what items have made your life at work easier or more pleasant?

by Alison Green on January 18, 2018

A reader writes:

Last week’s post about the modesty panels on desks made me a) thankful my desk has a modesty panel, when I’ve never given it any consideration before, and b) think of a possible post idea. I would love to know what office supplies/office items commenters have purchased or have been given that made their work much easier. With the new year starting, I have supply money that I want to use to buy great things that make my work easier, more efficient, more pleasant, etc. In the past, one of my best purchases has been a really nice pair of over-the-ear headphones!

Readers, have at it! What items have made your life at work easier or more pleasant? Share in the comments.

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        2. zora*

          Dude, two monitors for REALS. And I’ll add an accessory to that, the monitor mounting arms that mount to the desk. So you get the two monitors AND the desk space! Best of both worlds.

          1. The Other Dawn*

            I’ll go one better: a standing desk (Varidesk, easily adjusted up and down) with dual monitors and the mounting arm, so my monitors travel up and down with me and my desk. :)

            1. YNWA*

              I’ve had 2 monitors for years and love them (2 x 22″), I used to have the Varidesk as well and loved the standing option. I left the company, then came back again and my old desk & Variesk were gone! Now I’ve got to talk my boss into buying me a standing desk…wish me luck! I just got a new laptop and rather than a docking station it has a USB-C dock, which takes up much less room on the desk and I’ve ordered a vertical stand for the laptop, to free up more desk space.
              Everyone in the company has 2 monitors, but there is one lady who only uses one, the other is an expensive Post-It Note board!!!

            3. Goya de la Mancha*

              LOVE my varidesk. It takes up quite a bit of space on my actual desk, but I feel it’s well worth the spacial sacrifice.

            4. Ornery PR*

              Yes!!! I’m spoiled rotten. I have an adjustable standing/sitting desk (the whole top moves up and down and saves preset heights), AND three monitors that are mounted and can swing around when I want to show a visitor something. As much as I like the freedom of working from home, my office is so much more comfortable and gives me the tools to make work more efficient. My bosses are amazing. Everyone in the office, including those in the open cubicle area, have these adjustable standing desks and at least 2 monitors mounted on them. I don’t know how I worked before my 3rd monitor :)

              1. Jan*

                I admit I’m spoiled rotten that way – two screens at work, with a fairly large (6′ by 2.5′) desk that moves up and down.
                I liked it so much at a previous job that I got the same set-up for my home office – I used to work rather long hours from home, mostly over the weekends, and it helped a lot.
                Two screens is a boon for productivity – As a second screen will go for $150-200 or so, the productivity increase should pay for it in a pretty short time in many jobs.

                Another thing that makes sense for me is a tablet (Samsung in my case) as I need to refer to and review documents while on the move a lot. I got one with a pen, allowing me to annotate and highlight documents right on the screen. This kind of doubles as a substitute for the second screen while traveling, and to be productive at all on economy class flights (where the laptop is not really an option as soon as the person in front of you reclines their seat).

          2. LizLemoncake*

            For the desk: Two Monitors on mounting arms. Once you switch to two monitors, you cannot go back.

            For breakroom: ICE MACHINE. I love the ice machine.

            2. Hlyssande*

              Ice machine with the GOOD ICE! The water machines in our breakrooms do water and crushed ice. So good.

            3. Wendy Darling*

              Current employer has an ice machine that makes NUGGET ICE. It also dispenses cold water, and they have an entire fridge full of free fizzy drinks (sodas and also lots of kinds of flavored water). But really the ice machine is the best part. We had no ice at my last job and I used to go to the cafeteria and ask for a cup of ice several times a week.

              1. labreza*

                Our ice machine in the break room right around the corner from my office has been broken for two months, and I miss it so much! Rumor has it that it’s supposed to be fixed in the next 2 weeks though!

              2. D.W.*

                NUGGET ICE is literally the holy grail of ice. I would be in hog heaven.

                I actually eat eight trays of ice everyday at home. Two at at time. Before work, right after work, after dinner, right before bed. I fill the trays 1/3rd of the way so that I basically have ice chips.

                1. Lauren*

                  I used to do this (eating trays of ice), but once I started taking iron supplements the ice craving completely disappeared! I used to lust after nugget ice.

                2. Liz*

                  Funny, I was just going to say ‘craving ice is a sign of anemia’ but Lauren’s comment laready got there.

                3. Candi*

                  There’s a reason why, when they ask about nonfood pregnancy cravings, ice is on the list.

                  Don’t just jump in with supplements, though. Check with your doctor in case there’s an underlying cause that needs to be treated.

                  (Worried because a friend went to a doctor for a checkup for something else. They found her iron level was BAD. As in they prescribed a quadruple dose of liquid supplement to get her somewhere within the lower range of “normal”. There’s three different things that could have caused it, fortunately none of them lethal.)

              4. It's-a-me*

                Everyone please be wary of ice machines and make sure you know they are being cleaned regularly and PROPERLY, they can be a breeding ground for horrible stuff if improperly maintained (and no, freezing the water does not kill the germs/bacteria)

          3. hayling*

            Everyone at my office has sit-stand desks, and they’re great. I lucked out and got a monitor with an arm. Saves space on the desk, and makes it easy to adjust the height when you go from sit to stand.

      2. Magenta Sky*

        I was ordered to get a second monitor by one of my bosses. (He was justifying getting a second monitor for himself.) I didn’t really want to devote the desk space, but while “the boss isn’t always right, he’s always the boss.”

        Now, of course, I couldn’t do my job without it.

        The water cooler (which produces hot water hot enough for tea) is very nice, too.

        1. Kimberlee, Esq.*

          Yes! I almost never drink tea at home just because it takes longer, but the water cooler at work is so handy that I’ve been tempted to get one for home as well.

        3. Observer*

          It just blows me away how many people resist getting a second monitor. And it makes life at work SOOO much better!

        4. autophage*

          In the office, I have two large external monitors (in addition to the 15″ screen on my laptop).

          I typically use them to organize what I’m looking at – typically with the small screen in the middle for email, and specific task-oriented things on each external (I’m in software development, so I might have source code open on the left monitor and a bug report on the right, for example).

          At home, I like being able to move throughout the house, but I bought a USB-powered monitor, so I still have at least one extra monitor – and it doesn’t need an extra outlet, meaning I can move around freely without having to bring an extra cable.

          Another important use case for extra monitors is being able to screen-share (eg, giving a presentation) and still being able to communicate with other people in a way that isn’t visible to the whole meeting.

      3. Amadeo*

        LOL, this too. On the rare occasion when I work from home (or work on projects at home) I have a 15 inch laptop. I am badly spoiled by my two huge monitors at work.

          1. LavaLamp*

            I’m that weird person who has to have cool office supplies. So I have the cute stapler with colored staples, and the fancy binders that have cute patterns on them. My coworkers tease me about my stationery obsession but I’m organized and nothing is unprofessional.

            My personal favorite thing is that my work is totally chill with letting us use our own mice and keyboards. Totally rocking a purple mouse over here.

            Also; my two huge 24″ monitors that are literally my second set as the first set decided to try to do a ring impression and go funky. IT replaced them ASAP. And the fact that the IT dept takes care of us and makes sure our equipment is up to date.

        2. a Gen X manager*

          YES! I have a 17″ laptop screen and it drives me bonkers trying to do my work on it! (spoiled!) I only have one monitor at work, but it is large and I can have two full pages working at the same time. SO grateful.

        3. Teapot Tester*

          I bought a cheap used monitor to use when I work from home, so I use my laptop screen and the monitor for dual monitors. It’s not as good as my 21″ monitors at the office but it’s better than it was.

          1. Catabodua*

            Teapot Tester – I have to figure out how to do this. I’m almost at a point where I feel like I can’t work from home because of only being able to use my laptop monitor.

            1. Ornery PR*

              It’s worth looking into for sure. My work gave away all the old monitors when we got new ones, so I took one home and hook my laptop up so there are dual screens. Working from home majorly sucked before I did this. Monitors are cheap, and I’d bet you could look in classifieds for offices (like mine did) giving them away or selling them because they’ve upgraded. I can’t recommend it enough.

              1. Catabodua*

                Oh, I don’t even need to do that. We’ve got an old monitor sitting in our garage to get rid of “someday” that has a small green vertical line on the right hand side. I don’t want to use it on the regular, but hooking it up as a backup for the odd day I’m working from home would be wonderful.

                I just have to figure out cables and configurations and such, which I am not that good at. However, I’ve been told several times that I should be able to do it fairly easily.

                1. Anonymoose*

                  You may need to purchase an adapter if it’s a newer laptop, but otherwise it’s super simple. Plug it in and pretend like you’re extending your screen to a monitor and let ‘er rip.

            2. Ari Marie Bobo*

              Working from home, I plugged a 32′ TV into my laptop as a second monitor. I have it on a bookcase in front of my desk. I adjust the settings so I can drag pages between the two screens. I’m blind as a bat and I’ll never go back!

