Why it matters: Wavelength Coffee Roasters has been a friend of My Home Office Hacks. Even offering a 10 percent discount for first-time orders from My Home Office Hacks readers.

Going deeper: That discount is still in play. Just click here or the button below. And to see the feature, look below.

Order Wavelength Coffee Roasters

Speaking of coffee

Here’s a recommended ‘stack for you: The Coffee Culture by copywriter extraordinaire Nic Usbourne.

Speaking of coffee

Here’s a recommended ‘stack for you: Coffee Culture by copywriter extraordinaire Nic Usbourne.

The Coffee Culture Newsletter

Whatever our origins, culture or language, we can all come together over coffee.

Monday morning vibe: Here You Come Again, Dolly Parton

And now, the one question you can ask to salvage any conversation that’s hit a literal and figurative wall….

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What’s new: Tandem kayaks. Bicycles made for two. And working from home. Which endangers your relationship most?

Answer: It’s a trick question. All of the above are fraught with pitfalls and peril for your relationship. Only one can impact your paycheck/livelihood.

Going deeper: Establishing a code or guidelines—let’s call them rules—can go a long way to making a happy workplace and happy home. Here are those 5 rules:

1. A closed door means something – Knock if you must. Messaging first might be a better option.

2. Proximity vs. availability - Being 15 feet away does not mean your partner has 15 minutes to talk.

3. Coordinate the noisy stuff – In the morning, inform your s.o. of important client calls during the day. This will deter vacuuming, leaf blowing, coffee grinding and barking animals.

4. Establish a lunch policy. Are you eating together? Separately? Grabbing leftovers between meetings? Avoid the dreaded, “Oh, I thought we were having lunch.”

5. Create an end-of-day signal. Take a walk. Shut the laptop. Change rooms. Do something that says, “I’m home now,” even though technically you never left.

BONUS Leave the house—without each other. Networking, coffee meetings, the gym or a few hours at the library can be healthy. Absence still makes the heart grow fonder, even if it’s only until 3 p.m.

The difference between 2 chairs

As an Amazon reseller, I get asked about questions about products in my store. Here’s one I received about the chair below:

“which is best for all day sitting for a big guy boliss 2815d vs 2818hd vs 2818hds?”

BOLISS Drafting Tall Office Chair 400lbs High Back Standing Desk Chair

He’s referring to another model of the same chair. I could not find the other model, 2815D.

I know what my answer is, which would you recommend for a big guy?

Reply to this email with your answer.

Monday morning vibe: Hauser, relaxing cello music

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What’s new: Content360 make it possible for you to schedule your posts to ALL your social media sites for a one-time payment of $67!

Why it matters: You pay once for what many companies will want on a monthly basis.

Going deeper: The best part of Content360 is the ease of use. Not every social media site has the same posting paraments. A 140-character X post is not the same as a long-form LinkedIn post. Or even an average LinkedIn or Facebook post. Never mind an Instagram or Pinterest post. Content360 lets you customize each on the same screen then easily schedule and post.

Best of all, you can set this up for your clients or different businesses.

The crown jewel: You can post to your Google Business Profile. This is something all business owners should be doing more of but usually forget to do. Even after all the effort you put into getting 5-star reviews. Content360 makes it easy to automate and stay consistent.

Full disclosure: I liked Content360 so much I became an affiliate. So, if you want to try it out, you don’t really have that much to lose. $67 for the rest of your life.

Content360

If you like it: Then you might want to become an affiliate, too.

Again, check it out by clicking the button below.

Content360

The ad that’s following me

That ad is: Niizi Lap Desk Pillows

Why it matters: I don’t want a laptop desk pillow.

Going deeper: In fact, I mock people who have them. And now, I kind of want one. Maybe even an ergonomic one with a cupholder. Like:

Lap Desk Pillow, Large Ergonomic Couch and Bed Desk for Laptop

Monday morning vibe: Deep Focus to Improve Concentration

Listen commercial-free by playing on this Substack.

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What’s new: You’re missing valuable home office content by not dragging My Home Office Hacks from your “Social” or “Update” tab in Gmail or leaving it in the Other file rather than focus folder in Outlook.

