No matter how much you might like the work you do, clocking into the same routine day in and day out can make your days seem quite dull in the long run. This is especially the case if you’re working an office-based job where you’re guaranteed to spend most of your time at your desk, performing a regular series of tasks on a set schedule. Consider the fact as well that many offices tend to take a utilitarian approach to designing their desk spaces and to the accessories that they outfit them with. If this is true of your current workspace, it’s no surprise if you find yourself thoroughly uninspired as you sit down to work.
When you spend so much time at your job, you’ve got to make little sources of enjoyment and pleasure where you can. There’s no reason your office accessories can’t be both fun and functional—read on for a starting list of great finds that are plenty of both.
Personalized Lanyard
Designed to keep ID cards, keys, and other small items close at hand, lanyards are an excellent starting point for getting creative with your work accessories. Consider swapping out your default plain solid-colored or company options for a stylish custom lanyard. You might also try wearing it in an interesting way, such as looping it through your belt loops rather than hanging it around your neck. Because you’re likely to have it on you at all times, whether by choice or company policy, an eye-catching lanyard also helps showcase your personality.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Working in an office environment means you’re going to be surrounded by background noise. Constant exposure to the clicking of keyboards, colleagues’ conversations, or the sounds of traffic and construction outside is a slight distraction at best. At worst, it can actively ruin your focus and your mood, and it can put a real damper on your productivity. Quality headphones will enable you to tune all that out and stay on task throughout the day. For the greatest convenience, look for a wireless variety that won’t obstruct your movement or clutter your desk. You can even choose a pair in a pleasing style or color for an added mood boost.
Desktop Organizer
It’s common for desks to fill up with all sorts of random clutter, especially as the work week runs on. Sometimes you blink and suddenly find yourself surrounded by all sorts of bits and bobs that have come out of seemingly nowhere, like documents you’re no longer using, old notes, or stray paperclips. If this is a frequent problem for you, consider investing in a desk organizer. This office essential comes with all sorts of compartments to help keep paperwork or accessories you’re not using out of the way. It also makes it much easier to find things you might need later. Shop around online for one that suits your needs, and you’ll find there’s no shortage of creative organizer shapes, colors, and designs to make tidying up more fun.
Water Bottle
It’s a must for your health and sense of well-being to stay hydrated, but it’s also something people often forget or simply let fall by the wayside on busy days. Minimize your trips to the water dispenser by keeping a sizeable, refillable bottle or tumbler close at hand on your desk. Having it next to you in plain sight will remind you to drink regularly without otherwise disrupting your daily routine too much. As a bonus, water bottles are also among the easiest accessories to personalize, so look for one in a color or pattern that speaks to you. You could even customize a personal design for a unique touch that will have you saying “Bottoms up!”
Desk Toys or Stress Relievers
Finding ways to manage your stress and anxiety levels throughout the day isn’t just good for your productivity. It’s something you deserve to do for yourself to nurture your overall sense of well-being. Bottom line, de-stressing is basic self-care — and there are lots of small but creative ways to do it even while you’re still on the clock. Consider having one or two tactile desk toys at your workspace like stress balls, fidget cubes, or tangram puzzles that you can fiddle around with for a few minutes at a time. Taking the time to stop, breathe, and focus briefly on something besides work will do wonders for your mental state.
It’s a common belief that all there is to desk accessories is simply being able to do the job. We’re all familiar, after all, with the standard-issue plastic tape dispensers, plain folders, and pen holders that populate most any workplace. But it’s important not to underestimate what a different experience it is when your office accessories are actually a pleasure to use.
Accessories you like will bring more personality to your workspace and make it feel more personalized and inviting. They’ll also boost your motivation, reduce stress, and help you perform your tasks more efficiently—thereby enabling you to do and feel your best from the start of the week to the very end.
Isabella Brown is a writer by profession. She has written extensively on the subjects of business and entrepreneurship. Her work has been published across many news and information websites and publications. In her free time, she enjoys baking, traveling, and listening to music.
