Office supplies, furniture, and desk essentials can increase productivity in your workspace. Additionally, these items can enhance your office’s comfort and make your working day more pleasant. If you’re a veteran of an office setting (at home or in an actual office) you are probably aware of any number of key desk essentials. However, there are also a number of items that might not always come to mind immediately that can be a big help.
Let’s take a look at a few often-overlooked office desk essentials to add to your work environment.
Notebook
Wait a minute. A paper notebook? That seems pretty old-school for today’s digital age. We’re all used to using our laptops or desktop computers (let alone our mobile phones) for taking notes, so what purpose does a notebook really have anymore?
The simple fact is that sometimes there is nothing easier than jotting down a quick note on a piece of paper. If you’re on a call and need to take down a quick bit of info, it may not be convenient to use your phone or laptop and some notes that don’t need to be kept longer than a short time don’t really need to end up on an electronic device.
When your digital device is either in use, running low on battery life, or you simply want to turn it off completely and be by yourself with your thoughts, a notebook is essential. Additionally, they come in handy when opening an app would take longer than simply writing a note on paper and you need to write something quickly.
There is always a place for a basic notepad or notebook on just about any desk. The format is really up to you. You can buy a legal pad if you want to take slightly longer notes or a pad of small sticky notes for quick scribbles. You might like something more formal, like a bound notebook where you can write down thoughts or other things you want to keep around for a longer period of time and refer bak to.
Table or Desk Lamp
Last time I checked, most people (in the U.S. anyway) aren’t working in dark offices with candles or oil lamps like in the Victorian era like A Christmas Carol. The modern office strives to offer sufficient lighting so that workers can perform their duties. So, we’re not typically trying to read by candlelight.
However, many offices are lit by fairly basic fluorescent lights. While many are replaced by more energy-efficient and higher-quality LED versions, I can still remember working in offices with older fluorescent bulbs that buzzed or flickered. Not exactly conducive to work of any type.
Still, even if you office has upgraded lighting, if you spend time reading smaller type on printed material on your desk, it may not give you the best environment to work. This might lead to tired eyes, headaches, etc.
Fortunately, a solution is as simple as a basic desk or table lamp on your desk. This gives you the option to put in whatever type of bulb is best suited for your work and your eyes. Need a bright daylight option? There are bulbs for you. Want something warmer? Not a problem.
Add in the ability to make your lamp a little stylish, if that’s your jam, and you get not only a super-useful desk item, but also one that can add a little character to your workspace.
Hand shredder
OK, this one is a bit more obscure and may not be a big need for everyone, but it is still a pretty cool item to add to your desk inventory. If you create paper waste at your desk and that waste has any information on it that you might want to make unreadable (like account numbers or any personal info about you, your customers, etc.) than a paper shredder is a great option.
But, many paper shredders are a bit large, fit over a waste bin and take up a bit more room than a lot of folks have on or near their desks. Say hello to the hand shredder. These portable devices perform all the same tasks as a full-sized paper shredder for smaller items. You probably don’t want to try to shred a stack of papers all at once, but if you just have occasional items to shred, this might be your ticket.
They are also pretty cool little conversation starters when a colleague notices one on your desk.
