My Favorite Things: The Ultimate Product Guide for a Neurodivergent Freelancer

If you're anything like me, you've probably spent a good chunk of your life trying to figure out how to make the world work for you, instead of the other way around. As a neurodivergent freelancer who's been navigating health issues for most of my adult life, finding ways to work from the comfort of my own home hasn't just been a dream; it's been a necessity.

Over the years, I've discovered some absolute game-changers that have helped me manage my energy, automate the boring stuff, and create a workspace that gives my body and brain exactly what they need.

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These are the things that give me a little dopamine boost, save my brainpower for creative work, and help me get stuff done at home. So, grab a cup of something cozy, and let's dive into the products I genuinely can't live without!

Creating Your Sanctuary: The Ideal Workspace

For years, whether I was working on translation jobs or designing clipart to sell, my office was my bed or the couch, and my uniform was usually a pair of pajamas. While cozy, it didn't work in the long run. Pajamas are fine, but sitting in questionable positions on the couch with your laptop isn't.

After hitting thirty, what used to be fine just wasn't anymore, and I started to develop pain. That's when I realized that to build a sustainable business, I needed to build a sustainable life first. And that meant investing in tools and products that could support my brain and my body.

When you're neurodivergent, you already have enough problems. Developing pain that could have been avoided on top of everything else is definitely something you want to avoid.

The End of "Laptop Neck": Ergonomics are Everything

I can't stress this enough: a proper ergonomic setup is a game-changer. That nagging neck and back pain I mentioned? It dramatically improved once I invested in a few key pieces.

• Height-Adjustable Desk: A desk that can be raised and lowered is amazing. It allows you to switch between sitting and standing, which is fantastic for your back and energy levels. Tired of sitting still all day? Stand and do your work instead, or mix it up when your brain needs a change. Mine is from IKEA, but it looks very similar to this one (And this one is much cheaper and has raving reviews).

  
  

• A Truly Comfortable Chair: Forget those stiff, corporate-looking chairs. You need something that feels like a hug for your back. Look for a chair with great lumbar support and adjustable.

  
  

  This chair has a score of 4.4 from almost 14,000 people, is very affordable, and even has neck support! You should be able to sit at a 90-degree angle with your legs, so it's important to double-check how low and high the chair can go if you are a lot shorter or taller than average.

  
  

• A neck massage pillow If you struggle with headaches that starts from tensing your neck, or sitting bent over your phone or laptop all day until your neck gets stiff, a pillow like this really helps. This one has great ratings from over 50 000 people, comes in several colors (including a super cute pink!), I bought mine six years ago and couldn't find it online, but this looks just like it. It's currently 40 % off too (11th of Feb, 2026).

For When the World is Too Loud (mostly always): Noise-Canceling Headphones

As someone who gets easily stressed and distracted by any type of noise, a quiet environment is crucial for me to get into a state of deep work. Noise-canceling headphones are my secret weapon. They create a bubble of silence that allows me to focus on my translations or designs without being pulled away by every little sound.

I've tried Loops, and they just didn't work for me. I need something more heavy-duty like the Sony WH-1000XM6. The Bose QuietComfort series is also a fantastic option known for its comfort during long work sessions.

This picture was generated using *my favorite generative A.I – Ideogram. A very affordable alternative to Midjourney

Things That Make Life Easier at Home as a Neurodivergent Freelancer

As a neurodivergent person, my executive function can be a bit… well, it's a huge struggle. Anything that can be automated or make things go faster is a huge win in my book. I love tools that I can "set and forget," freeing up my mental energy for what truly matters—my creative work.

Closed Furniture

This one might seem a bit weird, but trust me, it makes so much sense! When I buy furniture, I try to look for things that aren't open. I avoid open shelves and try to keep things out of sight. Bookshelves with glass doors like this beautiful one are perfect. The reason is that the less visible clutter and places dust can collect, the better!

Fresh Bread on Demand: Air Fryer

I use my Cosori Air Fryer almost every single day. My favorite trick is popping in frozen bread rolls in the morning. It has an automatic shut-off, so I can go take a shower or get dressed and come back to perfectly fresh, warm rolls. It’s a small luxury that starts my day off right.