            3. Misschrissy*

              I bought a portable monitor for my laptop for home or when I travel. Cost maybe $80 & plugs right into the USB port. Best money ever spent.

            4. Thatguy42*

              Do a search for “Dual Monitor Adapter” on the electronics site of your choice (newegg, amazon, etc). Find one that meets your price range and connections on your extra monitor and PC, and enjoy! Had one for about three years before I saved up enough to buy a computer with an actual video card. :)

        4. Wendy Darling*

          I have a 13″ 720p laptop. If I don’t use an external monitor some of our internal tools aren’t even usable because they don’t fit on the screen and cannot be scrolled. I’m not sure what they were thinking giving us these laptops.

          1. Candi*

            (blinks)

            Considering how omnipresent laptops are in the workworld today, I’m surprised the software can’t handle being used on/through a laptop. Is it a current programming impossibility, or did someone not think things through?

            13″ stinks, though. 15″ is as small as I’m willing to deal with.

            1. Jan*

              In my company, we can select 12″ (small), 14″ (regular) and 16″ (large, those beasts are heavy!) – or opt for a Surface aka laptop/tablet hybrid (12″).
              I went for the 12″ as I’m traveling a lot and like the weight savings plus at least some hope that I may be able to work in economy class – anything larger gets crushed when the whale in the seat in front of me suddenly and powerfully reclines.
              In the office, it’s dual 22″ screens hooked up.
              Next time, I might get the Surface (wasn’t an option 4 years ago when I got my current laptop, due for replacement this year).

          2. Graflex*

            On my old but trusty (and stupidly cheap) 13 inch 2009 MacBook, with the task bar on the bottom, I don’t have the vertical screen space to show the “save” button in Microsoft Word. It doesn’t fit on the screen. Move the mouse towards it, and the task bar pops up.

            (I just put the task bar on the left, which I like a bit better anyways.)

        5. It's-a-me*

          My office just asked us if we want to take their old monitors home. Called dibs on 2 x 19 inch monitors (not great quality but meh)

      4. Detective Amy Santiago*

        Yes! I’ve worked with two monitors for so long that I don’t think I could go back to a single display.

        3. Scott*

          I’m surpised they don’t make double sized monitors now that I think about it. But then I would demand two double sized monitors. Eventually my entire office would surround me 360 degrees with monitors. That would be perfect.

          1. paul*

            I got to the tour the local NOAA office and a few of them had setups like that. It was like something out of a movie, and excited my tech lust in ways I’d never felt before. And these weren’t crappy 15″ flat panels, these were *big* high quality monitors hooked up to some sort of professional graphics card(or maybe multiple, not sure) that could handle, I kid you not, 9 screens. They had some sort of special mounting system to handle them all, in a 3×3 configuration.

            *sigh* desktop goals.

            1. SusanIvanova*

              Software developer here: 5 monitors + a laptop, connected to 4 computers with some overlap – one computer ran 3 monitors, other computers had to share monitors. Just like those scenes in Iron Man where Tony Stark is bouncing back and forth between an arc of monitors.

          2. Manders*

            I work in a coworking space with glass walls, so it’s easy to see the setups of other companies. There’s one that gives all its coders MASSIVE monitors–I think they’re actually flat-screen TVs hooked up to their computers.

            1. Chalupa Batman*

              Conference rooms at my job have giant touch screen monitors-I have a 70 inch TV at home (Mr. Batman’s an electronophile), and these monitors have to be close to that big. Every time use one of them, I feel like a Jedi. “I just moved through six pages of documents and a Prezi USING ONLY MY HANDS.”

          3. MerciMe*

            I actually like two separate monitors better. I dropped the resolution and brightness on one for ease of reading, then I swap things into the other monitor when I need to focus on detail or see the big picture. So much easier on my eyes and fewer migraines.

            1. Jessica*

              Wow, this is brilliant. I have 3 monitors but never thought of giving them different settings! I might have to experiment.

          4. Pine cones huddle*

            I need double monitors and one that can be oriented vertically. Great for viewing a whole page at a time.

            1. Tax Nerd*

              Same here! I can look at a source document in one screen, and the tax return on the other, with a minimum of scrolling and zooming. It’s great, though harder to find monitors that rotate, and aren’t too skinny when rotated.

        4. Alli525*

          YEP. I actually prefer to work at the office now, rather than at home, because my one laptop screen just doesn’t cut it on days when I’m stuck at home due to snow or whatever.

          1. NacSacJack*

            I bought an AOC monitor for $79 just for that reason. I wish I could have two but I have to have my laptop open because they don’t give us docking stations to take home. More on my opinion of two monitors in a later comment to be written.

        2. Sunshine on a cloudy day*

          To the point that I would most likely not accept a job if I knew that there was no way I could have two monitors.

          Also true story: My one toxic workplace only gave me one monitor. I swear it was the size of a postage stamp. I worked with spreadsheets and databases pretty regulary, and I just could. not. function. I begged my boss for a second monitor. Repeatedly. Then one day I see a larger wide screen monitor sitting by the door/garbage. I asked if it was working. It was. Boss upgraded his monitor and instead of giving me his old monitor he was going to throw it out!!!! Marched in and asked for the monitor. He refused on the grounds of “you just don’t need it” (I mean I get it he’s the boss, but why would any boss deny their employee something that literally costs nothing!). I kept at it, and at least got him to let me switch out my tiny postage stamp monitor for this slightly better widescreen one. It was one of the most petty, irrational things that I’ve ever witnessed. To explain – it was a tiny family-owned company. Dad owned it, two daughters + son ran it, 5 people in office were all other family members or long time family friends (worked there for 20+yrs), my and one other role were the only non-family employees and they treated us like disposable cups.

          1. The Strand*

            Ridiculous. Even if he were to argue on the merits of the electrical cost, no doubt the older, tiny “postage stamp” required a lot more power than the widescreen.

          2. Been There, Done That*

            Eww. Wasteful–throwing out a perfectly usable item instead of letting an employee benefit from it, or even donating it somewhere. Re “petty, irrational” + “tiny family-owned company” — been there, I get ya. The worst I ever worked for, Boss Owner Tyrant routinely fired people who made it to the three-year mark on the theory that they’d been there long enough.

        1. OfficeSpace*

          One more vote for the second monitor! I thought it was super excessive when I first started working at my current organization, but within two weeks was in love with it and can’t imagine going back. It makes so many tasks easier (and saves paper in my head, because instead of printing something to be able to reference it while I type, I can throw it on my second screen)

        2. EddieSherbert*

          I’m totally one of the folks who has three monitors…and I LOVE it.

          I actually bought a giant gaming monitor for my home office so I’d feel like I still have the same monitor space that I have at work.

            1. a Gen X manager*

              YES! When I have a big task to do during off-hours, I’ll literally drive to work and do it instead of dealing with the one smallish screen at home!

          2. Red Reader*

            I work from home, and on one leg of my L-shaped workspace is a 24″ and 27″ monitor for my work computer, and on the other is two 24″ and one 27″ monitor for my personal computer. My housemates call it my control center. :)

            1. Ann O'Nemity*

              I prefer a single large monitor. I had double monitors for a few years before getting an iMac with a 27″ screen. The single screen is big enough, and I like the clean look.

          4. Aurion*

            Three monitors is a godsend.

            Due to Windows updates and driver issues my three monitor setup at work was flickering for two weeks and was driving me up the wall and I had to downgrade to two monitors for a while. Yesterday (after everything was fixed) my boss stopped by in my cube to ask me a question. I pulled up the relevant screens on my three monitors and had the numbers crunched in under fifteen seconds. She just stared at me and went “…you’re really fast with this”.

            This is why I love three monitors. I can see everything and do not need to abuse alt-tab.

        3. Amber T*

          It took a while to get used to having a second monitor, now I don’t think I could work as efficiently without it (the times that I’m working at home with just my laptop, I’m certainly not). I even catch myself grumbling “ugh I need a third monitor.” I don’t… but sometimes I think it would be nice lol.

        5. James B*

          Beware of overkill – at one point I had five (I’m a managing editor of a news organisation) and found it *very* easy to get distracted! Also, staffers found it intimidating to come to my office while I was sat behind a console of screens. Three is enough for me now!

          1. James B*

            That said, I can have as many monitors as I like – but I can never find a blue pen for love nor money!

        6. Aerin*

          They gave us a third monitor when we rolled out chat support. I initially didn’t think I would use it much, but now it’s hard to drop back down to two screens when I work remotely. (One is right out. I even got a USB monitor for traveling.)

      7. Antilles*

        This.
        A second monitor is one of those things that if you’ve never had it, it seems totally superfluous…but after a few days, you look back and can’t even imagine what it was like not having it.

      8. Higher Ed Database Dork*

        Oh yes! The second monitor is an absolute must. Sometimes I work from home on my laptop and I hate the one teeny monitor. I suppose I could set up my own 2-monitor station but I don’t have the room right now!

      9. Snark*

        I sort of split the difference and bought a cosmetically damaged but functionally perfect 30in monitor. I can side-by-side two documents, with navigation panes.

