DESK/OFFICE MUST-HAVES

Our desk is our home away from home. We eat, drink, create, communicate and, sometimes, sleep at our desks. So if we spend so much time there, why don't we make them a little more comfortable? Why do we allow our desk to feel like a trip to the desert; a place where we must simply survive but not enjoy. Here are some suggestions to make your office a place you WANT to be.

1. Adjust your monitor. You should not have to tilt your head down to look at your monitor. If your eyes don't fall mid-monitor you are either too high or too low.





2. Choose a comfortable chair. Some are pretty to look at. Some aren't. Whatever your pleasure, make sure you don't mind spending hours in the chair you choose. Read this article.









3. Select good speakers. Music can soothe, inspire, excite and motivate you. Don't fight to hear the music through the static.













4. Keep a cute sweater on hand at all times. Summer time in an office is notorious for being a meat locker. Managing your body temperature is very important. I suggest this one from anthropologie.













5. In the winter, when the heat is turned up too high, it might be a good idea to keep a stylish fan within arm's length.








6. Your breath can be like the 600 pound elephant in the room. Especially after lunch. Keep a stash of gum along with a toothbrush, dental floss, toothpaste and mouthwash in your drawer. Your colleagues will apppreciate this! Time saving tip: Who has 30 minutes at night to dedicate to tooth whitening? If you don't expect a lot of phone calls in the afternoon, apply your Crest Whitestrips for 30 minutes while you edit a document.













7. If you drink enough water, you will be making plenty of trips to the bathroom. Which means you'll be washing your hands often and drying out your skin. Keep a luscious hand creme handy. I suggest this one. It smells heavenly. I carry it in my purse all the time. Get it at Anthropology.













8. Organization. This is key to a happy and inviting desk. Select pretty containers for your loose items (spare change, push pins, paper clips, pens/pencils, etc.) I suggest these from {seejanework.com}.













9. I think a desk looks more organized and pretty if it is streamlined. Rather then use every color of the rainbow when filing your documents/projects, pick just one color and label the folders with attractive labels. I should take my own advice here. Another fun idea from {seejanework.com}, although the folders are a bit too colorful for my taste. I'd choose all white, pink or brown.













10. If you use cute pens, people are less likely to steal them. I know this goes against your intuition. Usually if something is cute it's more likely to go missing. But in this case, if you carry a distinctive and cute pen, everyone will know if Alex the Sales VP is seen walking around with it. Hands off Alex!












10. Plan for the weather. You never know when mother earth will remind you who is in charge. Come rain or shine, it's nice to know you are prepared. Keep a feminine umbrella handy, and maybe some wellies if you live with much seasonal rain. Look for fun shapes and colors (i like green today).




















11. Be a girl. If you are a girl, embrace it at the office. No one wants to look at hang-nails and chapped lips in a meeting. I like to keep a healthy stash of lip balms (some color some not), nail files/buffers, Na-PCA face mist, and perfume close by. My new obsession is the wet-n-wild juicy balm in cherry. It tints your lips ever so slightly red and keepys them velvety smooth.










12. A well oiled machine works best. Keep healthy snacks in your snack drawer so a late night or skipped lunch won't cause your blood sugar level to drop. A few suggestions? Fruits and veggies, peanut butter (a spoonful goes a long way), light microwave popcorn, almonds, dried fruit, dark dark chocolate (a little bit is good for you), and gold fish crackers. I know the crackers aren't too healthy, but if you are working late, you deserve a guilty pleasure!












13. Drink Water! It's best to keep an attractive glass at your desk (clean it often) to encourage you to drink, drink, drink water. It will give you more energy as you sit at your desk and stare into your properly adjusted monitor.












14. Since you can't use calgon to take you away from a particularly frustrating day, keep inspiring art and photos around to remind you that life is full of happiness and people who love you. Post your art with attractive push pins like these cute flowers.












15. Keep good records. It's important to keep organized and know where to find things. It's also important to keep a good calendar. Staying organized is one of the more difficult things to achieve, but one of the most admirable. Try accessories like these to help you achieve the impossible.