Why it matters: Emails in folders other than Primary or Focused get skimmed at best. Usually ignored.

Going deeper: Primary placement gets 21–30% higher open rates than Promotions across recent studies.

The remedy: Drag the next My Home Office Hacks email to the Primary or Focused folder. You’ll be glad you did.

"Every moment is a fresh beginning."--T.S. Eliot

The most disappointing shortcut

What’s not new: Holding CTRL Shift A will cap a block of highlighted text… and all the text after that unless you repeat CTRL Shift A to turn it off.

Why it matters – I have a client that spells it’s name all in caps. So this could have been a very useful tip.

Going deeper – There are a plenty of other great Word shortcuts in this video from Matty McTech. If you’re tired of highlighting text and pulldown menus.

My new fav: Ctrl K. Highlight text and type CTRL K and you can insert a hyperlink.

The dock of the day

Anker Laptop Docking Station Dual Monitor, 8-in-1 USB C Hub with 4K HDMI | Dual HDMI USB C Dock, 1Gbps Ethernet, 85W Max PD, SD/TF Card Reader, for USB C Laptops, XPS and More

Monday morning vibe: Fidelio, Beethoven’s one and only opera

Commercial-free YouTube

If you’re a fan of the Monday morning vibe, you may notice something. When you play the video within the Substack post, it runs without ads. So when I play a video like last week’s that’s hours’ long, you have music for that long.

Why it matters: You can achieve the same thing by copying and pasting the url for a YouTube video in a new document on Google Drive.

Going deeper: Hover your cursor on the URL. A preview will appear. Right-click on the link. You will see a preview. Click on Open Preview. The video will play, commercial-free, for the entire length of the video. Nothing better to try it out on than Beethoven’s one and only opera.

Free AI - It’s nice. But what if you had to pay for AI and could only choose one. Which would it be?

I have gas. So do you.

The collapse of gas bubbles in the joint synovial fluid causes ‘cracking’ knuckles. That’s why you get that loud crack when you first crack your knuckles. That’s also why if you crack your knuckles twice, it doesn’t typically make a cracking sound and won’t for a period of time.

Why this matters: Some people have been told cracking your knuckles is a bad thing. Probably by your parents. It’s not.

Going deeper: Before you sit down at your keyboard each day, you should crack your knuckles, as well as stretching the tendons in your wrists. This minimizes the possibility of carpal tunnel.

Check out the video on the box below for a more detail explanation of knuckle cracking.

Monday morning vibe: Deep Nervous Calm - Himalayan Singing Bowls

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Unless – A French press makes the making part fast. Then it’s just a matter of waiting.

Going deeper – Watch my friends from Wavelength Coffee Roasters show how it’s done:

My favorite financial book

The Secret Path to Wealth by JL Collins. I also learned about him on ChooseFI podcast featured in The Hack Trifecta.

Check out the newly updated edition that’s helped thousands achieve financial independence.

The Secret Path to Wealth

Monday morning vibe: I Forgive It All, Mudcrutch 2

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What’s new - CareYaYa, founded by Dr. Neal K. Shah of NIH, provides affordable care for seniors, utilizing the services of volunteers and college students.

Why it matters – An estimated 9–13 million Americans — and likely tens of millions worldwide — now work from home while also caring for an aging parent or senior. Yours truly is one of them.

Going deeper - CareYaya connects families with pre-vetted college students—many pursuing healthcare careers—who provide affordable, non-medical companionship and in-home support for older adults. Services can include:

• Meal preparation

• Errands and light housekeeping

• Mobility assistance

• Ttechnology help

• Medication reminders and specialized

• Companionship for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Learn more about CareYaYa

Not caring for a senior – Then I encourage you to follow Dr. Shah’s Instagram or TikTok feed. You will learn invaluable information about brain health and preventative steps to avoid dementia and Alzheimer’s. It will scare the s*** out of you!

Would you replace your desk chair with this?

My friend Scott, the Family CTO, sends me these videos all the time. What do you think?

I don’t know how “foot massagers” on the pedals is a selling point. But I’m sharing. You can find out more about the XENJOY Cube Cycle here.

