Two Tools for Comfy Writing
By Kim Brittingham

Thought you might like to know about two tools that are helping me write more, because they're making me more comfortable when I do.

The BedLounge

I've owned a few back rest pillows in my time.  But inevitably I ended up throwing them out, every single one.   They seemed comfy in theory, but practically speaking, they were useless.

I recently discovered a nifty product by Cequal called The BedLounge and I absolutely love it.  It's a cut above the ordinary back rest pillow – the next generation, if you will.

I've used my BedLounge to write in bed, but more often lately, I've been propping it on the chaise extension of my sofa, because it provides better support than my sofa cushions.

Traditional back rests of this type are lumpy and limited.  Most of the time, they're little more than sculpted pillows, without much thought for how their design realistically interacts with the human body.  If the pillow is inflexible, you could end up shoving extra pillows behind your lower back and neck to get optimally comfortable.  And with all the extra padding you have to provide, what's the point in having the back rest in the first place?  Might as well just prop yourself against your own bed pillows.  At least you can manipulate them more easily than you can a bulky stationary back rest.

Besides, a crappy back rest can actually cause discomfort instead of relieving it.

And how 'bout those stuffed arm rests?  Most of the time they're too short to really be of much use.  And if they don't move, what if the space between them isn't wide enough to accommodate you?

I'm a fan of the BedLounge because there's actually some thought behind it.  For starters, its arm rests are the right length, height and shape to provide real support to your arms, especially when your elbows are slightly bent in the typing position.

And the arm rests move!  Yes!  They pivot outward to make way for butts of all sizes – even mine!  It's convenient, plus it eliminates any feeling of being "caged" into your back rest.

Each arm rest also has a roomy pocket along its entire length for tucking pens, notes, etc.

The BedLounge also has a heavenly lower back support feature that I've never seen in any other back rest.  A small pillow is tucked inside the BedLounge, in just the right position to aid your lower back.  And ingeniously, BedLounge gives you access to that pillow through two slots in the back rest's cover, so you can reach in and mold the pillow to suit you – move it around, plump it up, squish it.  Or, if you prefer, pluck it out completely.

Probably my favorite feature of the BedLounge is the head rest.  A perfectly-shaped cushion adjusts and follows your head horizontally and vertically to support your head in any position as you work.  It can be raised or lowered, or removed.

The BedLounge is very light (just six pounds) but super-sturdy.  Its interior structure is made of a strong-but-featherweight, nearly indestructible polypropylene -- designed to survive when you throw the BedLounge against the wall in frustration when writer's block strikes.

And when you need to put the laptop aside and just let the ideas percolate (read: nap), the BedLounge reclines.

The BedLounge also folds up for easy storage. (Two sets of fabric ties allow you to secure the arms in a compact, self-hugging position.)

The BedLounge's slip cover is removable and machine washable, and a variety of colors and fabrics are available to suit your aesthetic.  A hypoallergenic version is available as well as a smaller version for folks under 5'3".

The classic BedLounge sells for $117.99 at www.bedlounge.com.

The Allsop Heat Therapy Mouse Pad

I'm a mouse person.  Whenever possible, I try to work with one.  I don't like sliding my finger around on a slick square of hard plastic to manipulate my cursor.  It feels…unnatural.

Unfortunately, when I've been writing for a long stretch, I tend to feel sore in my "mouse wrist".

The Allsop Heat Therapy Mouse Pad has saved my life – or at least my right wrist.  Its comfy, rubbery-bubble wrist support has a zipper opening, and inside is a gel pack that provides cushioning and – here's the magic – therapeutic heat or soothing coolness!

The gel pack is removable and can be microwaved or frozen, then zipped back inside the wrist rest to provide heat (to increase circulation and relieve tension) or cold (to decrease swelling and reduce blood flow).  I like that the Allsop Heat Therapy Mouse Pad comes with two gel packs, because I'm able to keep one in the freezer at-the-ready, and the other stays in my wrist rest to provide steady support until I feel compelled to heat it.  The heat and coolness are conveyed gently through the latex-free wrist rest, and the temperature tapers gradually as the gel insert cools or thaws.

The Allsop Heat Therapy Mouse Pad sells for $19.99. Visit www.allsop.com.

Happy(ier) Writing!