        1. paul*

          Try a 27″ primary and a 20″ secondary in portrait mode…that’s my home setup and oh man, you’ve gotta try it if you have desk space.

          3. Oranges*

            I just got a 4K monitor at work. Before I had two 1020(ish) monitors and my laptop screen so I basically have the same screen acreage but I miss having two because you can’t angle the 4K so I kinda ignore the far right 1/3rd. Bah!

            1. paul*

              When graphics cards are not so expensive (god I hope bitcoin pops already, stupid miners) and 4k monitors are cheaper I’m looking forward to a 4k 27″ or so main monitor and my current 27″ going to portrait mode; it works for stacking multiple word documents on vertically that way.

          4. Mishakal*

            At my office (IT department) everyone slowly upgraded to three monitors a few years ago. So when the company at large decided that everyone needed new desktops and monitors we all got three new (and much bigger) monitors. Since the new monitors were so big, I now have two monitors set to landscape mode and one set to portrait. mode My boss and a couple of coworkers actually have all three of their monitors all set to portrait mode.

      10. paul*

        I got one at work and promptly bought one for the house (actually upgraded my main monitor and used my old one as a secondary).
        Holy crap multiple screens is amazing.

      12. essEss*

        Absolutely this! I have the option to work from home when I want to, but that second monitor is the only thing that makes my office better than working from home most days.

      13. Justme, The OG*

        YES to the second monitor. My old job only had one, and needed two. My new job had two standard, and it’s great even if not always necessary.

        1. Interested Bystander*

          Work from home days are so painful, because I go from 2 22 inch monitors to one 15 inch laptop screen.

          1. starsaphire*

            I literally have to employ my personal laptop to act as the “read” screen and use my work laptop as the “write” screen when I WFH, for this exact reason.

            Also, the double screens at work really helps my fibro fog, in that I always know the thing on the right is the thing I’m updating and the thing on the left is the source, no matter how foggy my brain is at the moment.

      16. rubyrose*

        Three monitors here. One extra provided by the company, one is mine (work at home). Can’t live without them.

      17. Princess Consuela Banana Hammock*

        Double monitors have ruined me for life. I don’t ever want to go back. When I first saw someone use them, I thought they were being ridiculous. Now I never ever want it to change.

        1. Detective Amy Santiago*

          Same!!! The first time I saw it, I was like “why would you possibly need two displays?” Once I got into a position where I had them though…

        2. LibKae*

          Yeah. And now I’ve started passing peoples’ desks who have three monitors and I think “Ohhh. That must be nice!!” Monitor envy. It’s a real thing

      18. FJ*

        I was on the two monitor bandwagon for a a while but l I now much prefer one super-wide monitor. I think it’s 31inches wide so I can do things side-by-side pretty well. My home office has only one regular monitor and it’s not the same.

        ALSO – iPad as 2nd monitor for a laptop connected via USB cable. Duet Display is the app I use. Makes traveling soooo much better.

        2. Marty*

          Clearly you haven’t done the 2 super wide monitors thing. Three is no going back. (Alternately, 1 super wide monitor and two less wide ones.) Either way, more monitor is always a plus.

        3. Khaleesi*

          Game changer! I always bring my iPad Pro on work trips and awkwardly used it as a “sort-of” second monitor. So excited to try this on my next trip!

      20. Buffy Summers*

        Amen to that! I thought I wouldn’t like it but now I feel like I couldn’t live without it! I’m job searching and I’m seriously thinking about making that part of my salary negotiations….
        Them: Ok, we’re offering you $50,000
        Me (slyly): How about 45 and two monitors?
        Them: You’re joking, right?
        Me: Fine, 40 and two monitors, but that’s my final offer!
        Them: Deal.
        Me (thinking): Haha! Idiots!

      21. Modernhypatia*

        Second monitor. So so so much better.
        (Librarian: it makes it so much easier to have a catalog window or email up, and the data I’m working from in the other screen.)

      22. misskleio*

        Oh, man. My second monitor was/is work-changing. I had to fight the IT department for it (They don’t like to “support them” even though my budget admin approved it), but it was worth it. I get so much done, so much more efficiently.

        1. Observer*

          Your IT department sounds like idiots, to be honest. It’s been years since 2 monitors have been dead simple (at least if you are using computers that are not trash.)

      23. Zahra*

        Oh, yeah. 2 monitors is a non-negotiable for me. Also, mounting arms that allows you to place them one above the other instead of side-by-side. Shifting eyes up and down is easier and faster than left-right.

      26. Morag*

        I haven’t read all comments, but why two monitors? What’s so good about it? I have the option and a boss urging the second on me, but don’t quite understand why it’s helpful.

        1. An Auditor*

          I won’t speak for anyone else, but I work with spreadsheets and data a huge amount. Being able to have two items open and compare back and forth from one document to another without having to print either one makes my life easier by several orders of magnitude. It also means I can have my work open on one monitor and be looking at it when I tope a ocument/email. Or have Skype open in one window to discuss something with my boss and have the actual document we are talking about up on the other screen so I am not having to switch back and forth. I wasn’t sure why it would be useful before I got it, and now hate it when I have to go to client offices where all I have to work with is my laptop screen. I spent (if I recall correctly) all of $40 on a used LCD monitor and use my laptop screen for my second monitor. I would never want to go back if I could avoid it.

          1. LavaLamp*

            This. I work with floor plans and have to create documents from the data off said plans. So nice not having to switch back and forth between two programs.

        2. Mananana*

          If you find yourself printing out a document so you can refer to it while working with something on-screen, then you’d benefit from a 2nd monitor. The ability to Ctrl-F in a spreadsheet to find the data I need to complete a task on the second monitor is priceless. Try it out for a month — I think you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.

        3. Fuzzy pickles*

          Requested revisions on one monitor, design program on other. Code on main, browser preview on secondary. E-mail and task list on secondary regardless of main. That’s what I do – basically work on the main one, glance at the reference on the secondary one.

        4. Diatryma*

          If you have a bunch of papers on your desk, do you set them up in different piles or put them all in the same folder? It feels the same way to me– I want to be able to put references *here* and tape up the common conversions above my desk *here* and see the entire document and also the email someone sent about it.

        5. Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins*

          I work in multiple programs where I need to be able to reference information from multiple places, and it would be a ferocious pain if I only had one monitor. I keep my main program on one side, and rotate the others on the other side. I would love a third one though…

        6. Been There, Done That*

          I have so many windows open that it helps organize and find what I want without having to constantly click buttons to get at stuff. (think, you’re working w/ several different kinds of paper documents but only have desk space to put them in one stack, so you have to shuffle through all the time to get what you want.) Having a monitor primarily for the email, with the capability of also momentarily parking windows/documents on that side, might not sound like a big deal, but it’s been a huge time-saver for me and a blessed convenience.

      27. PNW*

        Yes, about five years ago I got a second monitor and it changed the way I work. I’m so much more efficient.

      28. Jess*

        Yes! Same here. Our IT manager likes me and happened to have one spare so insisted on setting it up at my desk. I was of the mindset that “I’m fine with one monitor but I suppose it would be nice to have”.

        Well, I find it SUPER useful – not quite as much as when I was in a payroll-processing role and it was necessary to have timesheets on one screen and the pay software on the other, since I’m more general admin now, but I find it extremely useful to pull an email I’m referring to onto one screen while I have a document open in the other etc.

      30. The Other Guy*

        I have five monitors. A central 27″ 1080p and two 19″ 1280×1024 in portrait mode on either side. The big one in the middle for the main work, and the other ones with an ever-changing mix of pdf’s, email, web browser, doc’s, graphs, etc for reference. Most people think I’m insane.

    2. Amadeo*

      Agreed. I’m in an office right now that doesn’t use much in the way of pens, but I still need them and if I want the ‘good kind’ I have to buy my own.

      1. DouDou Paille*

        I find it so interesting that so many people say “pens.” I rarely write longhand anymore – 95% of what I do is on a computer, including taking notes during meetings and conference calls. Every year for the past 25+ years I have been in the working world I do less and less actual pen-to-paper writing. In fact, I am so unused to having a writing implement in my hand that on the few occasions I have to sign my name on a paper document, it feels awkward in my hand and I can barely scratch out my name.

          1. Magenta Sky*

            My handwriting has always been atrocious. The only reason I can read my own printing is that I had a class in Morse code in high school, and you failed if the teacher couldn’t read your writing. (They also taught us specific movements for each letter so they’d be readable.)

            But I always have a pen in my pocket. Always.

            1. Elizabeth West*

              Same–I have fine motor control issues and it gets worse and worse the more I write. I also always have a pen in my purse, because a lot of times nobody else does.

              1. Magenta Sky*

                My first thought would be to take a Morse Code class, but that’s probably not helpful. Ham radio clubs aren’t all that common any more.

                Also, this won’t make you write *well*, only legibly. My handwriting is still atrocious, but most people can read it, even if I’m in a hurry.

