Essential Office Supplies

There are things that everyone should stock in their desk or work area.  I know some people have shared office or desk space that is used by other people.  In those cases, pick and choose what is absolutely essential for you and stock mini versions of those items in a bag that you bring to work with you.

Here is an essential list of things that everyone should have at their desk:

• Tissues
• Hand sanitizer
• Bandages (you'd be surprised how many offices do not keep first aid kits at all or don't keep them stocked).
• Lotion
• Charger (preferably USB) for cell phone or other frequently used device (music player)
• Lip balm
• Nail clippers
• Small mirror (to make sure your lunch isn't still in your teeth)
• Floss (in case your lunch is in your teeth)
• Medications (pain medicine, gas reliever, anti-diarrhea medicine, antihistamine, and any other medications you might need)
• Detergent stick (for when you accidentally get a spot of lunch on your shirt)
• If you wear contacts - extra contact case and contact solution
• If you wear glasses - a microfiber cloth and small bottle of eyeglass cleaner)
• Very small collapsible umbrella (I have one that is 7.5" long, which is perfect to fit in a desk drawer or bag.  Once fully open, it's the size of a normal one-person umbrella.)
• Toiletries - Everyone is different, but you know what personal (think bathroom) items you need to have with you.  Just be sure to have a few in stock at your workspace and don't forget to replenish them when you run out!

These next items are optional but totally make your day better:

• Coathanger (if you have a place in your workspace to hang your jacket or coat)
• Favorite pictures to keep you company (be sure it's nothing embarrassing)
• Calendar (I find the daily calendars with a picture or cartoon a day to be great) 
• Ready-to-make drinks (i.e. flavored water enhancers, flavored tea bags, instant flavored coffee mixes, etc.)
• Pick-me-up snacks (the things that make you feel better when you're having a rotten day - a couple of bite-size pieces of chocolate, maybe?)
• Fan (if you find your workspace tends to be too hot)
• Heater (if you find your workspace tends to be too cold)
• Sweater (same as above)
• Lumbar support for a desk chair 

If you have access to a sink with dishsoap, these aren't bad to have either:

• Mug / drinkware (if you opt for plastic, be sure to get BPA-free)
• Real fork, spoon and butterknife (not that cheap plastic junk from the breakroom)

What other things do you keep at work to make your day better?

Make Your Commute Better - What Are You Listening To?

Unless you are lucky enough to work from home, you have to commute to work.  Whether you are driving there or are taking public transit, what are you doing during your commute?  Listening to another inane morning radio show?  Tuning in to the album you've listened to 1,000 times?  Why not change it up?  Here are some things to try:

• Podcasts - I've only recently (as in the past 3 years) started listening to podcasts during my commute.  These are AWESOME.  There are so many different podcasts on so many different topics, you are bound to find something interesting.  All you need is the Podcasts app on your mobile device, and you have instant access to thousands of podcasts.  An easy way to find podcasts is to look at the most popular ones, or you can search for a broad subject (like "comedy" or "business") to look for particular topics that interest you.
• I enjoy listening to comedy podcasts on my commute.  Try searching for your favorite comedian's name and there is a good chance you will find they have their own podcast, or you could find that they were interviewed on a podcast.  You might even find a comedy bit that they did.
• If you haven't looked for a new podcast in a while, go look now.  New podcasts are popping up all of the time.  In fact, I just looked at the top comedy podcasts and found that one of my favorite comedic actresses started a podcast in the past 3 months.
• You could try searching for your town name.  You could be surprised - maybe there is a podcast on things to do in your area.

• Audiobooks - If you have a never-ending reading list, try checking out one of those books as an audiobook.  Check your local library to see what audiobooks are available.  Some libraries offer streaming services where you can download audiobooks instantly for free (my library offers several services for downloading).  There are also online services where you can sign up for a fee.

• New tunes - Want to broaden your music collection?  Go to your library's website and browse music they have available.  Again, your library may have music streaming available.  Most likely, you will be able to check out CDs that you can listen to on your commute.  Do a search on a favorite band; you might discover an album you didn't know about or a collaboration with another group that you haven't heard yet.

Whatever you choose to listen to, your commute will be so much better when you find something interesting or fun to enjoy.

Take a Hike!

One thing ALL of us can benefit from is getting away from our desks.  Whether we've been driven away by our next-door neighbor's incessant phone gossip or the break room smells are too much to handle, a bit of exercise does everyone some good.  I have taken walks many times to escape the insanity or boredom of a workday.  Here are some tips on making a walking break a routine part of your work day.

• Try to walk for at least 30 minutes.  You can use your watch or cell phone to see when you've walked 15 minutes and then make your way back to your desk.
• Try to take your walk break the same time each day, when it makes sense for you.  If you can't function without 2 cups of coffee, then don't try to schedule your walk at 10am when you've only had one cup.  Likewise, don't try to schedule your walk at 11:30am if you know you start getting hungry then.
• A very important tip is to try to schedule your walk when you are less likely to be missed.  Around lunchtime is a great option (so anywhere from 11am - 1:30pm).  If you don't want to lose any time around lunch, you could try mid-afternoon or mid-morning.  But, come on, how many times a day can you check your personal email or check just to see if your favorite blog has a new post up?  Take a walk!
• Find the best route for your walk.  It's probably not the healthiest to walk down the sidewalk beside a congested street where you'll be inhaling exhaust during your entire walk.  Also walk somewhere that you feel is safe (i.e. don't go for a walk in the neighborhood behind your building if you've seen police cars there regularly).  Try to find a quiet area with sidewalks that you can meander down.  If today's walk didn't go down the greatest route, try a different route tomorrow.
• Alternatively, if the weather is bad you could find a walking route indoors.  Does your employer have a giant (but quiet) warehouse?  Walk around those areas to at least get some exercise in.  Are you on the seventh floor of your building?  Walk down the stairs and take the elevator back up (or walk up if you're feeling great).
• Do your best to take a walk at least once a day, but if you don't then that's ok.  If you have crazy deadlines one day, you can try to fit in a shorter break.  You could also break from your regular time and go for a walk if the work slows down (i.e. when you start a program process that you know will take at least 30 minutes). 

Be sure to take your cell phone with you in case someone at work does need to get in touch with you or just in case you get lost yourself and need to call for directions.  If you're going to walk outside, be sure to take sunglasses and a jacket or coat if needed.

You gotta do what you gotta do....

Don't we all have dreams of breaking out of our 9-to-5's and doing something so much more exciting than accounting or statistics or customer support or whatever it is that is boring you to death right now?  Don't we all just HATE our cubicles and would fight a co-worker to the death to get into an office?  And heaven forbid if your company has those "open workspaces" or whatever it is they're trying to call them now.  Well, until you can break free, you have this blog to keep you company.

Some of us are just destined, unfortunately, to work years (perhaps even decades) of our lives in these situations.  Either it's the nature of our jobs or it's just what we have to deal with.  Personally, I have worked in a cubicle for 14 years.  The past two years I have been fortunate enough to be in an office (everyone who I work with also has an office), but that has it's own set of challenges.

That is where this blog comes in.  Let's all commiserate together over how much work life sucks and how to make it better.  Who's with me?