Quality of Life Upgrades for Creatives: Part 1

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To start, I want to say that there is no one magic fix to manage the many stressors we face in our daily pursuits. We all get to choose how we spend our time and money. I want to share some of the tools that are impactful to my quality of life.

And now, on with the show, Quality of Life Upgrades for Creatives: Part 1

Over the years, I found that I try to avoid certain practices if they no longer serve me, in favor of ones that do. I used to have a habit of downing coffee and staying up too late especially when there is something creative and fun to tackle, I still do, but I used to, too.

If you’re like me, when you hone your craft, you look for a better way to do what you love. All this while learning to be mindful, and listening to your body - especially in times of stress. I think we can probably agree that being hunched over at a desk is not sustainable for longevity, nor is being on your feet all day. Regardless of wherever you land on the Standing vs Sitting debate. The best we can do is try to be mindful and make adjustments. Some things we buy the best of, and some things just give me the generic one.

Whether you’re an artist, designer, engineer, maker, or just someone that is creative but doesn’t like labels. I hope that you’ll find this quality-of-life list useful for pain points you might not even know you had. (Photo Credit: Pexels - Elina Fairytale)

1. Monitor Arm. (If you don’t have a tablet yet, read more about them here in the 101 blog post.) It's one of the best quality-of-life upgrades you can get if you use a screen tablet monitor. A monitor arm is a small investment that’ll help with the neck strain that comes from looking down constantly to draw/design on a stand or flat on the table. Works great even for a laptop too if you get a VESA Mount Adapter

You can position it for optimal viewing and drawing angles so your elbow rests naturally while your wrist pivots. At the end of the day, you can even move it out of the way for space saving. My current setup is the Huion Kamvas Pro 24 2.5k screen tablet and the NorthBayou F100A Monitor arm. Full disclosure - I researched this screen tablet for weeks & waited for the Holiday sale because who doesn’t love a deal?!

If you have a heavier monitor (larger than 24’’) check out the NB Heavy Duty Monitor arm Either one is very affordable compared to the Ergotron Monitor arm that retails for $350.

**2. Ergonomic chair**

I’ve made my peace with the fact that I will never have the impeccable posture of a court stenographer. For years, I’ve held off on buying a quality chair because I only ever looked at the price tag and slowly slinked away. Especially in my 20’s when I had more time to waste than money to spend. I didn’t know ergonomic designs would play an important role in my day-to-day - or that there was ever a problem with my regular degular office chair. And it wasn’t a problem, until it was, like Thanos - Inevitable. I would wonder where my nagging back pain came from after the day was over. (Photo credit: 1930’s Court Reporter Pinterest)

If you currently sit at a desk for extended periods of time and want to change it up, You’re going to want to invest in a great chair. Being comfortable throughout the workday is such a game-changer. I like to move around a lot and that means switching sitting positions - the Capisco Puls chair allows me to do that. I’ve used it for about 2 years, from a few months into the pandemic in 2020 when a lot of people, myself included had a chance to recalibrate during the great reset. I highly recommend everyone try different chairs, to find the one that fits the way you sit. It’s a huge part of your day.

**3. Standing Mat**

There is no be-all, end-all solution, just some are better fits than others. Take it from a former scenic charge working in some of NYC’s most demanding shops for 8 - 10 and sometimes 12+ hours a day that being on your feet (for years, ugh) is not the #grindset you want to be proud of. Especially when you realize ***you only got one body for the rest of your life. Treat yo’ self!***

I still switch from sitting to standing as well. To aid in my recovery and prevent future injury, I use the Topo Comfort Mat when I’m standing at my desk. I tend to fidget a lot so the wider base is appreciated. But for my fellow NYC or any space-conscious friends really, there is the Topo Mini which works just as well especially if you’re a smaller person. (Note: Stock photo, obviously because, in this house, shoes are left by the door)

4. Massage Tools. Myofascial release and trigger point massage tools have been around for a while now for relieving tension and aches. I first learned about them when I started training in Brazillian Jiu-jitsu (about 7 years ago) and find that they are super helpful for recovery even as I find myself with less time to train and more time at the office. It’s like a little recharge. Kind of like changing into a pair of slippers at the end of the long day, except with way more involuntary wincing when you find a good trigger point!

