by Furnishly | Jan 28, 2026 | Design Inspiration, Style
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independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to perfect my work-from-home setup. I’ve tweaked the height of my chair and desk, and even tried several different laptop stands that promised everything and delivered little more than vibes. What I didn’t expect was that the thing that would finally bring me comfort and help with my back pain would be a $25 ergonomic footrest — an object I had previously filed under “unnecessary office accessories.” And yet, here I am.
Before the footrest, my posture situation was bleak. I’d start the day sitting like a functional adult, only to slowly devolve into a forward-slouching, feet-tucked-under-legs pretzel. By mid-afternoon, my lower back had that dull, nagging ache that made it hard to focus. I thought that was just the price of sitting at a desk. Turns out, my feet were the problem. But without even trying, I had found a solution.
What Is the BlissTrends Foot Rest?
The BlissTrends Foot Rest has become my favorite desk upgrade. It’s small, affordable, and doesn’t require rearranging your space or buying a whole new chair. This height-adjustable foam footrest takes up basically no visual space, works barefoot or with shoes, and slides under your desk when you’re done. Plus, it comes with a cover that can be easily removed and thrown into the washing machine. It’s the definition of low commitment, high reward.
Why Your Feet Matter More Than You Think
“Most desk posture issues start with where your feet are,” says Dr. Mikel Daniels, a Baltimore-based podiatrist and founder of WeTreatFeet Podiatry. When your feet hang, don’t quite reach the floor, or you’re constantly pulling them back under your chair, the rest of your body has to make up for it. That compensation travels upward fast with “malposition of the pelvis, lumbar spine, and even your neck.” Your pelvis tucks under, your back loses its natural curve, and suddenly sitting feels way harder than it should. It can lead to “rounded shoulders, tight hip flexors, aching low backs, and swollen feet by 4 p.m.”
An ergonomic footrest helps eliminate “desk posture” by doing something extremely basic but surprisingly effective: It brings the floor up to you. This “lets you set your chair at the right height for your desk and screen while still giving your feet a solid, supportive base,” Daniels explains. “It’s a simple way to hit that ‘neutral alignment’ sweet spot without needing a custom chair and desk setup.” Translation: Your body can finally stop improvising.
What Happened When I Used This Footrest
The first day I used the footrest, I noticed I wasn’t thinking about my posture at all. My feet felt grounded. My hips stayed put. I wasn’t inching forward in my chair or curling myself into a question mark. This is because, according to Dr. Devin Trachman, the clinic director at Physical Therapy Central, “A footrest gives the body a stable base to allow the pelvis and spine to be more neutral and supported.” From her physical therapy standpoint, “this stability is foundational for reducing unnecessary stress and strain during times of prolonged sitting.”
That neutral alignment was the missing piece for me. With my feet supported, I actually used the back of my chair. My back wasn’t working overtime just to keep me upright. And by the end of the workday? No familiar ache. No stretching on the floor like I’d just finished a marathon.
There are circulation benefits, too. Supporting your feet reduces pressure on the backs of your thighs, which can improve blood flow and reduce swelling in the lower legs and feet — something many people who sit all day experience without realizing it. Trachman adds, “Clinically, I often see improvements in low back pain, hip tightness, and even neck tension when mechanics of sitting are corrected from the ground up.” This explains why, since incorporating a footrest into my workspace, I’ve noticed less stiffness by the end of the day.
What “Good Posture” Actually Looks Like
The good news is that good posture doesn’t mean sitting perfectly upright all day. Some key cues that Trachman likes giving her patients are as follows:
Daniels likes to remind his patients of the following message: “Perfect posture does not exist. However, sustainable posture does.” His baseline advice is keeping a footrest height so your knees are at about a 90- to 100-degree angle, letting your feet feel “heavy but relaxed” on the surface, and sitting all the way back in your chair to support your lumbar spine.
Even then, movement matters. Trachman recommends changing positions or standing every 30 to 60 minutes. A footrest isn’t meant to lock you into place — it just makes good posture the path of least resistance.
Why a Footrest Is a Simple yet Effective Upgrade for Workspaces
Is a footrest exciting? Not even a little bit. Did it make my workday noticeably more comfortable? Completely. Although it doesn’t feel dramatic, the payoff is. My desk setup finally feels like a true ergonomic workspace, my workdays end without that familiar back ache, and I didn’t have to replace a single piece of furniture or buy any fancy gadgets.
It’s not a magic solution. But for under $30, it’s one of those simple but effective upgrades that makes you wonder why you didn’t try it sooner — especially if you work from home, live in a small space, or sit more than you probably should. Trust me — your back will thank you.
Buy: BlissTrends Foot Rest, $24.99
by Furnishly | Jan 7, 2026 | Design Inspiration, Style
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independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
It’s only early January, so I’m still hearing a lot of people talk about their fresh starts and resolutions. Even if you’re not one for those kinds of traditions, January tends to be a relatively sleepy month without many large obligations (plus, it’s cold out!). One way to put that downtime to good use is by getting a bit more organized. What better place to start than your desk?
