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 my 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! 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 adjustability. This chair has a score of 4,4 by almost 14 000 people, is very affordable and even has neck support! You should be able to sit in 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.

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 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 favourite 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 we buy furniture we try to look for things that aren't open. We avoid open shelves and try took keep things out of sight. Bookshelves with glass doors like this beautiful one for example. The reason is the less visible clutter and places dust 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 airfryer to get something done in the meantime, cause 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 breadrolls with pre-sliced cheese after. If I could go back in time I would rather go for an airfryer with two baskets, cause that would make cooking dinner a lot easier.

This picture was generated using my favourite 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 in my life. It cleans so well, easily vacuums under beds and is super thorough. Vacuuming is one of those tasks that can feel incredibly overwhelming, cause it feels 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, cause 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, got over-heated cause it couldn't handle the frozen ingredients. So when my fiancé and I moved in with eachother, 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 in a comfortable way 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, it also helps you with your sleep routine, as it has an app with ASMR sounds.

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 ff you're looking for some instant recommendations, here are a few books that really has 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 making them as tiny as possible and that doing 1 % better than you used to will generate a big change over time.

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!