My Wishlist: Eliminate Annoyances

Posted on December 9, 2011 by
Categories: Productivity

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Photo by mysza831

The holidays are approaching. I gave my husband a very short list. Here are the three things I want, and why:

Cordless keyboard

I am a web programmer by day, writer by night. While I have a good keyboard at home, the majority of my time is spent typing on a less-than-ideal keyboard provided by my employer. Since I spend so much time using the device, I want a good cordless keyboard to use at work. Why cordless? Because I am tired of having various wires tangle across my workspace and snag other devices.

Cordless Mouse

Same as for the keyboard, I want a good mouse that I don’t have to use a cord with. I have wireless mice at home and I love them, but I want a nice one for work as well. The trick here is that it has to be a universal mouse – while I am fully ambidextrous, I prefer to mouse with my left hand. Besides, it gives my co-workers fits when they try to use it. :)

Mug Warmer

I am sure that I am not the only person in the world who brews a cup of coffee or tea…and then forgets about it until it’s cold. I want a mug warmer to keep my hot beverages toasty.

You might be thinking to yourself that these are very odd requests, but honestly, these three things will eliminate annoyances in my life. And eliminating annoyances makes my day go smoother, and I get more done.

So I’m going to throw this out to you: what gifts would you ask for that would eliminate annoyances in your life?

Photo by mysza831

 

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Comments (4)

 

  1. kpdriscoll says:
    December 9, 2011 at 9:53 am

    Replacing batteries is complex and wasteful. The keyboard and mouse wires help keep you tethered to your work area as well as forcing some semblance of order to it. Perhaps a taller thinner cup allows you to warm your hands on its sides, but perhaps get up more frequently to refill it (which is good for your circulation). The extra power a cup warmer uses, the space it take, and the fire/burn hazard it introduces have soured me to their usefulness.
    Simplicity is based in the habits. Gadgets, even when bought for simplicity, can add hidden complexities.

    • LJ Earnest says:
      December 9, 2011 at 11:34 am

      These are good points. If I was talking about my home office, I would grant you all three. And in fact, none of these things is for home.

      My point is not about simplicity, it’s about eliminating annoyances that are impacting my productivity at my employer.

      I’m not sure I agree on the wireless…I do use rechargeable batteries, always, and I have more than just mouse/keyboard wires on the desk. Even with the cord corrals, I am constantly extracting the VOIP phone and headset cables from the mouse and keyboard cables.

      Your point about the cup warmer is a good one. A good insulated mug would be better than a cup warmer. Does anyone know of an insulated cup that is dishwasher safe and doesn’t dribble when you drink from it?

  2. Dawn Goldberg says:
    December 11, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    Well, I don’t know that Santa will bring this to me, but I’d like a bigger closet (where I keep my filing cabinet) so that it’s easier to file. It’s annoying to only be able to open the drawers part of the way.