10 Products to Make Your Online Teaching More Comfortable

If you’re not already teaching lessons online, many of us will be this week following Spring Break.

I think we can all agree that online teaching can take a little bit (or even a lot) more energy than in-person. Hopefully, the more we do it, the easier it will get!

To help you along the way, here are 10 products I love that can help make your next few weeks feel a little less stressful and a little more comfortable.

Remember, it’s the small things that can bring us joy in stressful times!

Here’s a quick reference guide – descriptions follow!

#1-4 Hydrate and Moisturize

Staying well-hydrated is always important for good health, but we may need to be even more conscious of it now. If we’re not intentionally conscious of it, we may tend to find ourselves talking a little louder than normal, which leads to dry mouth and dehydration.

1

Consider keeping an electric kettle next to you for cups of tea or even warm lemon water. Chef’s Choice Electric Glass Kettle is good quality and well-priced.

2

One of my favorite teas is The Republic of Tea’s Spring Cherry Green Tea.  The individual bags are convenient for on-the-go teaching.

3

Excess talking can also easily dry out the lips. Don’t forget a stash of chapstick! SW Basics Organic Beeswax Lip Balm. I also love Burt’s Bees Chapstick.

4

With everyone being more conscious of handwashing, perhaps longer and more frequently than before, the skin on your hands may be suffering.

Keep this lovely-smelling EO Body Lotion, Coconut, and Vanilla on your desk to enjoy after each hand-washing.

#5-6 Posture

Some teachers will be set up at their pianos and others, perhaps, like me, at a desk with a keyboard next to it. In the latter case (due to my shorter frame), using both a tiltable footrest and an ergonomic wedge of some kind has been of great benefit to sitting with good posture at a desk for extended periods of time.

5

Eureka Ergonomic Tilt Adjustable Footrest

6

CanDo Sitting Wedge

Sometimes, these wedges can also help students who don’t like to sit up straight. It makes your body engage the upper thigh, lower back, and buttocks muscles a bit to maintain active posture.

#7-8 Cozy Toesies

Guess what, friends? No one is going to see our feet for the next few weeks. Take advantage! What do your toes prefer? Warm and cozy or free and airy?

7

Minnetonka Slipper Moccasin

These slippers are warm but also have a nice base on the bottom, so they feel more like shoes than slippers.

8

Sanuk Women’s Flip-Flop

Even as someone who could use a little arch support in most shoes, I can go all day in these sandals without my feet hurting. I purchase a new pair every other year.

#9 Ear Comfort

Wearing headphones while teaching online wasn’t something I had ever imagined would be part of online teaching until I heard several teachers mention it.

So….here are the headphones I use in my studio.
AKG K52 Headphones.

I love them. They’re super comfortable, full, over-the-ear headphones. The headband self-adjusts and the R-L markings are written in large print directly on the inside of the earpiece, so it’s easy to spot.

The only downside to wearing headphones I’ve discovered this year is that you can’t wear big earrings! Darn.

#10 Sensory Comfort

A diffuser is a safe and easy way to keep your space feeling fresh and your mind clear.

A few oils I would go for now include Thieves, Raven, Stress Away, Clarify, and Peppermint. (They’re a Young Living brand, but I’m not an affiliate in any way; it’s just what I use.)

NOW Essential Oils, Faux Wood Diffuser

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Treat yourself and take care of yourself. Here we go!

~Amy