Things that get me through the work day.

The nature of my job is such that it’s a desk job, but I’m never in the same place for long.  So I don’t get to decorate an office, or even a cube.  Anything I need at a work site has to fit into my computer bag or the printer paper box I snatched out of the recycle pile and have carried around for months.

But there are a few things, mostly office supplies, that I feel lost without.  And because maybe you’re weird like me and like office supplies too, or you’re looking for a stocking stuffer for the accountant or college student or young professional in your life; I figured I’d share some of what those are.

• Nalgene bottle – hydration is key.  I drink a ton of water and it’s kind of a problem if I forget my water bottle one day.  It’s getting to the point where I have more Nalgene bottles than cabinet space (but they keep coming out with fun colors and designs!)
• Charcoal taste filter for Nalgene –
  
  
  
  Let’s face it, tap water sometimes sucks.  I can’t be guaranteed that wherever I’m working will have any sort of water filtration system.  Sometimes we luck out and there’s a Pur filter on the break room sink.  Sometimes it’s just rusty tasting water from the fountain by the bathroom.  The one I have is the TapGuard filter which can be found at REI. It’s just a taste filter, so it only works on water that has gone through a treatment already.  Don’t go scooping water out of a stream and using this to drink it.
• Ticonderoga pencils.  I know it’s old school, but Ticonderoga really does make the best pencils.  The lead doesn’t break easily, the wood isn’t so grainy that your finger gets that weird impression on it from holding it too close to the tip, and most importantly; the eraser works well.  I’m partial to the black ones, but they’re all good.
• Bose headphones.
  
  These were a gift from Andrew last Christmas and I’ve used them every single day for almost a year.  When the office is noisy I can use both and block out the noise enough to concentrate.  When it’s quiet, I can just use one and it’s enough that I’m listening without being totally cut off from my coworkers.  They’re comfortable.  More comfortable than any other headphones I’ve ever owned; WAY more comfortable than the ones that came with the iPod. The part that goes in your ear is made of soft but durable silicone that makes them really comfortable, and they don’t fall out.
• Keyboard and mouse wrist rests.
  
  Mine are a different pattern, but I think this one is adorable.  I got them from Herbolution (that’ll link you to their Etsy page to purchase this set, the ones I have are the last picture).  The best part? They’re scented.  Mine smell like peppermint, even after more than a year of use.  AND, they’re microwaveable.  So when the office is really cold, or my hands hurt, I can pop ’em in the microwave to warm them up.   These really are one of my favorite things.

None of these people have any idea who I am, so these aren’t sponsored promos or anything like that.  These are just the things around me that I’d be sad without.