Anyone who works from home consistently has one of two things on their desk—a laptop and a pen. That’s all. Working from home for the past couple of years, I’ve found that having these things on my desk helps me get my work done comfortably and efficiently. Here are the top eight things that everyone should have on their desk:
Storage organizers
Any desk needs to be well-organized. If everything on your desk doesn’t have a place, it will start to look cluttered and messy.
Sort all of these items by type so that when you need something specific, it’s easy to find.
There are many ways to arrange the things on your desk so they look neat and you can get to them quickly and easily when you need to. Some people like to use drawers or cabinets, while others prefer trays and bins. A cable organizer is also a great way to keep cables from getting tangled or rolling around on the floor behind your computer monitor.
Desk lamp
The desk lamp is a must-have for anyone who spends a lot of time at night hunched over their laptop or tablet. It’s a simple tool, but it can make the difference between being able to see what you’re doing and having to squint at your phone screen and strain your eyes to read the small print.
Most lamps have an on/off switch and an adjustable neck so you don’t have to get up from your chair every time you want to turn off the light. Look for lamps with dimmers in case you want a little more atmosphere when you work at night, or if the light from your screen is too bright.
Plants
Have you ever wondered why some office desks have plants? The answer is simple: plants boost your mood, help you concentrate, and make the air better. They can also help you feel less stressed and make your workplace more comfortable and inviting.
Planner book, calendar or diary and whiteboard
A planner is a useful tool for making plans for the next day. It helps you plan your time well so you can get everything done on time and still have time for other things that are important to you.
Since it’s always better to plan ahead, a planner lets you write down your daily tasks ahead of time so you have them when you need them. This makes sure you don’t forget something you could have done if you remembered it sooner.
Mood board and/or inspirational quotes
Keep your creative juices flowing with mood boards. You can make them as simple, crazy, or colorful as you want. They serve as an inspiration board that helps you decide how the rest of your office should look.
To make one, find pictures in magazines and online that inspire you or show the style of your latest project. You should try to find pictures that make people feel happy or creative. Next, put them on a piece of poster board or cardboard with tape or glue. Lastly, cut out inspiring quotes from magazines or write your own and add those as well. You can cut pictures into squares like Instagram does, or you can just print out some straight lines to make everything look nice and neat.
Water bottle or Tumbler
There are many reasons to keep a water bottle or tumbler on your desk. You can drink water to stay hydrated or to help your brain work better. Water keeps your body from drying out, which helps you stay alert and focused. It also keeps your skin healthy and bright. Also, drinking enough fluids throughout the day helps keep your bones strong and stable and lowers your blood pressure.
Small trash can
You need to have a little trash can on your desk. You don’t want to throw away things in the middle of the workday, and you definitely don’t want to leave them on your desk. Pick up that gum wrapper or piece of scratch paper right away and throw it away properly.
Sanitizer
A bottle of hand sanitizer is a must-have for any desk. It keeps your hands clean, which means it also keeps the rest of your desk clean. Also, it will keep all of your gadgets clean, which is especially important if you work with anything remotely electronic.
And there you have it – the top 8 things you should have on your desk! If there’s anything else you think is missing, feel free to let me know in the comments below!
What’s next? Learn more about how to organize your workspace.