Personally I’ve tried many types of calendars and planners, and I’ve learned that switching up my tactics every so often helps me be more consistent about planning. Having a mix of paper and digital methods also helps. So even though I love my Google Calendar and to-do list app, I’m still on the lookout for analog methods — and these new weekly planner notepads from Dollar Tree look like a great little option.
What Is the Jot Weekly Planner Desk Notepad?
Available at Dollar Tree for just $1.25 apiece, the Jot weekly planner desk notepad is a 7-inch-by-7-inch notepad-style planner. It comes in multiple colorful designs, but no matter which one you choose, each notepad page has little sections for each day of the week plus some additional areas for organizing your thoughts and tasks. One sports a floral design and the phrase “Let’s do this” at the top, and includes sections for the week’s top three priorities and other “goals.” Another more neutral design proclaims “Tomorrow is a new day,” and includes simpler categories: “Notes” and “To Do.”
Even if you’re not usually one for notebooks or planners, this one has such a low price that you might as well give it a shot. Even if you abandon ship in March, at least you can say that you tried something new!
Another Cute Planner to Consider
If you don’t happen to live near a Dollar Tree to secure a notepad, here’s another cute planner you can shop for online right now. U.K.-based brand Good Tuesday sells a range of playfully designed planners on Etsy, including a weekly planner much like the one found at Dollar Tree.
You aren’t going to pay Dollar Tree prices (this particular weekly planner is $4.67), but the design is cute without being distracting or too busy, and the flexible format means each page can be for any week of the year, regardless of what month or day you start. It’s 8.5 inches by 11 inches, so it’s also larger than Dollar Tree’s.
by Furnishly | Sep 24, 2025 | Design Inspiration, Style
I waste so much less now. READ MORE…
by Furnishly | Sep 12, 2025 | Design Inspiration, Style
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independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
For years, I’d spend several hours a day scrolling through social media on my phone — while lying in my bed, watching TV, commuting on the subway, waiting in supermarket lines, and pretty much any other chance I could. This ritual was negatively affecting my mental health, and I’d often experience feelings of jealousy, anxiety, inadequacy, and, most of all, depression. (And once I’d feel depressed, I’d crave a distraction, which created an endless cycle of scrolling.) This isn’t a far-off notion either, as studies have shown there’s a link between doomscrolling and anxiety, stress, and depression.
Because of how negatively this was affecting me, I’d take temporary social media breaks while on vacations (which always felt amazing) to allow me to fully disconnect and enjoy my trip. But about 10 months ago I decided to take a more drastic approach. I deleted my most addictive social media apps — TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly known as Twitter) — from my iPhone entirely. Deleting social media from my phone for almost a year was not without its challenges, but doing so has been such a benefit to my mental health. Here’s how I made it work for me.
How I Deleted Social Media from My Phone for 10 Months
It’s been 10 months without social media on my phone, and I’ve benefited in a number of ways: I feel noticeably less depressed; my sleep has improved because I’m not doomscrolling right before bed; and I have more time to spend on hobbies, reading, and even other phone apps that don’t make me feel so bad.
I’m no expert, but from my experience I learned that the best way to make this work is to be gentle on yourself when you feel the need to check social media (whether on the computer or temporarily downloading an app). I had to access social media for work purposes, and going completely cold turkey and deleting apps permanently felt intimidating (and frankly unsustainable in the long run). Below are five tips that have helped me keep off the apps for almost a year.
I put other just-for-fun apps on my phone to replace social media.
Research shows that spending time on social media releases dopamine (and the levels tend to plunge when you sign off, which is part of what makes opening those apps so appealing), so I knew I wanted to put some apps on my phone that could scratch the itch of playing around on my phone — without the troubling side effects I experience from social media. My favorite alternative apps are as follows:
I always carry a book with me.
It’s now second nature to always throw a book in my bag so I have something to keep me occupied other than my phone when I’m on the subway or in waiting rooms.
I picked up other crafts and hobbies.
I’ve picked up new crafts and hobbies, including sewing, watercolor painting, drawing, and playing chess. When I’m home and have the urge to scroll, I try to reach for one of these activities instead.
I re-download social media apps when needed, and then delete them immediately.
Occasionally, I re-download Instagram and delete it right after I’ve done whatever posting I need to do. This approach has come in handy plenty at work, and a handful of times for personal reasons. A recent example is when Taylor Swift announced her engagement on Instagram — that was a can’t-miss day on the app if I ever saw one!
I still check social media on the computer.
My social media dependency was at its worst when I was on my phone, so I still check it on the computer occasionally. When I open Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or X on my laptop, I usually get bored within a few minutes and close it. The scroll just isn’t as satisfying on desktop as it is on mobile, so whenever I want to peruse social media on my computer I don’t give myself a hard time.
The Benefits of Deleting Social Media from My Phone
Over the past 10 months, I’ve used the time that I used to spend scrolling social media on my phone to do so many other things: read tons of books (and log them on Goodreads), upcycle a few pieces of clothing with my sewing machine, and practice a lot chess. According to my stats on the Chess.com app, I’ve played 1,482 games in the past year, and my ratings (although still meager) have gone up in the three main game categories.
