100 Incredible Desk Hacks for the Clever Web Worker

Working on the web offers incredible freedom for most people, allowing you to work at home on your own hours. Of course, that means you’ll have to create your own perfect working — or homeworking — environment with organization, productivity, design, and beyond. Here are 100 ways you can improve the way you work on the web.
Organization
Don’t let things get out of control in your home office: use these organization hacks.

1. Take notes on your computer: Avoid using cluttered paper notes by taking notes on your computer.
2. Scan your documents: Rid yourself of paperwork clutter by scanning your home office documents.
3. Get rid of old pens: Throw away pens that don’t work well or don’t have caps.
4. Sign up for online bills and statements: Reduce the paper in your office by signing up for online billing.
5. Bind and clamp cords: Get your office cords organized by making them retractable, binding them, or clamping them.
6. Create a recycling system: Start recycling to make your office more environmentally friendly.
7. Keep only essential items: You should only keep important items like your computer and phone on your desktop.
8. Banish paper: Remove paper to keep your office more tidy.
9. Turn down schwag: Leave pens, stickers, postcards, and other schwag at the conference.
10. Use a filing cabinet: Use a file cabinet consistently to keep things clean.
11. Create an in/out tray: Take care of mail and bills with trails.
12. Use organizational items: Pen holders, boxes, trays, and more can keep you organized.
13. Avoid eating at your desk: You may end up leaving dishes if you eat at your desk.

Ergonomics
Protect your health as you work online with the help of these ergonomics hacks.

14. Be sure you can reach items: Set your desk up so that you can reach important items easily.
15. Rest your hands: Give your hands a break on a regular basis, especially when you feel tingling, numbness, pain, or cramping.
16. Adjust your chair to the desk: Raise your desk to 29 1/2 inches off the ground and adjust your chair accordingly.
17. Rest your elbows: The weight of your arms should be supported by armrests instead of your shoulders.
18. Sit upright: Avoid slouching by sitting upright with your head above your shoulders.
19. Go hands-free: Use a speaker phone or headset if you use your phone regularly.
20. Alter your posture: Change your posture occasionally.
21. Take regular breaks: Use an app that will remind you to take regular rest breaks.
22. Keep your air well ventilated: Be sure that your office is well ventilated to avoid feeling stagnant.
23. Recline your chair: Reduce vertebrae pressure with a reclined posture.
24. Use a footrest: If your feet don’t touch the ground, use a footrest to support them.
25. Use your laptop at a safe level: Avoid straining your neck by setting your laptop at a level that’s easy to see.
26. Sit far away from your computer monitor: You should sit between 18 and 28 inches from your computer monitor.
27. Protect your eyes: Give your eyes a break every now and then to take care of them.
28. Use your whole arm with a mouse: Instead of using just your forearm, be sure to use your whole arm.
29. Use a wrist rest: Support your wrists with the help of a wrist rest on your keyboard.
30. Reduce strain with an external keyboard and mouse: An external keyboard and mouse can improve your speed, accuracy, and reduce strain.
31. Position light sources away from your screen: Eliminate glare by keeping light sources pointed away from them.

Productivity
These hacks will help you perfect the skill of time management.

32. Use a timer: Set a time for a few minutes and work straight through to focus.
33. Make a sensible to do list: Create a to do list that is realistic.
34. Batch tasks together: Do phone calls, invoices, and accounting all at once.
35. Get up and dressed: Get up at the same time each day and get dressed and ready.
36. Make phone calls in batches: If you need to make multiple calls, do them one after another to reduce distractions.
37. Remember rewards: Create a fun reward for yourself when you meet your goals.
38. Find your peak hours: Find your most energetic times during the day to get work done.
39. Beat the clock: Give yourself a deadline for getting assignments done.
40. Use shortcut keys: Make your work even faster with shortcut keys.
41. Set up multiple monitors: Find added productivity by using multiple monitors.
42. Give yourself accountability: Promise to have things done by a certain day so you’ll get the work done knowing people are counting on you.
43. Create a schedule: If you stick to a routine, you can get more done.
44. Create lists: Write down your goals for a specific period of time and get it done.
45. Prioritize your work: Be sure to prioritize the tasks you need to take care of.
46. Block off communication: Turn off your email, phone, and close the door, and force yourself to work for a certain period of time.
47. Cut down on multitasking: Multitasking can make you distracted and less productive.
48. Answer emails every day: Try to answer emails within a day.
49. Automate whenever possible: Use automation tools on your computer to get things done faster.
50. Know when to stop playing: Reclaim your productivity by disciplining your recreational vices.
51. Work during gaps: While waiting in lines or commutes, take care of whatever work you can do.

