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My office is a reflection of my personality: very useful and delightfully quirky. Here are some of the things I keep on hand to make my job a little easier and my day a little brighter.
Daily calendar with rip off note pages
I want to look at a new super cute cat or dog every day. I can rip a page off this calendar with said super cute animals to write information to give to the student I’m advising on the back of the page. This type of Happy Notes calendar is wholesome and motivational; and you might buy this travel-themed one for someone as a gift and end up keeping it yourself.
Relaxing scent
I looove when a space smells good. There’s something about it that helps my mind relax and I genuinely feel happier. I love the Febreeze for small spaces with a bamboo scent. I have probably bought a dozen of these over the years. The same with reed diffusers: I can’t get enough of light, flowery, spring scents all year long. These Cocod’or kits are extra nice because they come with flowers so you’ve got a scent and a vase.
Some people are more into essential oil diffusers. I got one for free and tried it, but I didn’t really smell it much. Maybe I did it wrong? If you do get one make sure you get one that changes colors so you can have a relaxing visual along with the calming scent.
Sachets are a little old school (IMO) but can be less intrusive. Some visitors to your office might have sensitive skin and have a reaction to a mist. This Mrs. Meyer’s honeysuckle scent is light and lovely and reminds me of the honeysuckle plant trailing along the fence when I was growing up. You can stick it in your drawer and it shouldn’t bother anyone.
Screaming goat
Who doesn’t have the urge to shout “AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH” at the beginning of a long day…or the middle…or the end…? Let this goat do the screaming for you. Your neighbors will be delighted instead of terrified.
One day I’ll write a post about the famous “goat incident” from a work trip!
Change of outfit and shoes
I used to live in Savannah, Georgia where it felt like wearing a wet wool blanket during the summer due to the humidity. Even without the humidity, if you are a hands-on program coordinator, you’re going to sweat. It’s ideal to have a change of clothes for after the event so you don’t have to sit (and stink) in your sweaty clothes all day. At minimum, I keep:
- A loose, business casual blouse
- A pair of (preferably) loose business casual pants
- A change of undergarments including socks
- A jacket/sweater (because A/C is out of control)
You can see the outfit that I keep in my drawer at all times in the picture above. A black top and black pull on pants. I keep a fuzzy white jacket and neutral flats. Adjust this to whatever suits your taste. Some people may think it’s easier to keep a comfortable dress rather than two separate pieces. Do whatever works for you!
Tip: make sure that you pick pieces with neutral colors and minimal patterns that can be mixed together and mixed with your other daily work clothes so that you still look pulled together. Since these pieces will probably be folded in your desk drawer, look for fabrics that don’t look terrible if they’re wrinkled or creased.
Desk bulletin board
Most of us can’t escape data entry functions in our I/HIED jobs. In the span of eight hours I’ll probably need two codes for Banner, at least one budget string, a handful of colleague’s phone extensions, etc. I don’t like having to open a new digital file for each and every little thing. Instead, I print these charts and put them on my desk bulletin board. if you don’t have a space to hang a bulletin board, this one fits on your desk.
Novelty mints
Are you ever uncomfortably aware of how much garlic or onions you ate during lunch as soon as someone sits down across from you? It never fails that the day I have the worst coffee or onion breath someone will pop in unexpectedly and want to chat. I keep mints on my desk, but not just any mints. Novelty mints brighten up my day and provide a potential conversation starter.
I got these Schrute Farms mints for stocking stuffers. The Office is a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, so most people recognize the name and then we talk about our favorite scenes on the show. Encourage-mints remind you to keep being neighborly, even after a difficult meeting. And of course good old fashioned Altoids always have your back.
Foldable cubes
I use these to store junk that would otherwise clutter my shelves and look messy. Think of all the random desk supplies, folders, manuals, and excess mailing envelopes lying on your desk, your shelves, your table, whathaveyou. Now think of how tidy things will be if you push all of that junk into four foldable cubes and set them on your shelf in a row.
These are the type of simple cubes I like; the ones in my office in the picture are from Staples. If you’re going for a more elevated look in your office, check these out. You can do something similar with these storage totes if you need something sturdier.
Do you use any of these? Let me know about any cute things you’ve got in and around your desk.
Thanks for stopping by,
Sara