Three Necessities For Every Desk

At a glance, most professional desks will look the same. The average worker will have their printer, a computer, a keyboard, and perhaps a desk phone if they regularly engage in calls with clients and coworkers. However, besides the essentials, there are a few added extras that can be included in the desk environment to make every work day a little more productive and efficient.

While some employees take the “better safe than sorry” approach to supplying their desk and pack their table full of every tool and gadget they can think of, other professionals have the opposite problem in that they have no idea what they should keep on their desk to begin with. The following three things are items that will help to improve your office experience and increase productivity without causing clutter.

 A Water Bottle

While a water bottle might not seem like the most high-tech addition to a desk or office environment, it’s one of the most important accessories any employee can have. As any professional should know, a hydrated mind is often the key to success in the workplace, as dehydration can distract people, cause problems with concentration, and make it harder to focus on tasks.

The human brain simply can’t function at its best when it’s lacking in hydration, so it’s important to make sure that experts drink as much as they can. Buying a bottle that you can regularly refill is a great way for employees to make sure that they don’t have to spend money on a new bottle each day. What’s more, refillable options are also better for the environment.

Well-Organized Stationary

Although most experts fill out their files and documents online today, rather than faxing written documents to their coworkers and clients, that doesn’t mean that you won’t still need stationary on your desk. After all, there are many day-to-day tasks that require staplers, paper clips, pens, and scissors. Though the office an employee works with might offer supplies, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.

Ideally, workers should think about investing in a container that they can use to keep their desk organized. Pens and other components strewn across the desk can lead to clutter which distracts the mind.

A To-Do List

Finally, one of the biggest issues that leads to procrastination in the modern workforce is a bad schedule. Professionals need to maintain a single to-do list at all time, organized to show the things that are most important first, followed by tasks that might be able to be moved to another day. A notepad, planner, or calendar on a desk can be a great way to stay organized.

Additionally, having a physical to-do list can be a huge motivator for many modern workers, as it gives them something they can interact with. When staff can tick off each task they complete it feels like they’re getting more done. The key to success is being realistic with the to-do list. Employees shouldn’t try to push themselves to accomplish more than they can reasonably handle in one day.

Ronn Torossian is the CEO and Founder of 5W Public Relations.