I thought it'd be fun to share some essential gadgets I use all the time as a WFH dad.
These things help me:
- keep my energy levels up
- keep my kids busy when I need to work
- keep my floor clean of toddler crumbs (at least for a few hours)
- and more!
Here's what I'm loving right now:
Why it’s great:
My Uplift standing desk probably the one piece of office equipment I wouldn't want to live without. Even with taking breaks every 2-3 hours, I still get tired of just sitting.
All I need to do is push a button and the desk rises or lowers to my preferred height.
I have the 72" Walnut version which allows for a lot of empty space even with my keyboard, mouse, microphone mixer, Mac Mini, and speakers all on the desk.
Pro tip:
Get several power strips that attach to the back of your desk so everything can be connected to your desk and not the wall outlet...otherwise anything plugged into the wall could fall off your desk when it rises up.
Why it’s great:
Yoto Mini's are audiobooks for kids.
You slide a story card into it and the kids can listen either through the built in speaker or with headphones.
I’ve even gotten story cards for my daughter that pair with her physical books, so she can listen along while flipping through the pages. They also have music and podcast cards as well as a 'radio station' with bedtime music that we put on when she goes to sleep.
I've taken my daughter to a coffee house when I have to work and she's sat across for me listening to her audiobook. Also great for roadtrips.
Pro tip:
I've linked to the version that comes with the Yoto headphones.
You can get the Yoto without their specific headphones but I tried a couple cheap headphones from Target and the built-in 'volume limiter' made it so you could barely hear anything in those headphones. It's worth it to get the official Yoto headphones (and still have control of the max volume).
Why it’s great:
I have two toddlers in the house. There are always crumbs on the floor. Always.
I have my Roomba vaccuum run automatically a couple times a week. It's not one of those that can perfectly map out the room, it just sort of randomly goes around but seems to do a good enough job.
It hasn't completely eliminated vacuuming or sweeping for us, but it does help!
Pro tip:
Sometimes it goes under my couch and gets stuck so I drop a few pillows down on the floor before it runs to block it from going under. Also, children under 3 may be terrified of the Roomba.
Why it’s great:
My kids don't nap anymore, but they still have 'rest time' in their rooms. An hour to sit, read, and play independently (and for me to get work done if I need to).
My daughter used to always come downstairs every 10 minutes asking if rest time was over.
So I got this Time Timer for both kids room. I set it for 60 minutes and they can visually see how much time is left.
Once it finishes, they can come downstairs.
Pro tip:
They make smaller versions that could serve as a simple Pomodoro timer for your desk.
Why it’s great:
This Ember coffee mug is so ridiculous and unnecessary.
But it's pretty awesome when your coffee that you forgot about for 45 minutes is still hot. The coffee doesn't taste burned either.
It's got a battery that'll last for a 80 minutes so no need to keep the charging plate near your desk (unless you forget about your coffee for hours at a time).
Pro tip:
Don't tell anyone that you can control the temperature of your coffee mug with an app. No one will be impressed.
Why it’s great:
The Apple Watch has a ton of awesome tools like a heart rate monitor, timers, voice notes, etc, BUT there's one thing I use mine for more than anything.
Reminders.
I hold the side button to activate Siri and say:
- 'remind me to switch out the laundry in 45 minutes'
- 'remind me to grab the kids' sleep mats tomorrow morning at 8:20am'
- 'remind me to move the steak from the freezer to the fridge on Thursday night'
- 'remind me to cancel this app membership in 20 days.'
- 'remind me change out the air filters in 6 months.'
There are several Apple Watch models, but the SE (which is what I have) is perfect for those who want something simple and are in the Apple ecosystem.
Pro tip:
If you have an iPhone, you can use your Apple Watch as a remote to take a picture or video (and see what the picture will look like). Great if you're taking a group picture or want to film yourself with the rear camera.
Why it’s great:
A Google Nest Hub is not just for seeing who is ringing your Nest door bell. It's got a built-in Google Assistant.
I keep mine on my desk, where its large, clear clock is easy to glance at during work sessions.
I also use voice command to ask it quick questions like, Hey Google -
- what is 345, 195, 18.53, and 99 added together?
- convert 8:00am GMT to central standard time
- set a timer for 25 minutes (another great Pomodoro)
I also have smart devices (or devices plugged into smart plugs) that I can turn on and off with voice commands.
Hey Google - office lights on.
Pro tip:
It's compatible with a range of home security cameras (not just Nest) that you can monitor on it as well.
Note: all the links above are affiliate links so I get a commission if you use those links and buy anything.
See the full desk setup
I talk about the Uplift desk, Google Nest Hub, and a ton of other home office equipment in my home office tour video:
Recommendation of the week
Way of the Warrior Kid by former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink is a kids’ book about resilience, discipline, and self-improvement.
It follows a boy struggling with his grades, getting bullied at school, and who can't do a single pull-up. Then his Uncle Jake (a Navy SEAL) visits for the summer. Uncle Jake teaches him the “way of the warrior,” including how to wake up early, exercise, study effectively, and defend himself through jiu-jitsu.
I thought Audrey might be too young for it when we first read it, but when I told her 'I think you might need to be a little older before we can read this one' she was like 'no I want to read it now!' and she was hooked. We've read through this one more than once, usually just a chapter or two a day. She loves it.
Also, turns out they're making this into a movie with Chris Pratt.
What about you?
Let me know if you grab anything from the list, or if you already use one of these!
Just hit reply on this email. I’d love to hear how it’s working for you.
Thanks again for being a part of this community!
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Thom Gibson
Founder of WFH Dads
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