Jan 282015
You no doubt have enough basic office supplies, like rubber bands, staples, and paper clips, but think about how much time you spend in your office – it’s usually a minimum of eight hours a day! Doesn’t it make sense that you should have a few other things stashed away, just in case of an emergency? Why not dedicate a drawer to other things that could make your life easier at work?
- Food
If you have to work late, or you forget to bring lunch, a little stash of munchables can make life a lot easier. If no one in your office has allergies, bring some peanut butter and a box of crackers. Microwavable soup, or dry soup mix, can also make a nice snack when the going gets tough and you don’t have time for a proper meal. A few juice boxes can give you a sugar boost when you need one, and cookies are always comforting. Of course, you can always toss an apple or an orange in your drawer as well – just don’t let it get shoved to the back and forgotten! Also, if your office has any issues with insects or rodents (more common than you might think), make sure that you keep any food items inside a sealed container or a glass jar to prevent messes and contamination. - Safety Pins
You can fix almost any clothing emergency with a safety pin until you’re able to get home and do a better job. - Small Lint Roller
This is great for quick touch-ups to clothing if you’re heading into a meeting. - Antiperspirant
If the air conditioning should happen to go out on a hot day, you might be glad of a little boost to your original morning application. You can also apply a little extra if that meeting you used the lint roller for is likely to make you nervous! - Tampons or Maxi-Pads
This is something you don’t want to run out of. And you know that you can’t count on the vending machine in the washroom to be stocked or in working order. - Eye Drops
Office air is frequently dry. Combine that with the time you spend in front of a computer screen, and it’s not surprising if your eyes end up red and irritated. Saline eye drops can help to ease the discomfort. - Band-Aids
Two words – paper cut. - Grooming Essentials
There will be times you’d like to do a bit of a touch-up, and if you put a small case containing lipstick, concealer, and maybe a few other items in your drawer, you won’t have to bring your makeup kit from home every day. Add a toothbrush and toothpaste, and some moist towelettes, and you’ll be all set. - Breath Mints
These are useful for when you don’t have time to brush your teeth. You could also offer one to a co-worker whose breath is less than pleasing. - Computer Backup
Think about this – where do you keep the files you’ve backed up off your home computer? At home, right? That’s exactly the worst place you could keep them. If, heaven forbid, you should have a fire at your house while you’re at work, you could lose everything that’s on your computer – your tax information, your photos, that novel you were working on in your spare time… make an extra backup onto a thumb drive and put it in your drawer at work. - Spare Keys
Of course, you should leave a set with your neighbor, but it’s also a good idea to have a spare set of house keys at work, just in case.
What’s in your desk?
President at Office Chairs Unlimited – I have been in the furniture industry for over 20 years, and I’m an expert (just ask me) on all things furniture. I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two.