                One of the replies here has the graphic showing the specific motions:

                http://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/copying-on-paper-best-practice.533439/page-2

                It shows all the standard tricks, like putting a line through the middle of the letter Z, so it never looks like a 2, and a diagonal line through a zero, so it never looks like the letter O. And making the number 5 with two separate lines, so it’s less likely to looks like an S.

            3. Cristina in England*

              Do you mean shorthand? Short hand looks so interesting to me. Morse code is only dots and dashes and it is meant for like sailors and I don’t know, other people who have old fashioned ways of sending basic audio/flashing light signals.

              1. Magenta Sky*

                I was in a class for a ham radio license. At the time, all ham licenses absolutely required you to copy down Morse Code at a minimum speed, 23 wpm (I think), for a general license, which is pretty quick for hand writing. And you failed the test if the examiner couldn’t read your writing. It took special dispensation to do the test with a typewriter. (My father could copy nearly 100 words per minute with a typewriter, and had a commercial license.) So legible printing was mandatory, and was included in the class.

            4. Candi*

              I was in eighth grade before we had to turn in assignments typed up. It’s been amusing, in a way. It’s gone from “your handwriting is awful” to “you can write cursive!?!”

              I still write by hand, though. Often, it’s faster or I think better when writing a story. I even downloaded the Use Your Handwriting app (colors!) to scribble stuff down rather than typing in Notepad on my phone. (There’s other handwriting apps as well.)

              And I just love me some gel pens in All The Colors.

          2. Princess Consuela Banana Hammock*

            What makes me sad is the loss of stamina/dexterity in my hands. I still hand-write, often, but my hand tires much more quickly now that I’m 95% typing. It makes me sad to think that I was a fast and organized hand-writer who took 3-hour finals, and now I can’t write for 10+ minutes consecutively without my hand cramping.

            1. JeanB in NC*

              Same here! I can’t even write a paragraph anymore, and I love handwriting things! I don’t think it’s just typing though – I have a couple of medical issues and my hands are verging on completely useless. I dread to think what they’ll be like in 10 years or so.

          1. Llama Wrangler*

            Yes, me too! Also because I’m left handed and pen quality makes a lot of difference for whether my scribble is merely illegible or also illegible and smeared.

        3. Sans*

          I’m a copywriter. It’s funny, I learned how to write and edit in the 70s and 80s, before computers. So even though I often write on the computer, for something more lengthy or complicated, I have to do the first draft on paper. I have to be able to scribble and make notes in the margins and circle copy and draw arrows to it and cross it out. My mind just works better that way. Once that’s done, I can use the computer to clean up later drafts. But I can’t abandon paper and pen entirely.

          1. Karo*

            I learned how to write and edit in the 90s/00s, with computers at my beck and call, and I still do my first draft on paper. It just comes out better that way!

        4. Oranges*

          I actually need the pens when I brainstorm. I need to scribble to figure out how to solve a code problem in the best way and all the computer application–even with a touch screen–can’t compare to the ease of a pen and a notebook.

        5. SeuciaV*

          I do a bit of both but find that I do a LOT of note-taking and stuff for myself using Evernote. I love that it’s cloud based so it replicates across every device I own, it syncs with my calendar (so often I’ll open a new note and it will automatically say “Note from Meeting with XXXX” because IT WILL KNOW), and I can use it for text notes, photos, articles, etc. etc. It is SUCH a good tool. I don’t think I could work without it anymore!

        6. Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins*

          I have attention issues, and I keep paper notes just to help me follow things like date sequences, names, etc. I could do it digitally, but it’s mostly “throw-away” information that I use once and pitch, and I don’t want to gum up my government computer with stream-of-consciousness notes.

      2. Interested Bystander*

        I have a canister of cheap trash pens on my desk, and then I have my two Pentel Energel Alloys (my favorite >$20 pen) in my desk. I won’t be heartbroken when they walk away, but I will replace them.

    3. sometimeswhy*

      I was coming here to say good pens! Our organization buys truly awful pens. They leak, they smear, they literally fall apart in your hands. I’m in charge of the budget (including office supplies) for my section and I buy nice pens and refills practically in bulk. I get any kind staff want, as long as they sell them somewhere we have an existing account and they meet our particular documentation requirements (which, helpfully, include not smearing when exposed to a range of things that the org-supplied pens smear when in contact with, including, um, air).

      1. Scott*

        I hate the good pens ironically, I will go to the dollar store and buy the 2$ pack of bic roundstic pens because the good ones just blot on me. I also have terrible handwriting.

        1. Spelliste*

          Cheap pens make my hands happy! Paper Mate stick pens (blue, medium point) and gov’t-issue SkilCraft pens are my favorites; they have just the right resistance. I leave the fancy pens to fancier hands.

          1. sometimeswhy*

            I don’t even mind Paper Mate stick pens. They are Good Pens compared to the ones provided here. And if someone wanted a bunch of them, I’d make the order, happily.

          2. Quiznakit*

            …I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anyone say they like the SkilCraft pens. Truly, life is a rich tapestry.

      2. Marillenbaum*

        I am such a pen diva! I have my little pencil case that holds my favorite ballpoint pens, my fountain pens, spare cartridges, and my preferred pencils (Blackwing forever!)

      3. Been There, Done That*

        Back in the day when I was a proofreader, everybody was ready to go to the wall to get Their Pen–the one that fit their hand just right, flowed the way they liked at the pressure most comfortable for them. Blessed management understood. We stocked all kinds of pens.

    4. Mike C.*

      Fountain pens here, but once you get something that works for you the difference is huge.

      Heck, even the difference between a cheap ballpoint and a rollerball is huge!

      1. a Gen X manager*

        agree! Instead of a true fountain pen, I’m using the Pilot Varsity pens – LOVE THEM. Bonus: it’s amusing when people try to borrow my pen and are confused by the tip!

        1. halfmanhalfshark*

          Hey Pilot Varsity pens are true fountain pens! My pack of Varisities write more smoothly than a couple of “real” fountain pens I have.

      2. Spider*

        Yes! Ballpoint pens are unpleasant to write with and make your handwriting worse, but an inexpensive Pilot Precise rollerpoint is a dream and then fountain pens are next-level fun. I keep a Pilot Varsity out on my desk and a Pilot Metropolitan away in a drawer to use when I take notes in meetings, plus a bunch of sample vials of various inks, and using the Metropolitan feels like a small treat to make a dull meeting a little brighter.

        Plus, at $15, it’s not objectively cheap for a pen, but if I lose it or someone walks off with it, I won’t be heartbroken.

          2. LavaLamp*

            I use the Preppy cartridge fountain pens. They’re Japanese, but available on amazon for super cheap.

            1. Mike C.*

              I’ve converted a few to eyedropper. If you want to give bottle ink a shot, all you need is a little silicone grease and a few 8mm o-rings to seal up the body from the nib/feed.

          3. halfmanhalfshark*

            My current daily driver is a Metro with a medium italic nib filled with Diamine Majestic Blue. It’s such a pleasure to write with.

        2. CW*

          Felt tips pens (Artline) for me. I don’t need to exert much pressure, they don’t seize up (ballpoints do), and they dry instantly.

          1. Birch*

            I love felt tips! The ink feels more smooth, and they help people like me who will press too hard with the cheap pens.

        3. miss_chevious*

          The Pilot Precise V5 is my go to pen, even though I have a number of fountain pens and other fancy pens. I like its durability and flow, and I like that I don’t have to spend a fortune to replace one when I lose it or write it dry.

          1. Delightful Daisy*

            I totally want a fountain pen now. As a lefty, good pens are a must for me. My left handed scissors were bought 25 years ago, for my first library job, and have traveled to every job since then with me.

            I’ve used a laptop for 18 years so I find two monitors way too cumbersome to use.

            I have a Surface for work travel and I love it. Functions as a computer but also as a paper tablet for note taking. It’s much lighter than my laptop and easily tucks into a carry-on or my purse.

          2. Blue*

            I love, love, love the Pilot Precise Grip pens! Write smoothly, work reliably, pretty colors (bonus!), and the extra fine tip means the writing’s always legible, even when tiny. In the words of my grad school advisor, “You have to have the pens that make you happy!”

          3. Callie*

            Pilot makes so many good pens. G2s are my go to pen but I have lately fallen in love with Pilot Juice for my planner. Super fine tip gell rollerball in fun colors.

      1. WellRed*

        Our office manager switched from papermate mechanical pencils to the cheaper staples brand and the erasers suck! her solution: “I have a big gummy eraser here on my desk you can borrow whenever you need it.” Rather than, pop for the slightly pricier pencils.

        1. Papyrus*

          I find most mechanical pencil erasers are too small or don’t work. I buy a pack of those Pentel high polymer white erasers for like $2, and they’re great. They last forever and they truly erase everything without tearing up the paper.

        2. TootsNYC*

          Or, rather than give you your own eraser?!?!?!??!

          I find that mechanical pencil erasers get used up quickly, so I always have a really good white eraser on my desk.

        3. Geillis D*

          I just checked and my very nice mechanical pencil is indeed Papermate. Thank goodness for bosses who realize splurging and spending $10 more on mechanical pencils save an unquantifiable amount of frustration.