I try to use the timer on the air fryer to get something done in the meantime because then it feels like I have a deadline, and that really works for me. Sort and turn on the laundry quickly; you only have eight minutes! Then I'll have warm bread rolls with pre-sliced cheese after. If I could go back in time, I would rather go for an air fryer with two baskets because that would make cooking dinner a lot easier.

This picture was generated using *my favorite A.I – Ideogram. A very affordable alternative to Midjourney

The Robot That Made Life Easier

Okay, so it feels like "everyone" has a robot vacuum these days, but if you don't, let me tell you: this is one of the best purchases of my life. It cleans so well, easily vacuums under beds, and is super thorough. Vacuuming can feel incredibly overwhelming because it seems like it never ends! You vacuum one day, and two days later everything looks dusty again!

This Roborock Robot Vacuum has been a lifesaver. It maps out the house and does its thing, keeping my floors clean without me having to lift a finger. It's not the newest model, so it's very affordable, and you don't really need the docking station because it's super easy to empty this vacuum.

Smoothies on Autopilot: The Vitamix Blender

I love making quick, healthy smoothies, but I don’t always have the patience to stand there and blend. My Vitamix blender has pre-programmed settings, so I can just toss my ingredients in, press a button, and walk away. It starts and stops on its own, so my smoothie is ready when I get out of the shower.

A blender doesn't need to be an expensive one like Vitamix, but I've had at least three blenders in my life so far that stopped working at some point or got overheated because they couldn't handle the frozen ingredients. So when my fiancé and I moved in together, I convinced him that a Vitamix is a good investment, and it really has been!

A Gentler Way to Wake Up

The best way to wake up comfortably is with a sunrise alarm clock with light! The sunrise alarm clock completely changed my mornings. It simulates a natural sunrise, gradually lighting up the room before the alarm even goes off. Unfortunately, I had mine on a chair next to my bed, and I accidentally knocked it over, so now I'm looking for a new one.

This time I want to get a Hatch Restore sunrise alarm instead. It has a 4.3 out of 5 rating by thousands of users on Amazon, and not only does it look much prettier than my previous one, but it also helps you with your sleep routine, as it has an app with ASMR sounds.

Marketing/ social media graphics tool

I'm obsessed with this marketing AI tool (affiliate link), which has significantly sped up the content creation game for me. This AI is like a mix of Canva, Chat GPT and a generative AI tool all in once, and creates the most beautiful Pinterest pins, Instagram posts and reels and amazing ads in just a few clicks. Here's an example of pins it has made for my Digital paper library, my library of 100 colorful backgrounds with commercial use rights.

Since I struggle so much with fatigue, this tool has really helped me manage to have a whole year of Pinterest pins scheduled in Tailwind. It analyzes your website or social media to find your style and creates super professional-looking designs. It has a newsletter feature too, but I haven't really gotten around to trying it yet. If you think it's hard to stay consistent with your social media, I really recommend checking this tool out! I've written a review of the tool as well. It's a fast, easy and very affordable tool.

Fueling Your Brain: Dopamine & Development

Finally, let's talk about the little things that bring joy and the big things that help us grow. For me, a combination of colorful, happy things and powerful knowledge is the perfect recipe for a motivated mind.

Notebooks for a Dopamine Boost

I’m a sucker for beautiful stationery. A colorful notebook or a habit tracker gives me a little dopamine boost every time I see it. There’s something so satisfying about physically checking off a task or a habit. I like this set of pastel lined notebooks; they are super cute!

Books That Change the Game

I am a total bookworm, and I’m constantly reading books on marketing, self-development, and business. Having a stack of inspiring books on my nightstand is a must. I've previously written the blog post The best books for business women, so check that out (opens in a new window)! But if you're looking for some instant recommendations, here are a few books that have really helped me:

• Mel Robbins: Her Let Them Theory is a powerful concept for managing relationships and expectations.

  
  

• James Clear's Atomic Habits has really helped me create some habits I manage to stick to, as his focus is on making them as tiny as possible. Doing just 1% better than you used to will generate a big change over time.

  
  

More books? If you are creative and love hobby books, check out my resource page, where you'll find lots of tips!

I truly believe that crafting a life and business that works for your unique brain is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself. I hope sharing my favorite things gives you some ideas for how you can make your own world a little more comfortable, automated, and joyful.

What are some of your can't-live-without products? I'd love to hear about them in the comments below!