Desk Tour: Leslie Stephens
BRB buying some cashews.
Welcome to Desk Tour, a series where I interview creative folks about their desks and workspaces. In case you missed it: Hitha Palepu’s from last time. You can also browse the entire catalog of Desk Tours.
If you know me, then you know I am a huge fan of
and her newsletter Morning Person. Each time a letter from Morning Person lands in my inbox, it feels like a little part of me relaxes almost instantly. I never read Leslie’s posts without feeling inspired, connected, or challenged (in the best of ways). It was because of Leslie’s open dialogue about her relationship with social media (we had her on Bad on Paper to chat about this, too!) that I finally found social media habits and boundaries that work for me. These changes have radically changed my life for the better, and I am so grateful.Leslie is also a talented author (buy her gorgeous book here) and MA student in addictions counseling, so needless to say she is very busy. Still, her writing and advice always evoke a sense of slowness, warmth, and intentionality. These are all things I am trying to prioritize in my own life. Naturally, I am thrilled to have Leslie on DESK TOUR today. Here’s a peek inside her space.
OM: Describe your workspace.
LS: I bought a house in Portland, Oregon at the end of last year, a decision that alternatively feels like the best and most naive thing I’ve ever done (I really did not understand how many daily responsibilities I would have, but I also love having a nest of my own). One of the first things I did was create a proper work station, in the spare bedroom that now holds my desk and beloved Peloton treadmill.
In addition to creating a parasocial relationship with Jess Sims over COVID, I also developed tennis elbow and lower back problems while finishing my novel, You’re Safe Here, at my dining table, so I’m alllll about a dedicated, ergonomic setup. I have a standing desk from Branch as well as a topo mat that I use while standing, and a Varier kneeling desk chair (arguably the best purchase of my life?). I alternate between standing and sitting roughly every hour, which I swear jumpstarts creativity and workflow with a mini change of scenery.
OM: What are your three favorite items on your desk right now?
LS: In an ideal world, I keep my desk fairly sparse and only have a few must-haves:
An analog timer. I set timers for most tasks, but especially for tasks that can go on forever, like responding to emails.
iMac Desktop. I bought my desktop a few years ago, to replace my laptop and monitor combination. I love how sleek it looks, and God bless Apple for creating such a seamless transition between desktop and laptop. I can spend the morning working on a project on my desktop, then open my laptop (I have a 13-inch Air I use at coffee shops) and have it keep going seamlessly thanks to the cloud.
Crystals from my mom. My mom occasionally sends me crystals that are meant to encourage creativity. Since moving to Portland, I have gotten into every woo thing under the sun, but have yet to fully embrace crystals. Still, I love the reminders.
In reality, my desk is often cluttered with books I’m reviewing or writing about, magazine clippings, and to-dos. I also have The Describers Dictionary, which I bought after Grace Atwood recommended it in her desk tour! (Thank you, Grace!!)
In reality, my desk is often cluttered with books I’m reviewing or writing about, magazine clippings, and to-dos.
OM: Is there anything you absolutely HAVE to have at your desk/workspace or you can't be productive?
LS: Raw cashews. I’m joking, but I’m not?? They evoke an almost Pavlovian response, to the extent that anytime I’m about to dive deep into a big writing project, I grab my beverage of choice—I am constantly surrounded by a halo of either bulletproof coffee or matcha in the morning, a lemon Spindrift seltzer, LMNT electrolytes, and an enormous water bottle—plus a handful of raw cashews. I’m like a squirrel with them, I’ll eat a few then tuck the rest into my desk drawer, or even a pocket, which earned the moniker “pocket cashews” among my grad school classmates, who are familiar with (and accepting of) my squirrelier tendencies. (Why am I admitting this publicly?)
OM: Is there anything you'd change about your workspace? If so, what?
LS: More changes of scenery. Winter in Portland is dark and difficult, especially living and working alone. I currently have a SAD lamp on its way to my home, but I also purchased a three-month coworking membership and am making a real effort to drag myself out of my cozy cave a few days a week so I can clickity clack on my laptop alongside other humans.
OM: Describe your ideal work day at your desk.
LS: Ideally, I saddle up at my desk around 9:30 with my bevvies and cashews in tow. I’m wearing actual pants and slept the night before (reality check: never happens), so I eagerly begin with my most difficult task first (you taught me to “eat the damn frog!”). I finish this up by 11:30, and have half an hour to catch up on Substacks and emails before my stomach or dog starts grumbling around lunchtime. I take a long walk and lunch break, then return to my desk for tasks that take less brainpower, like researching potential recommendations for Morning Person, creating graphics for posts while listening to a podcast, or responding to emails! Also, to be clear, this is the ideal—the reality is often a bit more disorganized, and off the cuff!
OM: Where can people find you on the internet?
LS: This is the biggest one: morningpersonnewsletter.com. Novel. Instagram.
Note from Olivia: I love that Leslie (like Catherine) shared both the tidy version of their desks followed by the messy, more realistic versions. This is what real life is, after all, isn’t it? As I write this, I am surrounded by a dozen different notebooks, and there is something comforting in knowing that even the people I consider most organized and disciplined (AKA Leslie!) embrace a little mess every now and then, too.
Be sure to check out all the past editions of Desk Tour!
PS: One last thing before I go… you can order my first novel NOW! If you’ve already read and enjoyed, I would be honored if you would leave a kind review or rating on Goodreads or Amazon. It makes a world of difference. I appreciate your consideration, time, and support immensely.
A portion of November’s subscriber proceeds will go toward the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is currently working to build, enforce, protect and defend legal protections for reproductive rights around the world.