7 Home Office Must-Haves
It’s back to school season at our house, and that means a fresh start for everyone! The kids get new school supplies, bookbags and lunchboxes…and mama gets a much-needed office update.
In case your office is like mine and needs a little refresh, I thought I’d share some of my must-haves for a productive workday.
Desk – I purchased this desk when I started my company in 2015. It was one of my first purchases and I still love it to this day. It doesn’t have any drawers, but I use a pencil holder and a nearby file cabinet for storage.
Chair – For the past five years, I’ve been working from a beautiful, yet completely UNergonomically designed chair. My back was telling me that I need a new chair, so I finally bit the bullet and bought one that checks the stylish and functional boxes. I bought this chair in black so that it coordinates with my desk, but love the white color as well.
Natalie Rebecca Design Notebook – I cannot say enough good things about this notebook. First, the designer is local, and she creates beautiful things. She works out of Fuquay-Varina and has even been a speaker at Restored! She, like me, is not a naturally organized or planned individual. So, if anyone is going to design a notebook for those who don’t lean Type A, it’s her. It has helped me become my most organized self (which, to be clear, still leaves a lot of room for improvement!). My favorite feature is that I can customize it to what my lifestyle needs month-to-month. You can change out the covers, uses different dividers and add or remove pages for meal planning, note taking, calendars, budgeting, to-do lists or any other number of things and it’s totally fine. Pro Tip: Pay attention when you order, because there are a few different sizes, and you wouldn’t want an 11-disc cover with 8-disc pages.
Sharpie Pens – These pens are life. Seriously. A friend of mine turned me on to them. They write so smoothly and come in a variety of colors, so note-taking becomes a little art project of its own. I do a lot of writing in my field – mostly on the computer – but when I have to participate in in-person meetings, make to-do lists or plan out our meals, these pens make those mundane tasks fun.
Computer Bag – My sister bought me this computer bag for my birthday over the summer, and it’s perfect. It has just the right number of pockets, and I love the color (I have brown). It fits my MacBook Air, charger, notebook, pens, papers and still has lots of room to spare. I use the handles, but it also comes with a carry strap. I think if I were to travel (maybe that will happen again one day…?), I would use the strap to make things easier at the airport.
Ring Light – While we’re on the topic of birthday gifts, my husband got me this ring light so that Restored videos would look brighter and more professional – and it did just that! I first used it for our virtual Gather & Graze Date Night, and it worked like a charm. It has multiple settings, but is super easy to use. This may end up being a pretty wise investment since it seems many of us will be working from home and taking Zoom meetings for a while.
White Boards – White boards fall into a super functional, super affordable category. I have two of these – one for each business – and hang them vertically in my office. They were easy to hang, look stylish and help keep me on track throughout the week.
Label Maker – Finally, a small but mighty office tool – my label maker. My husband picked on me when I first bought this and said I’d never use it. I love when I prove him wrong! My file folders (and our pasta containers) are well labeled, easy to find and make life just a little more efficient. Both home organization experts that have spoken at past Restored events have recommended them, too!
So, there you have it – seven tools that make my world go ‘round each day. I hope these will be helpful for you whenever you’re ready to give your home office a little facelift, too. Be sure to send an email or comment on the Restored Instagram or Facebook accounts to share your own office must-haves!
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