My Productivity Couch Setup
Many people questioned the authenticity of the laid-down couch workstation when it was unveiled. Well, here it is. My ULTIMATE productivity couch setup! We should all work comfortably; to me, that's the best productivity.
“We should all work comfortably; to me, that’s the best productivity.”
The Beginning
Hey Pirates, PK here. Ever since the release of the video, A Day in the Life of Software Engineer Working from Home, many people have asked questions such as, "Is the couch setup for real? Do you really work like that? Do I have a back problem or something?" Well, what do you think? Do you think it was just a one-time gig? Or do you think it's... real? Well, let's find out. 😎
Welcome to my productivity couch setup!
This is as you see it. This is how I work, how I join a meeting, and how I order a pizza. Still don't believe me? Well, how about this? This is how I played games in 2007. This is how I played games in 2014, and this is how I worked in early 2021. You see, I have a good history of doing stuff while lying down.
The Norm
Then I guess the next question is, "Why do you work lying down?” Well, let me ask you a question. Why do you work at your desk? You're all doing it now, right? Whether an employee working or a student studying, you'll go to your desk, sit on your chair, and stare at your monitor for eight hours a day. And how is it? Is the sedentary lifestyle really the ultimate answer? Is it really the best posture for work? Or for anything? Aren't you still standing up every hour or so, stretching from time to time? I don't know about you, but my neck gets stiff if I sit for a long time.
Let's check out an article together. According to it, "sitting for long periods can lead to weakening and wasting away of the large leg and gluteal muscles. Just like your legs and gluteals, your hips and back will not support you as well if you sit for long periods. Sitting causes your hip flexor muscles to shorten, which can lead to problems with your hip joints." The hip pain is actually closer to the problem I have. "Sitting for long periods can also cause problems with your back, especially if you consistently sit with poor posture or don't use an ergonomically designed chair or workstation." And we all know how expensive these ergonomic 💩 are.
The Challenge
So again, how is your sedentary lifestyle? Do you not have any issues working eight hours straight? Or have you experienced any of the problems I just mentioned? I'm no doctor, so I can't give you any health/medical advice, and claim to lie down is objectively better than sitting. I'll also say that doing your work while lying down has its flaws and downsides. But hey, at least I no longer have any of the pain or stiffness from sitting for a long time. And even if you are okay now, I know, in fact, that sitting at your desk for more than eight hours a day for five days a week will get you something if you continue it for several years.
So what do you say? Do you at least want to give it a try and see whether this works for you? Then you are in the right place because I will tell you each of the gadgets you need to replicate my productivity couch setup. 😎 They are Amazon associate affiliate links if you want to support me. 🙂
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The Setup
The first thing you need is a monitor arm and a window sill or a strong shelf nearby to support it. This is the core to my productivity couch setup and a must-have to face your monitor vertically while comfortably resting your neck on a pillow.
The next thing you need is a wireless Bluetooth trackball mouse. It needs to be wireless because you don't want wires all over your body. It must be a trackball mouse because it's ergonomic and protects your wrist. And because you can have it stationary, you won't need an extra stool space to move it around. A traditional mouse can also strain your wrist in this setup, so be careful. You can also consider adding a wrist rest too for maximum comfort.
The last thing you need is a wireless Bluetooth keyboard. Again, you need everything wireless for this setup to make sense. I've been using this Logitech wireless keyboard for years now, and it’s one of the best keyboards I've ever used. It has a keypad, volume buttons, built-in wrist rests, and everything you need for this setup. Now for the keyboard...
The Magic Pillow
An add-on that is optional for ladies but pretty much essential for guys is this neck pillow. It's a little embarrassing to say this blatantly, so I'll try to show you what I mean.
So you see, when you place your keyboard where it'd be most comfortable, it'll probably be around this area. So when you place the keyboard on top... Hmmm... Ugh... It's not... a great experience. So I tried putting a pillow like this on top, and it's better... but again, not ideal. Then I found this magic pillow. You see, I place it on me this way, put the keyboard on top, and it's... perfect.
Other than those, you obviously need a couch. After all, this is a productivity couch setup. You'd also like small tables, stools, or similar to put your peripherals and rest your hand on the other side, plus a second monitor for extra screen real estate. Lastly but most importantly, you'll need permission from whoever you live with if you do - whether that be your spouse, partner, roommate, or even your mom. My wife said okay to the setup because she has a bedroom by herself, but I don't. When COVID hit, I had no option but to work in the living room.
The Wants
These are the needs and essentials of a productivity couch setup. What about wants, though? What about the nice-to-haves?
The first nice-to-have is a virtual assistant. In fact, it's not just for the productivity couch setup; it's for anything! I installed Alexa in every part of my house, and trust me, it's major productivity, qualify-of-life boost if you know how to use it. I start my day with a briefing from Alexa every morning.
Another nice-to-have in combination with Alexa is a smart plug. My favorites are the ones from Kasa. These smart home Wi-Fi outlets work well with any major virtual assistant, including Alexa and Google Home. Use them to turn your lights on or off without moving a finger.
The Pros and Cons
Now, let's talk about some pros and cons of the setup. Let's start with the pros.
One, you can say goodbye to all the pain from sitting for a long time. That includes your back, neck, hip, or pelvis pain.
Two, it's so comfortable once you get used to it. It takes a while to get accustomed to the new lifestyle, but it's definitely worth it.
Three, I'm more productive. Why? Because I no longer feel any pain! It allows me to focus and concentrate 100% on my work with no discomfort hindering in between.
Four, there are so many things you can do while lying down with the boosted comfiness. For example, remember how I worked, ordered a pizza, played games, watched YouTube, and slept through the meetings? Apart from that, you can do online shopping, watch movies, and even read kindles!
Five, you can sleep whenever you want 😴.
So those are the pros. What about the cons?
One, you get sleepy easily. 🛌
Two, you get lazy.
Three, you have to lie down even for small tasks. This is easily solved, however, if you have another computer.
Four, lying down for a long time without moving is bad for blood circulation. I strongly recommend standing up occasionally if you plan to replicate the setup.
Five, it's not exactly pretty, but does it need to be? 🤔
The Key Takeaways
Alright, what do you guys think about the productivity couch setup now that you've seen it closer with your own eyes? Not so bad, huh? Some people asked me whether I play games like that in my bedroom. Well, the answer's yes and no. Yes, in a sense that I honestly used to, as you've already seen from my past pictures. And it's the single most incredible gaming experience in my life.
Anyways, here are the key takeaways from this video. Whether you continue to work at your desk or try working from your couch, don't forget to move around often and exercise regularly to improve your health and quality of life. Keeping the same posture for a long time without moving is the worst thing you can do to your body. No posture's perfect, neither sitting nor lying down. You have to get yourself moving to be healthy. Lastly but most importantly, don't be afraid to explore new ideas or, in this case, new postures that are best for you. I even looked for these kinds of chairs at Amazon. After all, how does productivity matter if you are constantly annoyed by the discomfort of prolonged sitting? We should all work comfortably. To me, that's the best productivity.
Don't forget to like and subscribe if you want to explore more innovative lifestyle ideas. Thanks for watching. I'll see you at the next one. Peace. ✌️
“We should all work comfortably. To me, that’s the best productivity.”
