I’m a ham, too – just got my DX rig. I’m temporarily sidelined from using it – I am hobbling around in a cast, while the doctor tries to decide whether it’s a tendon/ligament problem, or a stress fracture.
Can’t climb the stairs to my attic shack, so…
Fortunately, I have a lounge chair from which I can work on my laptop.

Good idea. I always change my environment around–and I get up a lot. But that might work too.

Currently, my “office” is the kitchen table, because it was the most comfortable for long-term writing.

Then I read this: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_19/b4177071221162.htm?campaign_id=rss_topStories (The title is “Your Office Chair is Killing You”)

Yep, I realized that I was sitting on my derriere too much. So now I’m experimenting with no chair at all. I’ve got a stool on said table to raise my computer to typing height, and I’m seeing how long I can work standing.

Logically, it seems like a good idea, but all I can recommend at the moment is some way to work standing as a way to switch up your routine, especially if you are prone to numb-butt-itis, as I am. I have yet to find a chair I enjoy sitting in all day, and I’ve tried quite a few.

I also have some minor training in chinese martial arts, so I’m seeing whether this is a way to practice stance training and get useful work done simultaneously. We’ll see how it goes.

This may be filed under multitasking, as in exercising and writing simultaneously.

Sounds wonderful, John. I’m not sure my husband should see this. Every now and then he threatens to sell everything, buy us a motorhome, and just drive. Sounds like you’re doing well.

Sometimes my office is in a Starbucks. And sometimes it’s inside the motorhome.

A bit unique, but it works for me.

LOL, Joanne. You gave me quite a giggle this morning too. And thanks for the recommendations. Much appreciated.

I do software development telecommuting from home. Thus I have several computers sitting around with various subsets of them active at various times. (I also have some ham radio equipment for times I need to relax. It’s sadly underutilized of late.) That means I have several sources of beeps and boops and other distractions. I purchased a CHEAP (E-Bay used cheap) house mixer. (Twisty knobs are cheaper than sliders. {^_-}) The exact brand does not matter. The trick matters. When I do not want beeps I crank the source’s volume control to zero. I can still here the audio sounds from the development in progress, if needed. (Video usually has sound with it.)

Then in a stroke of genius I purchased a pair of noise canceling headphones. They provide good sound. They block out external noise. And I can turn them off when I want real silence.

It gives me a way to tune my noise environment, which is quite necessary since my partner is developing some fancy sound based software. It also helps with the noise generated by the room AC which protects the computer equipment (and owners) from overheating.

You can tailor almost any part of your home personal workspace including the noise environment. If it bothers you or gets in the way of productivity – do something about it.

I often leave one source of noise on. I have a separate computer that filters email. I used, of all things, the email filter program to play a special sound when my main customer sends email. So I leave it active most of the time with everything else turned off as needed.

7 is a “more is less” issue. I have a cell phone I got specifically for special contacts. Then I have a land line I tell everybody else about. If it rings and I feel like some brief entertainment I pick it up. If it’s a marketer I get to exercise free range my imagination for the absurd and gruesome, “Call again and I’ll climb through this telephone and rip your throat out.” Then I drop the handset back into its holder, refreshed and giggling at the image.

{^_^} Joanne

Why should I have to forgive the second one, Mark? The more information we all have the better off we’ll be. I’m planning to check it out myself–when I’m not on a short e-mail break like now. 🙂