Compared to the many hours I used to spend scrolling through phone apps that left me feeling bad, my screen time has gone way down in the past year (the Peacock app skews the data a bit, because I fall asleep listening to sitcoms from Peacock every night, with my phone face down). Deleting social media from my phone has been great for my sleep, self-esteem, mood, and overall mental health, and I can’t see myself going back to my old routine anytime soon.
If you (or someone you know) are struggling with mental health and need support, visit one of the following websites below or call any of their helplines:
by Furnishly | Aug 30, 2025 | Design Inspiration, Style
We
independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Most parents turn to their child’s pediatrician for almost everything during the school year. And understandably so. That inevitable first sore throat warrants a call to the doctor. Ditto when it comes to that suspicious rash that popped up after recess. And what if it seems like they can’t keep up at the same rate as their peers? The list is nearly endless once the school year begins, but what about before then?
While most of the parent population spends the weeks leading up to the academic year with backpacks, lunches, and school supplies on the brain, pediatricians have a different playbook. And so we asked them how they prepare their own kids for back-to-school season, and learned exactly what the doc ordered:
1. Get back to an earlier bedtime.
As you might have guessed, pediatricians start preparing their kids for the start of school well before the first day. In fact, Katie Lockwood, MD, attending physician with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Primary Care Network, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, and host of the Primary Care Perspectives podcast, transitions her kids from the fun-filled late nights toward an earlier bedtime at least two weeks in advance.
“It takes a while to readjust, and you don’t want to wait until the night before school starts,” the mom of two tells Cubby.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), school-age kids need nine to 12 hours of sleep and teens need eight to 10, so work your way backwards when establishing their school year bedtime. This way, kids will hopefully have an easier time waking up and staying alert during class.
2. Don’t overplan the first two weeks of school.
As for the two weeks after school starts? Well, that’s when Lockwood is thinking about scheduling. Or, rather, a lack thereof.
“No matter how old your child, the first two weeks of school are a big transition,” she says. “I try not to plan anything big after school or on the weekends in the first two weeks to give my kids lots of downtime to relax and acclimate to the new routine.”
Read: Soccer sign-ups and family reunions can be put on pause.
3. Make sure all vaccinations are up to date.
What shouldn’t be put on pause is your child’s regular vaccination schedule (plus a flu shot in the early fall!) and conversations about good hygiene.
“I always remind my kids to wash their hands often because the start of the school year means the sharing of germs,” Lockwood says. She also stocks up on hand sanitizer for her kids to have in case a sink isn’t generally available and to use before lunch.
4. Remind kids to stick to their own lunch boxes.
As for lunchtime, that can be a prime time for germs to make their way around a school. It might seem fun and nice for friends to share their snacks, but parents should remind their kids to stick to their own lunch boxes.
Jennifer Walker, RN, BSN, pediatric nurse, podcast host, and cofounder of Moms on Call, says her kids have a strong understanding that they shouldn’t share food or straws with other people. “So much so that once my sister offered them a lollipop that she had already licked, and they replied, ‘In our house we don’t share food other people have already licked.’”
Most schools should have school lunch information readily available. Be sure to walk your kids through the steps of ordering lunch at school, should they need to, so they don’t have butterflies in their empty tummy.
5. Make sure kids know their address and phone number.
And while you’re in practice mode, keep this tip in mind: Walker says she would also have her sons practice reciting their address and phone number, and she helped them recognize who to ask for help. These are all good things to know in case of an emergency.
But pediatricians aren’t only considering their little learners’ physical health and safety. They are also thinking about their kids’ mental health when preparing for the school year. Tracy Burton, MD, pediatrician and chief medical officer of As You Are, always has open-ended conversations with her child about school and their feelings.
“I tell parents to think of these chats as gentle check-ins instead of a big, one-time conversation,” Burton says. “In the middle of prepping for dinner, you might ask, ‘How are you feeling about school starting?’ Or while running an errand, ask, ‘What are you most looking forward to this year?’”
This isn’t about grilling kids, but about giving light prompts and following their lead. Toward the end of the summer, Burton plans to ask her 10-year-old questions about both their social life and academics.
“Questions like, ‘It’s normal to feel butterflies, do you remember what helped last year?’” she lists. “‘Are there any friends you’re excited to see again? Is there someone you’re unsure about?’ and ‘How do you feel about having a little more homework this year?’”
When in doubt, parents should feel comfortable checking in with their child’s pediatrician and/or educators before and during the school year. And, Walker reminds herself and others that this is a “wonderful” and “exciting” time to allow kids to navigate new freedoms and challenges.
“Challenges are good for kids,” she says. “Just recognize they are strong, adaptable, and resilient, and help them understand that it is OK to ask for help. This communicates that you trust in their decision-making and that you are more interested in what they are capable of than afraid of what they are not.”
This post originally appeared on Cubby. See it here: How Pediatricians Prepare Their Kids for Back-to-School Season