        4. Marillenbaum*

          When I was doing my grad degree in Europe, I was so surprised by all the students who had pencils without erasers attached–instead, they had eraser-less pencils and a separate eraser. Now, I find it more practical because you don’t always wear out the eraser evenly with the pencil, and sometimes the attached ones suck (especially if they just smear).

          2. Candi*

            I like what I call clicky-erasers. They’re long and skinny, inside a pen/pencil sized plastic tube and a slider that pushes them down -hence the click. One of them is great with a pack of wooden pencils. (I do not like mechanical pencils ever.)

          3. Miss Pantalones en Fuego*

            We always use extra hard pencils at work because regular pencil just rubs off the special drawing film we use. They don’t have erasers so everyone usually has a separate eraser. One day I brought in a pack of the erasers you stick on the end of your pencil. My colleagues thought I was a genius.

      2. 12866*

        Bic – and only Bic – mechanical pencils ftw! I have one in my hand almost all day long. (And two monitors – yes!)

        1. namenamename*

          Agreed on this. I got used to Bic mechanical pencils in college and they’re still what I need to get serious work done.

    6. KylieB*

      Agreed. Although, I would add that the PaperMate InkJoy Gel 0.7mm are amazeballs. The ink is smooth with no spitting, it dries quickly which can be a plus for left-handed people, and it comes it black, blue and if you’re feeling special, the entire rainbow (which I own). Also, the line is exactly the right width. It makes me happy every time I’m filling out the employer portion of the I-9.

      1. JustaTech*

        Oh, my favorite are the Uniball Signo 0.7mm for taking notes in meetings and the Uniball Power Tank 1.0mm for the lab. The tank is amazing, alcohol resistant and big and study in the hand (which is nice when you’re wearing gloves).

        1. Tired Scientist*

          Why different for meetings vs. lab? I am wondering if I am missing out on some amazing hack here.

          1. Mike C.*

            In the labs I’ve worked in, you spray all the surfaces with rubbing alcohol as a way to sterilize the work surfaces. Rubbing alcohol is also a great way to erase all sorts of pens, including standard sharpies.

            JustaTech might have a different reason though.

            1. JustaTech*

              That’s it. Also, I want to write larger on papers in the lab (so it’s easier for other people to read), but for my notes I prefer a finer point pen.

      2. Former Admin Turned Project Manager*

        Inkjoy are the bomb. I started bullet-journaling, and use the various colors for that (orange for my volunteer notes, purple for my musings, doodling pictures with pretty colors, that sort of thing). Smooth, nice saturation for the color, non-smeary. Love them.

    7. Karo*

      Oh God yes, good pens. My primary responsibility is writing, and I like to hand-write my first draft – good pens make my days so much better. Personally, I like Pilot’s Precise V5 RT in .5/.7 mm.

      1. Christy*

        Agree with the pens and the second monitor. When I started my current job (with an admin for the first time!! lifesaver), she asked me about my pen preference before my first day. When I arrived, the new pens were there already. Made my day, and so nice that they asked my preference (I love sharpie thin point pens).

        The other one – calculator. I’m awful with an adding machine and I needed a calculator that had enough digits for billions. Took forever to order the right one. Again, personal preference (most of my staff love their adding machine) – and yes we use excel for most everything, but this is easier for mtgs.

        1. Adding machine*

          +1 for adding machine. I am in the finance department and – no joke – the person I replaced had no adding machine and no calculator! (No wonder I found so many errors in their work when I took over!) I ordered both right away. The other day a co-worker came in and I had the adding machine and calculator going and they were like, “Wow, must be serious work today!” heh.

          1. JeanB in NC*

            I haven’t used an adding machine or calculator in years. I either use Excel or just the little calculator on the computer. I make sure I have a keyboard with a separate 10-key, though, even at home.

            1. Adding machine*

              I use Excel in addition to the adding machine and the calculator (and I have a keyboard with a 10-key section too). The beauty of the adding machine is that you can see the number of items you’re totaling and which ones you’ve entered (instead of a formula) so it’s easy to see you put 50,000 instead of 500,000 and that’s why you’re off.

              (I also find the sound of the adding machine when you’re really on a roll very satisfying!)

        2. SarahKay*

          I have a 12-digit calculator and I love it. Plus it’s just a very basic calculator otherwise, which means all the keys are lovely and big, which makes for fast and accurate use.

      2. MissMaple*

        Yep, I was just writing to say that they buy a variety of types, but whenever there’s a box of the Precise V5 with the fine tip, I sprint to the supply closet. I press really hard when I write, so I need a narrow tip so I don’t get ink everywhere, but also one that’s strong enough not to break. I like the V7s too, but I’ve broken the tip and had blue ink explode everywhere!

      3. Ann O'Nemity*

        I accidentally stole a coworker’s Pentel Energel Needle Tip 0.5. He hunted it down, haha. I’ve been buying and using them ever since.

        1. Karo*

          Everyone who borrows my pen makes a comment about how nice it is and I have to warn them that I know exactly how many I have at a given time and I WILL get it back :)

        2. Oranges*

          I’m the only one with my pens at the office (I can’t remember the name) AND I bought all the colors since I like colors. So if a color is missing I will go find it.

      4. Spider*

        That’s my favorite rollerball, too — it writes so well for such an inexpensive pen, I’ve replaced all the ballpoints in my office with it and will never look back.

    8. Triumphant Fox*

      I love the PaperMate InkJoy Gel Pens in a variety of colors. It was more important in my last position, where we had multiple people commenting on a printed document and needed different colors to differentiate, but I still use them and love them. They’re handy when I want to do a really complex organizational problem on paper.

      I also started using a work journal last year and it has made my life so. much. better. I write everything down and in an ideal world I would index it all at the front of each journal for reference. It serves as a single source for all of my notes and an easy reference for everything in one place – to-dos, status updates, client meetings, phone calls, strategy sessions, brainstorming. It was more urgent in my last position because I was managing 6-8 clients who each had a host of small projects operating simultaneously at one time and keeping track of all of it was a nightmare until I started keeping a journal. I also had a boss who would regularly not remember things accurately (he had a lot going on and just didn’t pay attention or keep track of anything) so I needed a single source of truth at the ready whenever he would start saying “Client said they wanted X” and I would need to interject with, “Well, I had the conversation being that you suggested X and they countered with Y for reasons A, B, and C – was there a follow-up conversation I didn’t catch?” Jogging his memory with specifics usually course corrected – or made him realize he was referencing a private conversation and I wasn’t in the loop.
      When I fill up a journal, it is a pain to transition to a new one as I no longer have my notes for easy reference, but that’s the only down side.

      1. Awkwardest Turtle*

        Omg I love the InkJoy pens too and your method for note taking sounds like it would really work for me. I wonder if there is a correlation between pen preference and organizational preferences

        1. Triumphant Fox*

          Definitely possible! At first I thought I would be fancy and actually bullet journal, but my notes are so fast and furious and my days vary widely – I can’t spend time creating gorgeous custom layouts for the week. Instead, I have a few different indexes in the front – it used to be one for each client, now its one for each major category I work on in house. I also keep an index of helpful things I’ve learned and may want to reference later – process/software tips/key industry terms and definitions. These are things I at times photocopy or type up and keep elsewhere for reference. All the other notes aren’t really worth keeping digitally.

          I’ve noticed that it helps me see where projects went off the rails. Looking at a client/project index, I can see at a glance when everything happened as well as what decisions were made at each step. When my boss asks “How did we get here?!!!” I can point to the timeline and usually mention internal meetings as well (which may never had appeared on a calendar – 15 minute discussions in passing) to remind them why we made the decisions we did along the way.

      2. SpiderLadyCEO*

        I love them too – I especially love the variety of colors. It makes different editors on a paper clear, different notes in a note book – it’s so nice to have a rainbow to choose from to differentiate everything. Also, I have terrible nearsighted vision and having different colors helps.

        1. Triumphant Fox*

          It also really helped when I updated my resume. I started looking back at my journals and realized – OMG I have done so much this year! So many of the things I did in my last job were not part of my title and my responsibilities shifted a lot over the course of my time there, without an official change in title.

      4. Merula*

        I started doing a journal for work, and the method I’m basing it on suggested just what you mentioned, an index in the front.

        I rejected that out of hand. A list of what’s in a book in the front is a table of contents; an index is in the back.

        I do have an index in the back, though, with general things listed. For ongoing projects I can’t imagine it’d be too hard to have “Teapot project: 4, 17, 35, 67-70…” and fill in the requisite page numbers as you go. Vonnegut be damned.

        1. Triumphant Fox*

          The thing is, it is more of an index because the items are indexed by category. Tables of contents follow the sequential order of the contents of the book, these don’t (except typically within each category). They are like what you mention “Teapot project: 4,17…” but instead it has a description of each item, like an index and they are arranged topically.
          Teapot project
          July 7 Client Kickoff: 15
          July 8 Internal Project Strategy: 23-27

          Etc.

          I like having it at the front because I can see everything at a glance early on, rather than at the back, but you can certainly do either.