Monday morning vibe: Bruce Springsteen, Highway Patrolmen

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Why it matters – There are a bunch of websites out there that can do this for you. You just can’t always be sure of the source.

Going deeper – The steps are as follows:

• Ctrl + F9

• Type displaybarcode

• Add a space and then in quotation marks enter the website you want the QR code to lead to (e.g. “https://www.hiroadcommunications.com/”)

• Add a space and type QR \3. Be sure to leave a space between the “QR” and “\3”

• F9

The end result.

Take a stand (but please buy it)

Lamicall Adjustable Laptop Stand, Portable Laptop Riser, Aluminum Laptop Stand for Desk Foldable, Ergonomic Computer Notebook Holder for MacBook Air Pro HP, Office Desk Accessories (10-17.3’‘)- Silver

Monday morning vibe: Vacation, The Go Gos

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Why It Matters - Working from home is often the only thing that makes caregiving possible — especially for the many who are self-employed, with no HR department, paid leave, or backup to fall back on when a parent needs them.

Going deeper - The idea for this post came from an inquiry from Erica Sell of Harmony Home Medical Supply. I didn’t quite see the connection between a home office set up and setting up for a senior in your home. Then I did some research.

The backdrop: 63 million Americans now provide care to an adult (up nearly 50% since 2015); 7 in 10 caregivers under 65 also hold a job, averaging 27 hours of care a week.

Hence the idea to reach out to fellow WFH professionals and business owner and provide some resources: Caregiver Action Network — free help desk, peer forums, and practical guides for working caregivers. caregiveraction.org

• AARP Family Caregiving — care plans, a caregiving cost calculator, and the full Caregiving in the US 2025 report.

• Family Caregiver Alliance — state-by-state services locator and Care Navigator tool. caregiver.org

• Eldercare Locator (U.S. Administration on Aging) — connects you to local services by ZIP code. eldercare.acl.gov or 1-800-677-1116.

• Check your benefits. Ask about FMLA, paid family leave in your state, and any employer caregiving benefits — even solo and contract workers often qualify for more than they think.

A video from my new favorite Substacker

#1 on ZDNet’s "7 WFH gadgets that seriously improved my workflow

Jabra Evolve3 75 On-Ear Wireless Bluetooth Headset with Microphone for Work, USB-C, AI Voice Call Technology, Advanced Active Noise Cancellation, 22-Hour Battery, Microsoft Teams Certified, Black

Monday morning vibe: Lights Out, Peter Wolf

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What’s newish - Holding the Windows key + Alt + R to record your screen and voice, as well as any other audio in the room.

Why it matters – While there are a number of apps out there that can record your screen, this in is instant, with the video going straight into your hard drive’s Videos folder in a folder called “Captures”.

Going deeper – A screen shot doesn’t always tell the whole story, particularly if you’re trying to explain something to somebody who’s let’s just say technically-challenged. This step makes it easier to explain. Best of all, they can keep the video for future reference. Better yet, so can you because you know they won’t keep the video and will ask you again.

Share My Home Office Hacks

If Tony Robbins says its so

Tony’s been touting the benefits of saunas. No matter your opinion of Tony, I always have a listen. Especially when it’s confirmed by somebody I know is not trying to sell me something, Dr. Neal K. Shah.

SAUNABOX® SmartSteam Kit Pro Portable Steam Sauna

Monday morning vibe: Cat’s in the Cradle, Harry Chapin

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Why it matters – Readers scan, both in the preview pane and even if they open. The “F” pattern draws their eye.

Going deeper – Axios made this strategy famous in Smart Brevity. That’s the style of writing employed here. By using axioms or section headers, you will see a bolded F when you view the email. It’s a style most most media outlets use in their in their newsletters.

Why it matters most – Whether you’re writing an email for work or your business, you’re in a battle for in-box attention and you’re competing against pros. Why not beat them at their own game?

F-up your emails – If you would like to find out how you can F-up your emails, check out a copy of Smart Brevity.

Smart Brevity

My Massachusetts Bucket List

What’s new - My new ebook, A Massachusetts Bucket List: 100 Places to Visit in the Bay State Before You Die.

Why it matters - Massachusetts natives tend to take for granted the history and hidden gems they have in their proximity.

