After years of making do with absolutely any equipment and any furniture, and not noticing all that much, I started having a back pain.  To the point that I’d have to lie on the carpet for 10 minutes, every hour.

Not good.  What could it have been?

The more I looked to my surroundings, I realized what my Dad tried to drill into me once a year.  I should respect my tools, take care of them, and get better ones when I am able.  Granted, he’s a carpenter by trade and likely the inspiration for Mike Holmes, but his point seemed a little bit more truthful when I was lying on the ground taking a call from a client.

First, my problem.  I don’t stop working once I get going.  I can go 5-10 hours or more, straight.  I might stop to snack or eat but its usually while I’m designing something in my head.  I’ve been known to be completely unresponsive on the phone and to those around me when in such a trance.  How sweet it is.

Here I was wondering how I got to be a 20-something, with such a bad back.  My dad had hurt his in his 20’s but it involved a ladder, something too heavy, and him stretching his back in a way that shouldn’t be.

0) Bed. I know.  I’m a legend too. I can sleep anywhere, anytime.  The problem is, it catches up to you.  Couches, Futons, Floor, Old beds, are all your enemy.  A good nights rest for your back, body and mind is the #1 thing you can do to make sure your time awake is the best it can be.  I invested in a memory foam bed, reluctantly, and it was the best thing I could have done, at that time.  I had forgotten what a good night’s sleep was, let alone a rested back.

1) Big external screen. At least one really big one, or two 19″ minimum. Checkout something like a matrox dualhead2go if need be. The biggest resolution your laptop can support. Your eyes will thank you, as will your neck.  I have 3 19″ screens running from a Matrox TripleHead2Go, with my eyes on an Apple 27″ cinema hopefully very soon.  Not only does this make it easier on your eyes, you get 40% more done with the 2nd screen, and another 30% with the third screen, from not having to switch screens all the time between reference, documentation, programming, and testing.

2) Grown-up Keyboard and mouse. Don’t be another 20 something with carpal tunnel. Wireless keyboards and mice are cheap as well if you want to go that way.  I had a Logitech MX3000 bluetooth keyboard and nice that was pretty nice.  I’ve now settled on the Apple external keyboard with the chiclet keys.  It took me a while to get raised to but the travel of my fingers is so less that I no longer have pains in my fingers or wrists the odd time it happened.,

3) Chair. I used to have to lay on the floor once an hour because my fancy leather chair wasn’t. Take the time now to find a chair that supports sitting for long hours (8+). The foam on chairs comes rated as different time-lengths for continuous use. If you can find a used Aeron or something, do it.  There’s a new Herman Miller Mirra Chair that is apparently a much better design than the Aeron’s, but not much different in price.

4) Desk. If you can find something that is height adjustable for you, great. Probably not though, so the best angle to go is to head to your local ikea’s as-is department. Find a corner desk, or a straight table top of your choice. $40-75 tops instead of $130+. Then, buy some height adjustable legs from them. You will have a customized desk for under $200. I have used corner desks for years — they are great for one person, but suck for two. Depending on the layout of your room you might have to use a straight desk. It should work great too. If you haven’t, check out http://ikeahacker.blogspot.com/ (Thanks David) for ideas.

5) Noise Canceling headphones. A nice to have but I find it helps me get into the flow when I’m finding myself unable to focus. Roommates can be noisy. Don’t buy the expensive Bose headphones. I picked up a pair of audio-technica anc-ath7 from ebay for ~$120.

6) Lighting.  Figure it out for how it works best for you.  It tires your eyes a lot less.  I generally like working in a dimmer room with ambient lighting in the background with some desk lamps.

I’m sure you might be saying, I’m a student. I’m saying, if you’re smart enough you’ll be making the money back anyways, and with some things, it’s not about what it costs, but what it makes you (in how much more productive you are). Just be careful to not get too obsessed with the environment that it cuts into your coding time.  Ikea clearance / as-is departments are everyone’s friend!