      5. SeuciaV*

        I never thought of it as journaling, but I do something similar and it really helps! It was something I started doing when I was a paralegal a hundred or so years ago and it helped keep me organized. I use either steno notebooks or standard size pads with the spiral binding at the top (just like it better than on the side) and when I start a new notebook I put the start date on the front. Then any time I take any kind of handwritten notes for any of the projects I’m working on, I take them there. When the notebook is full, I put the end date on the cover and put it in the file cabinet. I cannot tell you how many times that has saved my bacon! When I remember I jotted down some random person’s name or number for my boss and she doesn’t ask for it until 2 months later, as long as I have some idea of what we were talking about when it happened or how long ago, I can generally work my way back and find the right random scribble. And while I do a lot of note taking now in Evernote, there are times it’s just easier or more practical to use real paper and a pen – and I find that sometimes in “cleaning up” my notes (when I type them into a word document or use them to formulate an email or generate a report) there are details or nuances that get lost. Being able to refer back to those notes is sometimes VERY helpful.

        1. Ramona Flowers*

          I totally do this but I use different coloured post-it tabs or different page flags to mark things in it.

    9. Finman*

      I’ve recently found the Pilot Frixion Erasable pen. They write cleanly and the erasing aspect is very good.

      1. artgirl*

        Don’t use them to write something important and then leave the notes in a hot car or anything like that–since the erasability is based on the heat of friction when rubbing the paper, there could be unintentional erasing! I also read an article recently recommending that, for eco-friendliness, people should use these pens only in one dedicated notebook, digitize by taking photos of all notes, and then microwave the book to return it to blank paper, ready to be reused. Not sure I’m going to jump in with both feet but it’s an interesting concept!

        1. Christmas Carol*

          You can get a special notebook for these w/QR codes on the pages and an app for your phone. Photo the pages w/your phone, and the app syncs the digitized notes w/your cloud automagicaly. One of our engineers has one, and loves it.

          The pens have also become very popular w/fabric artists. Draw you design on your material, cut, sew, embellish as desired, then run a hot steam iron over your project. Voila, no more layout lines.

        2. SpiderLadyCEO*

          The idea of losing my records is disturbing to me…I only write in pen, I hate pencil, and I like to know what I crossed out and changed. Reusing a notebook that you digitize is the antithesis of everything I stand for.
          I support people being ecofriendly, but this would not work for me at all!

      4. MidwestRoads*

        I love these pens…for my sewing room! I can mark on fabric and it erases with a hot iron. The best fabric marking pens, EVER. I don’t use them at work though, I think my boss would freak out. :)

        1. irene*

          I switched to the FriXion *markers* for sewing! The ink rinses out of regular cotton really easily, but I’m a little skeptical of the ballpoint. I also like how the felt tip takes a lighter touch to get the mark down.

          I think some Targets carry them now (so says the PilotPensUSA twitter, but not my local shops), or you can get them on JetPens. :)

      5. fretnone*

        I came here to say this! My one true love.

        I work in design and take notes on drafts during client meetings, and these are The Best for when client changes their mind 5 times – no problem, erase erase, and write clean notes over top. Such a game changer for this scenario.

        Also – leafy green plants within line of sight immeasurably brighten the workday :)

    10. Audiophile*

      I love their Precise V5/V7 RT pens. I specifically love the V7 in blue ink, but it is largely unavailable in stores.

    11. Darkitect*

      My PaperPro one finger stapler! I work for the federal government (home of broken, used office supplies) so it was a real coup to find a PaperPro hiding out in the supply cabinet. And when it was stolen off my desk, my tale of woe compelled my coworkers took up a collection and replace it for me. :)

      2. MerciMe*

        Yes! I bought a stapler with a super easy action back when I was having problems with repetitive stress injury – the difference is amazing. (I also noticed that after I left it in the printer area by accident, someone ordered several for common use.)

    12. Awkwardest Turtle*

      I very recently realized how much more fun taking notes is with good pens! I took buy my own – Papermate InkJoy gel pens (they come in fun colors which i sue at home and professional colors which i use for work).

    13. CJ Record*

      Related: if your office has whiteboards, shell out for the good dry erase markers, and more importantly, the good erasers and cleaner…

      and for the love of pete, replace the erasers regularly! They aren’t like chalkboard erasers that you can clap clean.

      1. Buffay the Vampire Layer*

        You can clean whiteboard erasers – just run them under the faucet with hand soap and air dry. You probably can’t do that forever as I imagine the glue will come undone eventually, but soap and water makes dry erase board erasers nice and fluffy again.

    14. Batshua*

      I second good pens! I can’t stand G2s, and since everyone swore by them, I thought I was some kind of freak. (Well, I am, but not because of that.) Then I discovered Uniball Jetstreams. They’re everything I wanted in a gel pen, and they come in normal and tiny sizes! I only keep a pink bodied one out at work because nobody steals the pink ones. :D

    16. June*

      The Pentel EnerGel pen (liquid gel ink in needle tip .07) is amazing! It became so popular in our agency that is the only pen our supply folks will now buy. It comes in black or blue ink.

    18. Just Peachy*

      Second this! I love that my office has a full supply of several colors of G2 pens. They are simply the best.

    19. Minnie*

      I have a pen obsession, so this was my first thought!

      I am currently admiring my new delivery of Sharpie fine point pens, which are my favorite

    20. Mary*

      I purchased myself a wireless quiet click mouse and I love it. The amount of clicking I have to do in my job and the constant clicking noise was getting on my nerves. Wish I had done this years ago, I had no idea it would be such a pleasure and make such a difference.

  2. Future Homesteader*

    As a small, cold woman: lumbar cushion, footstool, tea mug, and pashmina (currently enjoying the use of all three).

    1. BeenThere*

      As another thin cold woman I would also recommend an electric lap blanket. I think it was someone on this list that suggested it to me in the first place.

        1. zora*

          I just use the cheap “electric heating pad” sold at the drug store. And it is plenty warm but small enough to shove in my drawer.

          Sunbeam now has an electric blanket that is the size of a throw blanket. My mom has hers on the couch at home and loves it.

          1. Tara*

            I had cramps so bad one day on the way to work that I picked one up at the drugstore before getting to my desk. Now I just keep it at the office, has really saved me on crummy days.

          2. Camellia*

            I just went to QVC and ordered a heating throw with foot pocket, for home. How did I not think of this before????

        3. StellaM*

          I have a Sunbeam heated shawl that I use as a heating pad, shawl, and heated blanket. It’s very soft and gets pretty warm.

        4. Clewgarnet*

          I have a Dreamland microfleece electric throw (on the rare occasions when the cat hasn’t stolen it) and it makes life so much better.

      3. it_guy*

        I’ve used a bag of field corn warmed up in the microwave. It keeps warm for a long time. Kinda silly but it works.

          1. Valkyrie*

            yeah rice works really well! I just made a BUNCH of these as gifts for Christmas and they were a huge hit! My husband now has all my (functional, but not my best work) testers all over the house in places where he gets chilly.

    2. Language Student*

      I misread that and thought you were requesting a small, cold woman for a moment. Definitely agreed on footstool/lumbar cushion combination – if a chair doesn’t go down far enough, I feel like a little kid, and I like to sit as close to the back of the chair as I can.

      2. Bee*

        I’m super short (4’11”) and having a footstool has CHANGED my work experience. I even got one with little rollers in the middle so I can massage my feet when I wear heels. I even convinced my (equally short) supervisor to get one!

        1. Ramona Flowers*

          My footstool drives me crackers as it’s one of those adjustable ones with a wheel. I want it low and flat and that’s not possible – it can only be low in they front and high on they back, or flat but middling.

          2. Kiwi*

            I’ve got a simple solution: I use a thick sheet of solid packing foam. It gives enough that my feet don’t feel like I’m resting them on concrete, and it’s flat. Much better than a “real” footrest!

    4. Vin Packer*

      I am also a small, cold woman and it has somehow never occurred to me to get a footstool so my feet can stop dangling uncomfortably in front of my space heater. You have changed my life with this comment.

      1. Amber T*

        You know… I have a little foot stool at home under my desk. Why wouldn’t I get/request one at work??

    5. CheeryO*

      Heated mouse for me. Probably against some kind of rules, but it hasn’t set the office on fire yet.

      3. SarahKay*

        I too have a heated mouse, and I love it.
        And the site HSE manager knows I have it and hasn’t objected –
        this on a site where HSE is so strict you’re not allowed to walk while talking on a phone, or carry any uncovered drink up a flight of stairs – so you take my heated mouse from my cold, dead (but with a warm left hand) body!

      5. Admin 4 Life*

        Please tell me this is really a thing! That’s soooo cool! (couldn’t help it.)
        I hate working with cold hands the only thing I’d like more would be a heated keyboard. Just blow a little warm air out and I’d be able to keep going with my arthritis.

        1. teclatrans*

          These, too, exist. (Though, I don’t think there is any air.) Also, heated wrist pads (also called keyboard pads).

