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midlife mom goes back to school: my real study setup
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items the actual study setup i use as a midlife mom back in school. i'm all apple, so my ipad works as a second screen right next to my macbook. plus the apps i lean on: goodnotes for handwritten notes, gemini notebooks, claude for degree planning and chat...
my study headphones. over-ear, lightweight and foldable, and jbl lists up to 76 hours of battery. no noise cancelling on this model, just a closed over-ear fit
JBL Tune 720BT Wireless Over-Ear Headphones
the ipad is the center of my study setup: my goodnotes notes live here, and it doubles as a second screen for my macbook. this is the current 11" ipad air at target. the screen protector, keyboard case and pencil on this list all fit the 11" air, so ...
Apple 11-inch iPad Air (M4) Wi-Fi 256GB - Space Gray
my main school computer. because my ipad and macbook are both apple, the ipad can sit beside it as a second screen (see sidecar further down this list)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4)
my paper-feel cover for handwriting notes. it adds a matte, papery drag so the pencil doesn't slide around on glass. it's magnetic, so it clicks off when you want the clear screen back for videos or photos. this one is sized for the 11" ipad air (m2,...
ESR Paper-Feel Magnetic Screen Protector iPad Air 11
the keyboard case on my ipad. it has a trackpad and the case rotates, so the ipad can go from typing mode to portrait for reading or handwriting without taking the case off. fits the 11" ipad air and 11" ipad pro, check your generation on the listing
typecase Touch Keyboard Case iPad Air/Pro 11
the pencil i write my goodnotes notes with. it's not the apple pencil, it's a lower-cost alternative with palm rejection so my hand can rest on the screen, and it attaches magnetically to the side of the ipad. it doesn't have pressure sensitivity lik...
Metapen A8 Stylus Pen for iPad, Magnetic
my study mouse. slim, light and easy to toss in a bag with the laptop. heads up: it connects with a usb receiver, and the macbook air only has usb-c ports, so you'll need a small usb-c adapter to use it with a newer mac
VssoPlor Wireless 2.4G Slim Mouse Black
goodnotes is my go-to for writing notes on my ipad. handwritten notes with a pencil that stay searchable, and you can sort notebooks by course. free to start, with a paid plan for more notebooks
Goodnotes
gemini notebook is one of the ai tools in my study stack, alongside claude and chatgpt. it's google's assistant, free to start with a google account, with paid plans if you want more
Google Gemini (Notebooks)
claude is what i use for degree planning. free to start, with paid plans for heavier use
Claude
chatgpt is my pick for visual creations and study tools. free to start, with paid plans for more
ChatGPT
having all apple products means my ipad can act as a second screen beside my macbook. sidecar is built into macos and ipados, so there's nothing extra to buy. apple's guide explains which models support it and how to turn it on
Sidecar: Use Your iPad as a Second Mac Screen (free, built in)
study extra: the small fix for the mouse on this list. newer macbooks only have usb-c ports, and this lets a regular usb receiver or flash drive plug in
Apple USB-C to USB Adapter - 6.1in
study extra: a folding laptop stand lifts the screen closer to eye level, which helps with neck strain during long study sessions, and it lines the macbook up better next to an ipad second screen. folds flat for a bag. pair it with the mouse since th...
Vivitar Aluminum Laptop Stand - Green
study extra: if you use your ipad as a second screen, a stand holds it upright beside the laptop. this one adjusts, rotates and folds down to travel size. check the listing's size range against your ipad and case
Vena Adjustable Aluminum iPad Stand, Black
study extra: for late-night reading, a dimmable lamp is easier on the eyes than a harsh overhead light. this one has 4 color modes, from cool to warm, and usb ports to charge an ipad or phone at the desk. nice for light-sensitive brains
Dimmable LED Desk Lamp with 4 Color Modes + USB Charging
study extra: the bigger version of the adapter. one usb-c plug gives the macbook usb-a, hdmi and sd card slots, handy if you plug into a monitor or projector for presentations. pick this or the small adapter, you don't need both
Anker 7-in-1 USB-C Hub (HDMI, USB-A, SD Card)
study extra: a soft memory foam wrist rest for the keyboard plus a matching one for the mouse, so wrists aren't pressing on a hard desk edge during long typing sessions. the squishy cloud shape is a nice texture if you like something soft under your ...
3-in-1 Cloud Wrist Rest Set for Keyboard and Mouse, Black
study extra: a desk mat covers the table so the laptop, mouse and ipad have one smooth, non-slip surface, and it protects a kitchen or dining table you're borrowing for study time. it rolls up to put away when the table goes back to being a table
Non-Slip Rollup Desk Mat Beige/Tan - Brightroom™
study extra: a visual timer shows time as a shrinking colored disk, so you can see how much of a study block is left without checking a clock. helpful for time blindness (having a hard time sensing how much time has passed) and for short focus sprint...
Time Timer MOD Home 60 Minute Visual Timer, Metallic Series
study extra: for reading or writing in a noisy house. loop quiet earplugs are soft silicone and made to block out more sound than the loop models built for concerts, so background noise drops without you having to wear headphones
Loop Quiet™ 2 Earplugs for Focus Travel and Sleep - Black
skylight is the calendar i use. it's a touchscreen calendar that syncs with google, apple and outlook calendars, so the whole schedule is in one place you can see at a glance. some features, like meal planning, need the paid skylight plus plan
Skylight 15" Touchscreen Digital Calendar
study extra: for paper readings and printouts. mildliners are soft, muted colors instead of neon, which is easier on the eyes when a page is covered in highlights. each one has a chisel tip and a fine tip, so you can color-code by topic and still und...
Zebra Mildliner Double Ended Highlighters, 10ct
study extra: skinny page markers for flagging textbook pages you'll need again, like definitions, exam topics or quotes for a paper. 10 pads in different colors, so each color can mean something. you can write on them and they peel off without tearin...
Post-it 10pk 1/2"x2" Page Markers Assorted Bright Colors
study extra: hyperfocus makes it easy to forget to drink anything for hours. the time markers down the side are a visual nudge, so one glance tells you if you're behind. it has a straw lid and a carry strap, and comes in lots of colors
Enerbone 32oz Water Bottle with Time Markers & Straw
study extra: a soft throw to wrap around your shoulders or lap when sitting still at a desk makes you cold. chenille knit on one side and fuzzy faux shearling on the other, so you can pick the texture that feels right. check the listing for colors, t...
Threshold Chenille Knit Throw Blanket with Faux Shearling Reverse