Going deeper - If you’re a Massachusetts native/resident, this book makes it easier to knock off some of the not-so-hidden treasures in our state. You can view it on your phone or print it out and check off each place as you go.

Where’s it available - On Gumroad for $12.99. But that price will change very soon.

Massachusetts Bucket List

Monday morning vibe: Massachusetts, The Bee Gees

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Regrets only - If you’re extending an invitation to a group via email or text, lead with “Confirm if you’re attending. No response = not attending.”

Why it matters – People will hit reply all with their declination and their reason for not accepting.

The irony – Most people complain about the volume of email and text they receive. Yet when an opportunity to do something about it, they will share their reason as to why they can’t make it with everyone on the list.

Above my pay grade - Having seen this phenomenon in my own group invites and Meetups, I’ve been perplexed. Is there some sort of psychological neuroses that makes people think the rest of the mail chain needs to know why they can’t attend? Is it a form of self-importance or, dare I say, narcissism? So, I turned to Claude, here’s what he said:

“That’s a fair read, and I think you’re picking up on something real—but I’d frame it differently than pure narcissism.

The showier versions: Yeah, there are people who use “sorry, I can’t go because I have [important thing]” as a way to signal their importance or busyness. It’s a subtle flex. “I’m so in-demand that I have to turn this down.” That’s a bit of ego at play.

The more common thing: I think it’s less “I want you to know I’m important” and more “I want you to know I’m not ignoring you.” There’s insecurity in it—they’re afraid silence will read as dismissive or rude, so they over-communicate to prove they’re engaged and considerate.

The distinction: A narcissistic move would be volunteering the reason unprompted (”I can’t go, I have this amazing thing happening”). But most of what you’re describing sounds more like people responding to what they think you want (confirmation) even when you’ve asked for something different (silence).

That said: If the same people are consistently doing this—adding unnecessary details about what they’re doing instead—that might be more about them wanting acknowledgment. “I’m not coming, but look at what I’m doing instead.” That’s a bit more about seeking validation.”

Okay, I feel a little better.

Back to the hack – The next time you start a group invite with Confirm if you’re attending. No response = not attending.” And pray people actually follow that guideline.

Your Home Office Excalibur

What’s new – The office chair might be the most important piece of equipment in your home office.

Why that matters – The office chair often comes in second, third or fourth place in terms of importance by many WFH professionals.

Going Deeper – If you’re interested in an upgrade, your chariot awaits: Branch Ergonomic Chair - A Versatile Desk Chair with Adjustable Lumbar Support, Breathable Mesh Backrest, and Smooth Wheels

Monday morning vibe: Confident, Demi Lovato

Read more

Why that matters - Simply insert the URL and OpusClip will extract multiple clips--as short as 30 seconds and as long as a minute or two.

Going deeper - Most audience are judicious before investing a half an hour to an hour or more of their time in watching a podcast or webinar. Shorts provide a taste of the highlights to make that decision easier

Or not

Sometimes the tease is enough to get your audience to engage. If nothing else, Opus Clip provides tons of social media fodder—you can even post directly from the app.

Try it out – OpusClip has free option, which amounts to a one-hour pod or webinar. The one I submitted produced about 30.

Try Opus Clip

Try OpusClip

What the ruck

A Vested Interest - Wearing a weighted rucking vest accelerates the benefits of your runs, walks, hikes and bike rides.

Why it matters - It’s almost summer. Getting more out of your workout means can shorten workout times leaving you with more time for the fun stuff.

Going deeper - Unclear about what a ruck is and how it works. Check out this video I made in my Amazon store.

My Take on Rucking

Monday morning vibe: Spirit in the Sky, Norman Greenbaum

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For me, it’s when I start correcting people for wishing me a happy Memorial Day.

What’s wrong with that?

For our non-US readers (and there are quite a few), the US recognizes the last Monday of May as a way to remember members of the military who perished in service of our country.

Now, people will celebrate this day in a number of different ways. Some will go to the cemetery to visit their loved ones. Some might participate in a Memorial Day ceremony in their hometown. Others may binge watch Band of Brothers, The Pacific and other series and films that pay homage to those who died in the service of our country.