    7. JB (not in Houston)*

      I use a heated footrest, and if I don’t want to use that I use hand warmers that are supposed to be used for hands at spas but instead I use it for my feet. I also have a New Air oil filled personal heater, which seems to use less power than a regular space heater and therefore doesn’t cause any problems with flipping breakers at the office. It doesn’t put out as much heat as a regular space heater, but it also doesn’t blow hot air like the regular ones do, so I’m less inclined to get nose bleeds (and I also use a humidifier to combat dry-air-induced nose bleeds).

    8. Nolan*

      I work from home, but my radiators are all on the opposite side of the room from my work desk, so I just got a little Honeywell space heater to go under it and it’s been lovely. Do wish I’d thought of it before that cold bomb hit though

      1. Misstressfluffybutt*

        I work from home and I’m studying networking and I hate being cold. I literally created an ethernet port by the vent so my desk could be there. It’s amazing. I sit by a window and have warm air blow on me all day.

    9. Ebircs*

      I bought myself a big chunky knit throw blanket for my office. People smirk at me, but I work right next to the freight elevator and it gets COLD in the winter. My big blanket means I don’t sit and shiver at my desk.

      1. Ella Minnow Pea*

        I have the opposite problem…my office faces west and gets boiling hot in the afternoon. I have a mini Zippi fan that I got from Amazon. It has fabric blades, but they really move some air.

    11. NeverGoingToFindAHome*

      As a fellow small, cold woman (who works from home) my footstool, back pillow, and blanket (AND heating pad sometimes) are invaluable items. And of course, easy access to my tea collection and a microwave to warm my tea up when it gets cold (sacrilegious to some, I know).

      In my first internship, I would rest my feet on the computer case because it was the perfect height. Of course, I’d take my feet off anytime someone came over to talk to me, but I only realized afterwards quite *how* unprofessional it probably looked. It was only a two-month internship, so it’s not like I really could have asked for a footstool, and bringing one from home might have been weird…but certainly in my next office job, I will be bringing my necessities!

    12. tired anon*

      Yep, ditto to footstool + lumbar cushion. They have done wonders for my posture and keeping my back from getting worse.

    13. Aardvark*

      I am a lizard person and I recommend buying or making some wristwarmers/fingerless gloves. Very helpful for staying slightly warmer while typing.

      1. Birch*

        I always say I’m a lizard! Too hot when it’s hot out and too cold when it’s cold. Fingerless mitts and tea are the only reason I stay functional in the winter!

    15. Birch*

      As another small, cold woman, yes to all of this. I also have office slippers and fingerless mitts (but I work in academia so no one cares what I’m wearing) and a French press because our office coffee is typically burned to the bottom of the pot. The footstool was such a game changer! No more back and knee pain!

  3. Higher Ed Database Dork*

    My rocking footrest. I’m on the short side so I need a footrest anyway, but I like the rocking motion because I fidget a lot and I can move it around with my feet. It was like $20 and I’ve had it for a few years now.

      1. Higher Ed Database Dork*

        The one I have doesn’t have any mechanical parts – it’s just got rounded edges so if it’s on carpet, it’s pretty quiet. I can see it making noise on a hard floor or if I was really going to town on pumping it….but for the most part I never hear it. It’s Business Source Rocking Footrest, 17-3/4 by 13-7/8 by 3-Inch, Black from Amazon.

        1. Victorian Cowgirl*

          I think I need this. I’m a knee-bouncer and that creates noise so I’m always catching myself. Great tip!

    2. Serin*

      Yes, I just got one of these and I love it.

      Our cubicles are all connected, and the desk height can’t be adjusted; my chair is adjustable, of course, but if I raise it enough that my elbows are at that recommended 90-degree bend, my feet don’t touch the floor! (And I’m not that short — I’m 5’5″, which the last time I looked was average for an American woman. Which means that in most offices, most of your women and at least a few of your men probably need some foot support.)

    3. Natalie*

      Huh, I’ve never heard of a rocking foot rest. This seems relevant to my interests. Do you know the brand you have?

      1. Higher Ed Database Dork*

        Business Source Rocking Footrest, 17-3/4 by 13-7/8 by 3-Inch, Black – I found it on Amazon. I purchased it myself because I didn’t want to leave it behind at my old job. There’s tons of them out there, so you can find something that suits you if that one doesn’t work.

      2. Aphrael*

        I have a pretty basic fellowes one. I love it, but it’s easy to collapse with too much pressure on it, so you might want a sturdier one. Mine was only like $30, though – saving public resources :)

    4. INTP*

      Ooh! I think I need one of those. I’m that horrible person that doesn’t notice I’m bouncing my leg until someone gets fed up and says, “What’s causing that shaking!?”

    5. Crissy with an i*

      When I first started in my job I asked for a footrest. I ended up getting the rocking footrest as well and I don’t regret my decision! In fact, my footrest is so popular in my office that this year all my coworkers have asked for one as well.

    6. Nacho*

      I’ve got a footrest at home, but it just feels weird when I tried to use it at work. Do you wear shoes at your desk, or do you take them off?

  4. Corky's wife Bonnie*

    My boss found a heated footrest for me. I need a footrest anyway because I’m short. I am in the lobby, so there is an awful draft out here and there is also no basement in the building so the floor is freezing. We aren’t allowed to have space heaters, and this footrest was the only option. It really does help me in several ways.

      1. zora*

        Yep, I agree. I just have one of the electric heating pads I bought at the drug store. 12 bucks and only about 14″ by 20″ but it is so toasty warm but uses way less electricity than a space heater. and I can either have it on my lap or sit on top of it, and it’s pretty unobtrusive.

      2. LibKae*

        I requested one of those from Santa a few years ago, and the thing is a godsend! I have it on the back of my chair for when I’m having slightly chilly days and just want to lean against it, and for full-blown why-haven’t-they-turned-on-the-heat days I can wrap up in it — and I don’t get flagged by the space heater police!

      2. SarahKay*

        Oh, wow, I need one of these. I have lousy circulation, so I can be perfectly warm while my hands and feet freeze. A heated mouse and a cup of coffee has solved the hands; a heated floormat would be perfect!

          1. SarahKay*

            Oooohhh, that’s tempting…although, I do love my old mechanical keyboard, so perhaps not. Hmmm, decisions, decisions.

        2. Marillenbaum*

          And to keep your cup of coffee warm, there are also heated coasters that plug in via USB! I’m getting one as a Mothers’ Day gift for my mom; she is constantly forgetting her tea and finding it’s cold.

          1. SarahKay*

            I actually like cold coffee just as much as hot coffee, so that’s not such an issue. In fact in summer I’ll make myself a cold coffee by choice.
            Granted, my coffee-loving co-workers look slightly horrified at the idea but since my coffee of choice is instant coffee (black, no sugar), while they’re all making their favourite different blends in the office coffee-machine, they’re kind of used to the idea that I’m never going to be any kind of coffee aficionado.

    5. LT*

      Wasn’t there a recent post addressing someone who’s a receptionist who couldn’t keep heaters or blankets around and was baffled for solutions?

  5. bluelyon*

    A movable desk lamp. I get headaches from florescent lights and in a previous job had an office where I could shut the overheads off and just use that lamp. It was wicked tall and could be angled in many ways so when combined with my window I never needed the overheads.

        1. CheeryO*

          This is too cool. I had one of my overhead lights go out recently, and it’s amazing how much better I feel without the harsh lighting!

    2. I'll come up with a clever name later.*

      How you used wicked here makes me think you might be from the New England area. Am I right? If so…hello neighbor!!!

    4. HR Bee*

      I have a floor lamp with a moveable reading light (which is currently also pointed upwards to light the whole room.) I have high-lumen but low-wattage LED bulbs in there, so it’s much brighter than a normal one-bulb floor lamp would be, but still way easier on my eyes than the crazy bright fluorescent fixtures overhead. I never turn my overhead lights on and I’ve gotten many compliments on how cozy my office feels in comparison to the rest of the office.

      1. irene*

        Yes, me, too!

        The buzz of the fluorescent lights drives me batty so I have to leave them off in my office, but sometimes it’s too dim (especially on a rainy or otherwise dim day when my windows don’t let in much light). I got two floor lamps from a box store during back-to-school for $20 total – one has the reading lamp, the other doesn’t – and set them up in opposite corners of my office. I got to pick out the exact wattage and hue of LED bulbs (warm, 40w) and it’s bright enough for me without being exhausting (bright lights wear me out), and my visitors can still see when they’re facing the windows. And all the time, folks comment how cozy it is. :)

        Several of my coworkers have brought in their own lamps since I set mine up – they used to sit in the dark or only had one of their overheads on. We’re starting a little trend!

        At my old department, I never turned on overheads if i could help it. But it was an old 1930s building with huge windows. I hated when I got a promotion into the cubicles floor – nice, thick cubicle walls, and fairly tall, so they felt private, very nice – but I had to live with the overhead lights, and the one directly over me broke for a while, it was lovely. I got the worst headaches when it was fixed! I kept threatening to bring in an awning, but never got around to finding one before I got my own dim office again. ;)

  6. Murphy*

    I think I said this in the open thread, but a footrest! I didn’t actually ask for one until I was pregnant, but it’s really helpful even now that I’m not anymore.