Below are 3 different tiers of massage tools to try - from low-tech to high-tech.

Lacrosse ball I am usually packing at least a lacrosse ball in my bag. Check out all the different massages you can try. I really like using the lacrosse ball in a doorframe or against a wall to release the trigger point of the pec/chest. You could even duct tape 2 of them together and use them for your neck and back. Also if you have a big dog, they are handy for fetch. Massage therapy for you and exercise your dog. Win/Win

Massage Cane - is it a crazy weapon or a torture tool? Yes.

This tool is pretty great if you’re trying to get into the nooks and crannies of your back and shoulders. It also has these 2 nodules on the hook that are AMAZING for massaging the base of where your head connects to your neck. And you control how much pressure you apply by how you manipulate the tool. I use this when I want to switch things up and the lacrosse ball is too big to reach the deep part of the shoulder blade. It’s a nice medium-tier solution if you’re not ready to dive deep into the massage tool game.

Massage Gun I highly recommend getting a massage therapy gun. In the past, I’ve fashioned my own out of a lacrosse ball and an old jigsaw - crude, loud, and dangerous. Definitely do not recommend anyone making their own, the chance of getting your hair caught in the gears is high. I’m glad to see there are companies that improved on this kind of thing and have made better options for the consumer market. I carry tension in my shoulders and my current massage gun really gets deep to relieve the “knots” aka adhesions. You’ll find different ones at many different price points. They are louder/heavier and vary from companies you probably never heard of because they are all rebranded from the same factory. I find that you get what you pay for. Somethings I buy the generic and never really look back, but for something like this, I’m happy I went with the Hypervolt 2. I can tell you that It’s worth it IMO to have high-quality tools in my kit. It actually feels percussive vs just getting punched rapidly like others I’ve owned. I wish I would have gotten the one I wanted, to begin with instead of wasting my time and money on an inferior product with potential safety hazards. It’s not worth my safety or my family’s.

**Bonus Quality of life Upgrade**

5. **Tongue Scraper** - A must-have! Especially If you have to talk to clients or have a forward-facing role where you interact with people on a daily basis. Especially for the people around you that you speak to and care about - Your friends and family. Oral Hygiene definitely checks the box as a prime quality of life upgrade. It is super economical and takes only a few seconds to do and you can see its effect immediately. There are different kinds - I recommend getting either a stainless steel one or a copper one which is naturally antimicrobial. You will want to own one of these if you don’t already. (Credit: istockphoto)

To the “just brush your tongue” crew. Big Respect if you can do it. Do it. I’ve tried that, and it makes me gag, but tongue-scraping doesn’t. Good hygiene. Made simple.

Closing thoughts.

Small changes add up and can have big impacts. Be mindful on your journey. We are all learning and we’re all doing the best we can. Give yourself the grace and space to grow. Some of the best results come from incremental progress.

TLDR Quality of life Upgrades For Creatives

You only got one body for the rest of your life. Treat yo’ self! I want to be able to do my craft for as long as I can. Here’s a list of things I think you’ll find useful for relieving pains and aches from your daily routines

1. Monitor Arm (https://amzn.to/3zKAaYr)
Move it when you need it. Move it out when you don’t
This is for your tablets and monitors.

2. Ergonomic Chair (https://amzn.to/3fqT5Rl)
Move a lot while you sit? I recommend this chair.
This is for sitting times.

3. Standing Mat (https://amzn.to/3U2smcG)
Because you probably shouldn’t be sitting the whole time.
This is for standing times.

4. Massage tools

Lacrosse ball (https://amzn.to/3Wzejgi)
This is a nice starting-tier massage solution
Massage Cane (https://amzn.to/3DWzTEp)
This is a nice mid-tier massage solution
Massage Gun (https://amzn.to/3t2nfgJ)
This is the top-tier massage solution

5. Tongue Scraper (https://amzn.to/3h1STbA)
This is for your oral health and hygiene.

I hope this quality of life post was a helpful start. Stay tuned for upcoming blog posts and updates.
In the meanwhile, check out some other posts below!

Until next time, Stay Creating!
Ray @ AsianJoyCo

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