Standing Desk – FAMISKY Dual Motor Adjustable Height Electric Standing Desk, 48 x 24

A few months into the pandemic I started to get some serious pain in my left elbow, which then spread to my shoulder, neck, back, etc. After a few months of physical therapy, and learning more about what I needed for my desk (having both monitors straight in-front of me & standing up) I found the following desk.

Make sure you measure the room before ordering! I initially thought the 40″ would be enough but I’m really glad I went with the 48″.

Footpad – FEZIBO Anti Fatigue Wooden Wobble Balance Board

Improved circulation, light massage from the nubs on the board, and being able to rock back and forth help redistribute weight that allow me to stand for hours and not get fatigued. This has been a game changer and I won’t go back to flat padded mats again.

Laptop Stand

I open the laptop so that its flat and slide it into the stand. The stand is adjustable with two screws, so prior to sliding in the first time I made sure to reduce the gap of the stand so the laptop is stable. I also position the stand next to my secondary screen so I don’t have to turn my head to see both screens.

Keyboard

Prior to the office closing I was fortunate enough to have an ergonomic assessment, where I learned a lot about how to mitigate any pain experienced from my current setup. As part of the assessment I was recommended this keyboard, which after a year of use, has made a massive difference in how my wrists and hands feel after a long day of typing. It did take about 2-3 weeks to get used to the layout/positioning, but there’s a clear difference (more comfortable and less fatigue) between typing on this keyboard compared to flat keyboards.

Mouse

I used a Microsoft Arc mouse for years prior to this Logitech MX Master mouse. The biggest difference between the two is that my entire hand is supported by the Logitech mouse, compared to having the edges of your palm hang off of the mouse body. There’s also more than 5 buttons, it’s a bit overkill in my opinion, but it’s nice knowing that I can grow into this mouse if I need to set up new shortcuts.

Camera – Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera 24.3MP SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (Black) w/16-50mm Power Zoom Lens

What can I say about this camera that hasn’t already been said? It’s got exactly what I needed…a clean HDMI feed, fully compatible with the capture card, and the flexibility of e-mount lenses. I also didn’t want to buy a camera that would only be a webcam, so I’ll definitely be using this for portraits and landscape shots when I get back to doing some photography.

Power Supply – HY1C AC-PW20 Power Supply AC Adapter (NP-FW50)

While there’s no problem using the stock battery, you’ll run the risk of running out of juice in the middle of your latest TED talk. This battery has a cord that pops out from the battery door of the a6000 and plugs into an outlet. I’ve used a few other brands and this one provides enough power to close the shutter, which was a problem that I had with some others.

Micro HDMI Cord- UGREEN Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable Adapter 4K 60Hz Ethernet Audio Return

This is necessary for your camera to transfer data to the capture card. Each end of the cable feels sturdy and we’ll made. Would definitely buy again, but don’t think I’ll ever need too.

Capture Card – Elgato Camlink 4K

This little piece of hardware helps your camera talk to your computer. At one end is the female HDMI port and the other end is the male USB. It’s got a white led that let’s you know when you’re rolling. Super important note, you must use a USB 3.0 port, if you don’t you’ll have issues with your video quality.

Microphone – Razer Seiren X USB Streaming Microphone

We’ve all heard what laptop microphones sound like and know we can do better. Also, this brand is trusted by countless streamers across Twitch & YouTube.

Microphone Stand – Luluhome Microphone Stand

It’s important for me to keep eye contact with my camera when speaking. If I had to crane my head down to speak into a mic then my eyes would likely follow. This stand definitely helps keep your eyes on the camera and focused on your audience.

Monitor – Dell S2721D 27 Inch 1440p QHD, IPS Ultra-Thin Bezel Monitor, VESA Certified

I’m a big fan of thin bezels, VESA mounts, and high resolution screens. This covers it all! Most important point for me, not having to turn my head when switching between screens (laptop, external) also helped in my therapy to get over the pain I had from my previous set up.

Monitor Stand – WALI Premium Single LCD Monitor Desk Mount Fully Adjustable Gas Spring

This stand helps save room on your desk by not using your existing screen stand and adjusts exactly to your height needs.

Mouse Pad- Belkin WaveRest Gel Mouse Pad, Black

There are plenty of mouse pads out there, but I’ve found this one to be the most comfortable and durable that I’ve used throughout my career. I’m not a doctor, but I’ve found it best that when your elbows are at a 90 degree angle it prevents any kinks in your wrist as it rests on the gel bad. Protect yo wrists!

SD Card – SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card – C10, U3, V30, 4K UHD

Not all SD cards are equal! While you won’t need a card for using your webcam, this card works really well with the a6000 since it’s got a super fast write speed (comes in handy since the camera can shoot 11 pictures per second)

Dry Erase Roll- Dry Erase Whiteboard Sticker Wall Decal

I didn’t want to buy a new whiteboard so I repurposed an old picture frame by purchasing a roll of dry erase cling paper. It works perfectly on smooth surfaces, just make sure they are clean and you have a credit card/hair dryer to smooth out any air bubbles that may appear.

Dry Erase Markers- Low-Odor Dry Erase Markers, Ultra Fine Tip, Assorted Colors, 8-Count

The color selection of these dry erase markers make them perfect for organizing your projects. You’ve probably used this brand in the office in the past and they don’t disappoint. Bonus, if you have any extra dry erase wall decals left over you can use them around the house (i.e., tracking weight in the bathroom, grocery lists in the kitchen, etc.).