure that you are on a comfortable surface. The CubeFit mat was recommended by a speaker at the 2022 Virginia State Bar TechShow. I can recommend it as well – especially if your space has hard floors.
- But when you do sit, use a chair that offers plenty of support. I recommend this TemperPedic number.
- Get a large external monitor (or maybe two) to increase your digital desktop. I chose this 32” LG UltraGear Monitor.
- And finally, as video conferencing via laptop is here to stay, good lighting is a must. This Logitech LED light is a good investment.
Fill your life with beauty – and the beautiful can be found in the mundane.
Thank you for reading this article. Please know that I wrote it for informational purposes only (some may consider it ADVERTISING MATERIAL) and did not intend for it to be legal advice or to form an attorney-client relationship with you – especially in jurisdictions where I am not licensed to practice law. I encourage you to seek your own counsel to help you with your specific situation. To that end, I invite you to contact me if you would like to discuss my services.
Ryan Smith is a partner at Practus, LLP and enables broker-dealers, registered investment advisers and their associates to spend more time growing their business by helping them with the legal and compliance needs.