For a lot of people, it’s a day off and will be treated as such. Weekend getaways and cookouts are two of the favorite activities. Certainly nothing wrong with that. These are the types of freedoms that those who fought in service of our country would want us to enjoy and, more importantly, appreciate and have gratitude.

Yet there’s something about wishing people a happy day on a day meant to recognize our fallen soldiers that just doesn’t sit right with me.

But that’s my issue.

So, when I actually start to correct people on it, I know it’s time for me to take a break and do some reflecting.

That’s what I’m doing today.

How about you?

What happens in your world that tells you it’s time to take a break? Please leave your comment below.

Leave a comment

Have you tried this app: Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell Labs

Merlin enables you to record the ambient background wherever you are and detect bird calls and the, OMG, identify the birds.

Check out this article in My HOH from a few years back.

Monday morning vibe: Peace in the Valley, The Soul Stirrers

Have you tried this app: Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell Labs

Merlin enables you to record the ambient background wherever you are and detect bird calls and the, OMG, identify the birds.

Check out this article in My HOH from a few years back.

WFH is for the birds

Read more

Why it matters - It does what other far more expensive products out there do—e.g. Camtasia—and you’re basically getting it for free.

Going deeper - Being able to record your screen with your commentary makes it easier to explain how to do something. It doesn’t get easier than Clipchamp. This video shows you how easy it is.

How to use Clipchamp

Sit-ups that make sense

I bought a portable slant board to improve my squat. Then I put it under my desk and it improved my Zoom experience.

Why it matters - Staying centered on a video call improves how you appear to others on the call. It also helps you stay focused. It’s all a matter of keeping your feet on the board.

Going deeper - The range of benefits of a portable slant board start with your knees. Yet it hits the entire lower-body chain, including:

• Feet - Plantar fascia, Arches, heels, toes and toe flexors

• Ankles – joints, tendons

• **Lower legs – calves (upper and lower), shin muscles, etc.

• **Hips** - Hip flexors, Glutes, Hip stabilizers

• **Pelvis** -

• Lower back** - Lumbar spine, Spinal stabilizer muscles

And then there’s… As a tall person, the thought never occurred to me to use a foot rest. Yet its’ been the place where this product has benefited me the most. I sit up straighter during calls and while working. Sure, the feet come off the rest at times. Yet it’s a constant reminder without feeling like I’m being nagged to use proper posture.

There are many portable slant boards out on the market. Check out this one on Amazon.

Portable Slant Board

Monday morning vibe: Monday Morning, Fleetwood Mac

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10% off for My Home Office Hacks readers on Wavelength Coffee Roaster if you use this link.

Why it matters

Utilizing an electric roaster, Wavelength’s roasted coffees have a cleaner taste than beans roasted in the traditional fashion over gas or propane.

My personal experience

Better, smoother taste. It wakes you up without giving you the jitters. I compare it to drinking champagne in the US versus France. The US champagnes go right to your head and give you a hangover. French champagne? You can drink it all night and wake up fine the next day.

10% off the champagne of coffees

Use the link below and save 10% off your first order of Wavelength Coffee Roasters.

10% off Wavelength Coffee Roasters

Thing 2: The Massachusetts Bucket List

The latest eBook from yours truly—The Massachusetts Bucket List: 100 Places to Visit in the Bay State Before You Die.

Why it matters

If you live or are visiting the Massachusetts and are not sure of what to do, the Massachusetts Bucket List has a dozen or more options of places to go in each part of the state—Boston, the Cape, Central Mass, the Berkshires, the North Shore and South Shore and more.

Going deeper

These hidden treasures are the kind of places Massachusetts residents will say, “You know, we really should visit ___” and then never get around to it. Yours truly is a great example of that. Of the 100 in the book, I’ve been to 26 of these hidden treasures.

Just for My HOHs

The Massachusetts Bucket List is on sale for $12. And I’m throwing in a Google Map pinned by the number of each location. Click to view on Gumroad below.

Massachusetts Bucket List

3rd thing - Monday morning vibe: Mother, Lennon & Ono with the Plastic Ono Band

10% off Wavelength Coffee

Wavelength Coffee Roasters’ Hacienda La Minita is the coffee I’ve tasted in quite some time.

