For a significant minority, the constant buzz of electronics creates measurable cognitive interference: difficulty concentrating for more than 20 minutes, afternoon headaches, a vague 'wired but tired' feeling. Even for non-sensitive people, the visual presence of blinking LEDs and tangled cables creates low-grade visual stress that reduces focus by 5-15%.
Your Wi-Fi router is the single strongest EMF source in any home office. Moving it from 1 foot away to 3 feet reduces exposure by roughly 90%. If you can't move it, add a thick bookshelf filled with books between you and the router — the mass significantly buffers the field.
The area within 18 inches of your keyboard should contain only: input devices, a drink, and one plant. No phone, no charging cable, no power strip, no hard drive. The plant serves a dual function: plants are 70% water, and water absorbs electromagnetic energy.
A tangled nest of cables creates intersecting electromagnetic fields. Bundle cables together with velcro ties, keep power separated from data by at least 6 inches, and unplug anything not in use. Even 'off' devices with wall warts continue drawing power and radiating.
If you need your phone on your desk, keep it upright in a wooden phone stand. Wood has a dampening effect on electromagnetic radiation — it absorbs and neutralizes rather than reflecting like metal or plastic.