Going to work and running into a minor wardrobe emergency just before a big presentation is the stuff of nightmares, so why not prepare yourself ahead of time?
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Here are some things you should always keep stocked in your desk just in case:
Consider them work desk essentials!
Spare Outfit
If you have the space to spare, keeping a presentable work outfit is always a good idea. You just never know when you will accidentally turn a corner and bump into someone holding a huge cup of freshly made black coffee which has now been dumped down your front. It doesn’t even have to be more than just a shirt and a pair of pants.
Kleenex / Tissue Paper
Having a small pack of tissue paper around will always be handy, because you never know when you might need it, or need to blow your runny nose and can’t get to a bathroom in time to do so.
Stain Remover
Unsurprisingly, this is the number one borrowed item from my desk from men and women alike. No matter how neat and clean you think you may be, having a handy stain removing pen around will help treat any stains before they have time to set in and ruin your clothes; then when you get home, just pop it in the wash if you haven’t already washed the offending stain out in the bathroom sink at work.
Standard Medications
The day you have a headache will be the day you wished you had the foresight to stock a little aspirin in your drawer just in case (also handy to have if someone has a heart attack). Other handy medications include allergy pills and eye drops to get rid of your red eyes or to refresh your eyes before a big presentation. If you wear contact lenses, you might want to keep a small travel-sized bottle of contact lens solution and a spare set of contacts around, just in case.
Extra Subway Tokens
You never know when your car might be snowed in or otherwise blocked and unable to be driven home, which is where having a few subway tokens would be handy. Other uses for these tokens would be if you need to hop onto the subway quickly to run an errand but don’t want to take the car.
Spare Change
Having a few coins around is always a good idea, just in case you need to take the car out, pay for parking for half an hour, or just to use it to scratch a ticket or buy a drink in the vending machine.
Umbrella
One of those very light umbrellas will do the trick. They barely take up any room and will be a welcome item for when you’re about to leave work and it starts to rain without warning.
Healthy Snacks
Have something on hand that won’t expire quickly (fresh produce is out of the question), such as nuts or dried fruit because when your hunger pangs hit, you don’t want to have to resort to eating out of a vending machine just to tide you over until you can have a decent meal.
Lint Roller
A lint roller is also a handy item to have around. If you don’t have one, tape will do the trick just as well.
Safety pins
The one time you wish you had a safety pin on hand will be the time that you don’t
For women in particular, here are a few more things that would be help:
• Spare pantyhose (if you wear them)
• Hairbands to tie your hair up in a ponytail in case it loses its shape or frizzes
• Clear nail polish to stop runs in your pantyhose (if you wear them), or nail tears getting out of control
• Spare feminine products (just in case!)
• A pair of flats to switch out into if need be
• Blister block just in case your heels give you trouble
• An evening clutch if you are someone who gets invites at the last minute
• A few makeup essentials: concealer, mascara, lipstick for those invites
I have a lovely big bottle of generic red coated tylenols in my desk. Now I’ve been working from home a lot lately and have pretty much exhausted my supply of tylenol at home (using up travel sized containers etc.) and I’m too cheap to go buy another bottle right now, especially knowing I still have plenty in my desk. I don’t get headaches often, but when I do I can’t get rid of them without medication. I’ve even tried going to sleep with a headache once and still woke up with it in the morning! So I guess I’ll be going in to the office this week to get my pills, or maybe a trip to Shoppers… should check the flyers. 😉
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Uhoh! Tylenol is so expensive, I have that about it.
Healthy snacks seem so helpful, and even knowing this I always forget to bring food to work! It would avoid both spending unnecessary money on snacks as well as be healthier than whatever options are within walking distance of my office.
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I know what you mean. My go-to is having a jar of peanut butter or almond butter around, because it keeps just fine and is full of protein and healthy fats!
I would have never thought that people would keep a spare outfit at work but that seems like a smart thing to do. I’ve seen people with various shoes to change around but not clothes. Great ideas.
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When I worked in a company a few years ago, things that I always keep stocked in my desk are tissue paper, standard medications, umbrella and of course snacks because I easily got hungry. Honestly, I didn’t know that clear nail polish can stop the run of the pantyhose, thanks for the tips Sherry!
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I have a food stash, too, it keeps me sane!
I have a blazer and scarf thrown over the back of my chair so that I can dress up my more casual lab clothing, if I get called into a meeting. I have a snack cupboard, but many of those things you mentioned I carry in my handbag.
The lint roller is an absolute necessity for me. I refuse to even touch the cats after I get dressed in the morning, yet somehow I always need to brush myself off when I get to work (I’m guessing the car seats, even though they get cleaned regularly).
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That’s a neat idea, it totally makes sense. I know of some guys in Vancouver who will keep a suit in the closet, in case they need to dress up for an unexpected meeting.
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