How to Turn Your WFH Desk Into the Ultimate Self-Care Station in 2021

Amid the long-term shift to working from from, 9 strategies for turning your work area into a more calming (and productive!) space.

How to Turn Your WFH Desk Into the Ultimate Self-Care Station in 2021

Considering that our jobs are at the root of much stress and anxiety, the idea of making your desk into an area of self-care might seem oxymoronic. But if you spend a large portion of your week—or even more, amid the long-term shift to working from home—at a designated workspace, it's somewhat necessary.

In the spirit of not just squeezing self-care into our schedule, but also multitasking (something of a way of life in today’s society), here are a slew of different strategies for turning your work area into a more soothing—and productive!—space.

The Instagrammable Diffuser

While powering through your workday, an essential oil diffuser can offer a multitude of health benefits, from decongestion to anxiety relief. Be it clarifying citrus or overactive-nerve-calming jasmine, your choice essential oil will be softly streamed into the air throughout the day. To add to the experience: Look for an aesthetically pleasing objet d' art, such as a #shelfie-ready ceramic sculpture, which doubles as an aromatherapy diffuser.

Vitruvi Porcelain Essential Oil Diffuser

Kitchibe Monolis Ceramic Diffuser

Project 62 Oil Diffuser

Jenni Kayne Medium Musk Ceramic Diffuser

The Arid Air Repellent 

Stale air not only creates an uncomfortable environment, but can wreak havoc on skin. A hydrating face mist can help. Inspired by Queen Isabelle of Hungary’s famous youthful elixir, Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir imparts a dewy, supple glow with toning rose extract and rosemary essential oil, as well as a refreshing zing with astringent mint. Refreshing formulas from Alaffia and True Botanicals yield similar results with plant-powered ingredients, while Pause's facial mist, which is tailored to women experiencing premenopausal and menopausal symptoms, offers a cooling, anti-inflammatory effect for those contending with old-fashion radiators this winter.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir

True Botanicals Organic Nutrient Face Mist

Alaffia Coconut Reishi Nourishing Facial Toning Mist

Pause Well Hot Flash Cooling Mist

The Afternoon Pick-Me-Ups 

Ah, the inevitable afternoon slump. Instead of defaulting to a coffee run, consider reaching a sparkling herbal tonic like Sunwink's Lemon-Rose Uplift elixir, which is laced with rose, damiana, and lemon balm, or Droplet's Bright made with vitamin c-packed Yuzu and ginger, to brighten your mood and make you feel more at ease. Or, try mixing your own concoction with Golde's new Destress Ade made with coconut water and blueberry, or Moon Juice’s cult “Dusts” range, offered in single-use sachets with herbal formulations that improve cognition, mood, and overall energy. Just add it to your coffee or smoothie and voilà!

Sunwink Lemon-Rose Uplift 12 Pack

Droplet Pretty Bright

Golde Destress Ade

Moon Juice Full Moon Dust Box

The Calming Scents 

There are many ways to enjoy sense-stirring fragrances that feed your surroundings—and just make you feel better as the to-dos start to really pile on. You can light a scented candle, such as Apotheke's Hinoki Lavender blend, or reach for The CAPtivator mist with its addictive mix of sandalwood, neroli, and clary sage topped off with gardenia and lotus florals. There are also Volar's small, gilded vials, which are filled with a reinvigorating mix of amethyst and Hawaiian black salts infused with a unique mix of antiviral lavender, patchouli, and peppermint oils designed to ward off germs—and bad energy!

Apotheke Hinoki Lavender Candle

Aesop Ptolemy Aromatique Candle

The CAPtivator Energy Mist

Volar Calm Smelling Salts

The Hydration Station 

If your body is dehydrated, it impacts everything from energy levels to brain function. To ensure you're drinking enough water, Los Angeles–based nutritionist Kimberly Snyder recommends drinking significant quantities of water between meals and throughout the day. In that spirit, keeping a water bottle by your side all day can help to help you to remember and chart your progress. For extra incentive and general tidiness, place your water bottle on a stunning tray, such as Marimekko's poppy-printed style.

Vapur Element 1 Liter Bottle

LARQ Bottle in Himalayan Pink

BuildLife One Gallon Water Bottle

Marimekko Oiva Unikko Tray

The Healing Crystals 

If you subscribe to the school of healing crystals, there are an array of beautiful and balancing gems, from nervous-system calming lepidolite to motivation-inspiring citrine, that you can keep at arm's length. Or, to give your face some TLC, pause for a moment with The Detox Market's rose quartz facial roller, a one-two punch for a cathartic, mind-body release, eliminating negative emotions on a spiritual level , as well as offers a cooling, de-puffing facial on the spot.

Lepidolite Tower

Citrine Gemstone Crystal

Crystals: The Modern Guide to Crystal Healing by Yulia Van Doren

The Detox Market Gemstone Facial Roller

The Purifying Plants 

Plants not only act as robust purifiers for recycled air, but have been linked to improving productivity, mood, and creativity. And as far as work-adjacent flora goes, you can’t go wrong with a Pilea. Known as the Chinese Money Plant because of its coin-like leaves, it’s a mainstay within Scandinavian interiors with lots of minimalist appeal, as well as relatively low-maintenance even for those without a green thumb.

The Sill Pilea Peperomioides in Ezra Planter

Bloomscape Red Prayer Plant

UrbanStems The Cathy

Horti Pilea Peperomioides

The Standing Desk 

They say sitting is the new smoking, given that consistent long hours of doing so are potentially linked to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Hence, the growing popularity for standing desks, which are said to boost blood flow, reduce back pain, improve posture, lower blood sugar, and aid in weight loss. If your interest is piqued, consider a retractable model that will help you ease into the transition, as well as allow you to oscillate between sitting and standing, as too much of the latter has its side effects, too.

Fully Jarvis Bamboo Standing Desk

Tangkula Standing Desk

Flexispot Standing Desk

Uplift Standing Desk

The Warming Light 

We can all agree: Dull and cool fluorescent lights can be a real drag, especially as the day goes on. To cozy things up, consider switching on a chic, streamlined desk lamp like with soft, warm light like Gantri's Cantilever Table Light, which will instantly improve—and elevate—the vibe of your space.

Gantri Cantilever Table Light

Mlambert Table Lamp

Article Orb

Casper The Glow Light

This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Lauren Valenti