Why it matters

Coffee drinkers AKA coffee snobs, get stuck in their ways. They are reluctant to stray from their beloved brand and method of preparation. To quote Emerson, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds”.

Okay that might be a little harsh. You can miss out on some really good stuff if you do as John Candy less famously said in the movie Splash:

If something works for me I stick with it.

Going deeper

Trying Wavelength Coffee Roasters makes sense on so many levels. Taste for starters. Yet if you care about coffee and you care about the planet, you may want to give Wavelength a try.

Wavelength Coffee Roasters roasts coffee beans from all the major markets—Colombia, Costa Rica, etc.—utilizing an electric roaster powered by solar panels and served in recyclable tin. This type of technology enables them to actually clean the roaster. Traditional roasters utilize propane and the roaster, which resembles your home furnace, cannot be cleaned. Hence, the burnt taste you often experience.

Not so with Wavelength Coffee Roasters.

What do you think?

If you’re game to try something different, give Coffee Roasters a whirl. While I don’t necessarily consider myself a coffee snob—I will drink waiting room coffee—I appreciate a good cup. Wavelength’s Hacienda La Minta is a GREAT cup!

Just for My Home Office Hacks readers, if you click on this link, : https://www.wavelength-coffee.com/discount/MHOHSUBSTACK, you’ll get 10% off your order!

10% off Wavelength Coffee

What’s your go-to coffee?

Monday morning vibe: Good to be Alive, Andy Grammer

TV around the world

Ever wonder what they’re watching in Belgium? Now you can check out what’s on the tube in countries all over the world with Famelack.com.

It’s as simple as moving your cursor—follow the red dot—to the country that you want to view. Then click. You’ll see the list of channels in that country on the right. Then click again and see what’s playing.

Check it out.

Famelack.com

It’s a title we bestow on photos that are either beautiful, capture the imagination or both. My nephew’s photo falls into that category.

Why it matters

Sizing those photos for the medium enhances your enjoyment of the visual.

Going deeper

If you want to wallpaper an image of yours, here are the numbers in pixels. My nephew has blessed me to share his work as an example.

Desktop wallpaper (1920×1080)

Mobile wallpaper (1170×2532)

Instagram post (1080×1080 square)

Got a wallpaper worthy photo

Reply to this email and attach yours. We’ll post entries in the next issue of My HOH.

The standup desk for short and tall people

The Uplift V3 Standing Desk can be customized for people ranging in height from 4’9” to 6’ 8”. The NY Times featured it in its The Best Home-Office Furniture and Supplies for 2026

UPLIFTDESK V3 2-Leg Walnut Laminate Wood Standing Desk – Adjustable Height, Advanced 1-Touch Memory Keypad, Under Desk Cable Management, Wire Grommets & Rocker Board (Black C-Frame, 60 x 30 inch)

Monday morning vibe: Heaven Must Have Sent You, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

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Why it matters

I write My Home Office Hacks. It doesn’t mean I remember every single hack. Sometimes to search my own tips.

Going deeper

Here are some I have done a search for:

• Removepaywall.com from How to read the Kristi Noem piece in WSJ

• Changing icons for folders - Search? Me?

• Just the Recipe app, A great recipe for word vomit

• How to interview yourself in AI, FAQ You

Shredding is not just about paper

This Amazon shredder shreds CDs and credit cards, too!

The Amazon Basics 15-Sheet Cross Cut Paper Shredder for Home and Office, CD/Credit Card Shredder with 6 Gallon Wastebasket, Black

Monday morning vibe: Earth Day Every Day, John Denver

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What’s hanging on the wall in your home office? Care to share?

Reply to this email and attach your submission. If can beat might drum, figuratively, we’ll post in next week’s My Home Office Hacks.

For those times when you just can’t stand it

For the standing desk folks who want to stand longer.

The Standing Desk Mat - Topo by Ergodriven | Premium Not-Flat Anti-Fatigue Standing Desk Mat with Calculated Terrain | Ultra-Thick Deluxe Comfort Foam, Durable, PVC-Free | Accessories | Obsidian Black

Monday morning vibe: We Are Going To Be Friends, The White Stripes

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