Office Design
Create your best home office using these design hacks.

52. Add color: Paint your office, hang artwork, and more to make your office more lively.
53. Get a comfy chair: Make sure that your chair is comfortable enough to spend several hours of your day in.
54. Keep your home office out of the way: Be sure that you have the least amount of distractions possible.
55. Install shelving: Be sure to create lots of shelving for storage space.
56. Use stimulating colors: Know what colors can do to you and paint or decorate accordingly.
57. Hang a wall clock: Use your clock to rest your eyes from the screen every now and then.
58. Decorate your walls: Use art and decorations to encourage creativity.
59. Group your equipment into stations: Put equipment and tools into different centers of operation.
60. Think modular: Modular storage pieces can be functional and flexible solutions for your office.
61. Set a comfortable temperature: Stay productive with the help of a comfortable ambient temperature.
62. Go portable: Use cordless phones and laptops so that you can work outside of your home office if necessary.
63. Mount your monitor: Reclaim desk real estate by mounting your monitor to the wall.
64. Create a separate sitting area: If you have the space for it, set up a chair that allows you to sit and take a break away from your desk.
65. Get personal: Add family photos, artwork, and more.
66. Add houseplants: Houseplants can offer color and oxygen for your office.
67. Be sure there’s light: Brighten up your office by ensuring there’s plenty of light around.
68. Use wall space: Utilize the space above your desktop to hold equipment and supplies.
69. Use good lighting: Maximize daylight, add lamps, and other lighting to make things look good and improve your visibility.
70. Maintain a clean office: Straighten up at the end of each day to keep things clean.
71. Keep healthy snacks handy: Make your snacks easy to get to.
72. Cut out excess: Identify things you don’t need and get rid of them to enjoy fewer distractions.

Stress
These hacks will help you reduce the stress of web work.

73. Block out noise: Use earplugs, headphones, or white noise to keep your noise level stress free.
74. Talk about it: Pick up the phone or head out for lunch to talk about what’s going on.
75. Cut interruptions: Be sure that your interruptions are limited so that you can focus without stress.
76. Keep your environment quiet: Increased volume can have an impact on stress and productivity.
77. Avoid being a perfectionist: Remember that you’re not perfect and you shouldn’t expect to do everything perfectly.
78. Slow down: Make time management about getting things done when they need to be, not necessarily at warp speed.
79. Turn off your computer: Set specific hours when you have to stop working and enjoy life at home.
80. Take a break: Manage your time efficiently so you’ll be able to take plenty of time out.
81. Create a peaceful space: Keep your office organized and clear of clutter to reduce stress.

Fitness & Health
Make use of these hacks to stay healthy while you’re working online.

82. Eat standing up: Burn calories while you eat by doing it standing up.
83. Sit on a balance ball: Burn calories just by sitting on a balance ball instead of a chair.
84. Drink lots of fluids: Avoid becoming dehydrated and unproductive by drinking lots of water.
85. Get up and move regularly: Set a timer that reminds you to move on a regular basis.
86. Walk around outside: Take a walk during lunchtime.
87. Stick to your schedule: Be disciplined and organized to stay on top of fitness.
88. Walk to your furthest bathroom: Instead of using the closest bathroom, walk up or down your stairs or use the one farthest from where you are.
89. Use resistance bands: Keep resistance bands or small hand weights at your desk.
90. Wear a pedometer: Track the number of steps you take every day and try to add on to them until you’ve reached 10,000 steps or more.
91. Walk around on the phone: Each time you take a call, get up and walk around.
92. Do quick yoga: Just a few minutes of yoga a day, at your desk or otherwise, can improve your health.
93. Work your abs at your desk: Try doing ab exercises while you’re sitting at your desk.
94. Take a walk each day: Get your day started well with a walk every day.
95. Do chair squats: Strengthen your legs and hips by doing squats at your chair.

DIY Desks
If you’d like to physically hack your desk, try these ideas.

96. Build a custom desk: Turn an Ikea coffee table into a desk with this hack.
97. Put flowers everywhere: Make it look as if flowers are coming out of your desk using this hack.
98. Create an integrated desk: Hack your desk to have a handy place for everything.
99. Gaming desk: This hack features a see-through desktop PC.
100. Treadmill desk: If you’re trying to get in shape, you can create your own treadmill desk hack.