Why Do You Need a Mirror on Your Desktop
I’ve been working at the same desk for 12 years now, but in the last year or two, a problem has arisen. You see, my desk is facing away from my home office door because there is a window on the opposite wall, and looking out the window is a big part of my creative process. I recently added a pair of noise canceling headphones to my setup, which are great for blocking out distractions like baby screams in the distance. (I have three children and they cry a lot.)
There’s only one problem with all of this: every time someone enters the room, I have no idea they’re there until they pat me on the shoulder and beat the hell out of me.
I tried to ask my family members to sneak up on me little by little. It was even worse: I felt someone’s presence, and then turned around and found that my husband loomed behind me for God knows how long, waiting for the right moment to say hello. Then I asked them to be louder, banging and shouting when they enter the room if I was wearing headphones. This had its problems, mainly in the fact that I still have not heard them (these headphones are good ). But also, when I heard them, I was just as amazed as in the original situation.
The situation became so desperate that I considered turning my desk over. But then I had a big brain moment: what if I put a mirror on my desk?
Friends, this is a game changer. The mirror points to my door, so every time someone approaches, I see movement in my peripheral vision. If I’m in a meeting, I can even make eye contact with the intruder and make a “not now” gesture without turning around in my chair.
My mirror is a cheap shaving mirror, probably bought at a pharmacy for less than $5. It has a small stand on the back, like a photo frame. If I didn’t already have it, I would probably choose something like this . So do yourself a favor, put a mirror on your desk and take full advantage of good headphones.