    1. NW Mossy*

      I have a Zojirushi insulated coffee mug that is LIFE. It keeps my early morning coffee pleasantly warm well into the afternoon, which is wonderful for when I forget it at my desk when I go to a meeting. Best $30 I ever spent, and better for the environment than to-go cups too.

        1. Higher Ed Database Dork*

          Thanks for the suggestions – I’ve been looking for one for a while now, and the best I’ve found is just a regular ceramic one with a lid, and it’s just okay. I’ll check those out.

          1. Melissa C.*

            Hydroflask also makes an insulated coffee tumbler. It kept my tea hot for the 2 hour drive up to the ski hill (Denver>Breckenridge) and when I got back to the car after 7 hours of skiing it was still warm!

          2. stej*

            Contigo Vacuum Insulated Tumblers are exceptional for keeping heat in. Just let it cool off so you don’t burn yourself and then slip on the lid when it’s the perfect temp.

            1. Mine Own Telemachus*

              YES, seconding Contigo. It’s reasonably priced (~$20 at Target, iirc). I got one with a locking lid, because I’m a klutz, and it’s super convenient and does a great job of keeping my coffee warm!

              1. Meera*

                Thermos brand insulated mug – steel king! a) it’s giant; and b) it will keep your tea hot for 7 – 10 hrs. If I don’t finish my tea on the drive in to work; it’s still hot enough to drink on the way home.

      2. Detective Amy Santiago*

        I got an Adagio ToasTea that lets me brew my loose leaf tea right in the cup. I made my tea almost four hours ago and it’s still hot.

        1. Not that Anne, the other Anne*

          I believe Adagio is getting more of my money today. Thanks for the recommendation!

          1. Detective Amy Santiago*

            You’re welcome! I hope you like it :)

            One tip – the mesh isn’t really fine enough to handle rooibos.

      3. Secretary*

        YAAAASSS I have one that’s from target “contigo”. LOVE LOVE LOVE it during the winter when my office becomes a freezer.

    3. Cordelia Vorkosigan*

      I’ve created a mini-tea station at my desk. I keep a Britta water pitcher, an Adagio VarieTEA Kettle, a mug, and various kinds of tea along with sugar packets, etc in an Ikea Raskog cart. It’s deeply awesome. (Links in the next post.)

        1. Desdemona*

          How quiet is the Adagio kettle? I’ve been wanting to get an electric kettle for my desk but I work in an open office and don’t want one that’s really distracting.

          1. Cordelia Vorkosigan*

            The water does make noise when it boils, but the kettle itself doesn’t whistle or anything like that. I’ve seen noisier electric kettles, but I wouldn’t call it quiet.

      2. Sunshine on a cloudy day*

        Oh my – I love tea and I adore this idea! I’m in a cubicle set up right now so don’t have the space for a full cart, but I absolutely will be copying this idea as soon as I’m in a different space/setup

      3. irene*

        I did the same! I don’t have a kettle yet (our water dispenser makes gloriously hot water, so I’m looking for a good keep-warm teapot instead), and I have loads of cabinets/storage space going unused, so I basically created a tea cabinet instead of a cart.

        I had a set of mugs, so I can be lazy and bring them home to the dishwasher on weekends, several spoons, a measuring spoon set, sugar cubes, multiple types of tea and filters and meshes, and saucers and so on. I’ve also added some inexpensive Dragon flatware from Ikea for lunchtime and got a nice salad/soup bowl that I keep my seasonal fruit in for snacking or offering to visitors. I recently got tired of the crap brown paper “towel” rolls offered in the kitchen and bathrooms and brought in a set of dishtowels to help pick up spills or dry my teamugs if I’ve decided to give them a wash mid-week.

        I love having a little pantry in my office, even centered around tea as it is. Everything’s kept closed up and safe from bugs, and it gives me more options at lunchtime (I also keep some shelf-stable foods that I can heat up when my regular lunch just doesn’t do it – chicken noodle soup, easy mac, etc.) Or when we have surprise 10-hour days to get those last minute report changes done!

    4. Adlib*

      Contigo mugs are amazing for this reason! I get them as gifts for almost everyone in my life. (They even have a push-button seal which I like.)

        1. Secretary*

          Yep love mine. I just leave it open for 10 minutes in the morning then it’s perfect drinkable temperature for the rest of the day.

          1. Julia*

            The Tiger thermos I got in Japan keeps beverages extremely hot for hours – as in, leave it open for an hour before putting it in your bag and still burn your mouth when you try to drink.

    6. MCL*

      I have a Nissan Thermos brand backpack thermos. I’ve had it for years and years, and it keeps things hot (or cold) all day long. I have accidentally forgotten it at home all day before and the coffee is still reasonably hot. The lid locks, it fits great into my purse, so I make coffee at home and bring it into work. It’s only leaked once, when I over-filled it. The only thing it needs is an overnight soak in Oxy-clean every so often to remove the coffee stain build-up. I bought one for my spouse, and he likes it but he often boils water for tea and it’s way too hot to drink for a long while. I guess my coffee maker just doesn’t get that hot. So, if you’re doing something extra hot, you may want to build in a few minutes’ time of it sitting open to cool off.

      1. Marty*

        Thermos also makes vacuum mugs. They keep drinks hot for longer than any other insulated mug I have ever tried, and, when closed, if you don’t over fill them, you can turn them upside down and they won’t leak. Love those things.

    7. Teapot Tester*

      I have a mug warmer and it’s awesome. Keeps the coffee hot for as long as it takes me to drink it, which in the afternoon can be a while.

    8. Lefty*

      I’ll go the opposite route- I was just given a mug by a company called SIC (Seriously Ice Cold). I’m a notorious iced coffee drinker and it really does keep everything very cold through my 2 hour commute and into the work day! My husband recently grabbed it and said it kept his coffee hot for at least 5 hours (he’d finished it then).

    9. Robin*

      If you do administrative work, get a machine that trifolds paper. It makes putting things in envelopes so much easier.

  8. LiterallyPapyrus*

    A backless saddle seat to ease back pain from too much sitting and an ultra-wide monitor, which replaced my two-screen set up.

    1. Kati*

      Ooh, I want to hear more about this. I have a standing/sitting desk, but really wish my sitting environment was better…

      1. LiterallyPapyrus*

        I bought this one: https://www.amazon.com/Master-Massage-Hydraulic-NanoSkin-Upholstery/dp/B00HVHACIA/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516292610&sr=8-4&keywords=saddle+seat (though it was half that price when I did!!!) and it’s been a game changer. It forces you to sit in a more natural alignment and keep your posture upright instead of slouched.

        It is a pretty wide seat, though, so if your hips are super tight or if you have a very small frame I imagine this wouldn’t be very comfortable. Also difficult to sit in with some skirts but HEY MODESTY PANELS!

        My next step will be to get a standing desk kit but they’re all so bulky!

        2. Gretchen*

          Have you checked out Varidesk? It works really well for me without needing a whole new furniture purchase. It’s nice because when I stand I raise my whole (cluttered) desktop.

          1. LiterallyPapyrus*

            I have! The bulk of them turns me off a bit because I tend to keep a very minimal work space but I haven’t found a much cleaner solution that isn’t an entire desk.

            1. Pasticcio*

              I use a simple IKEA worktop on adjustable-height legs, set permanetly to my standing height – because while it can be adjusted, you have to clear the desk first to do it safely.

              Then spent most of my budget on a nice architects/draughtsman’s chair with a good footstool attachment (it’s like a swivel desk chair, but it goes up to barstool height. There’s a bit of a trick to getting into the chair, since it’s on wheels and up high, so it might not be a good arrangement for people who have problems like balance issues, but now that I’ve got a higher chair, it just seems so logical.

              I like it a lot, especially because my chair puts me at a more conversational height when people stop by my desk, even when I’m sitting. Other people like not having to bend down to talk to me or reach stuff on my desk as well, so I feel like it’s good for the posture of the whole office, not just me.

            2. Zahra*

              If you keep very little stuff on your desk, you can get away with a cheaper one.

              Corollary: when buying a standing desk, always check how much weight it can lift.

        3. Ruthy Sue*

          I have a Ergotron Work-Fit sit-stand attachment for my desk, which is great! It just clamps on, and holds the keyboard, mouse, a work platform for papers, and monitors. Doesn’t take up the rest of the desk space and can adjust the keyboard tray to below the desk surface (which is where is should be, unlike the varidesk). Almost everyone in my office has them and are beloved. Huge improvement to my day!

        4. Clewgarnet*

          Ooh, I’d be able to do my riding exercises while at work! Practice rising to the trot without stirrups! This may be a game changer in many ways!

      2. MustNotBeNamed*

        I use the Back Joy and it has helped my back pain so much! And it’s fairly portable, so I take it to work, school, and my internship really easily.

      3. Mabel*

        I use a yoga ball on a rolling stand-type thing, and I love it. The yoga ball by itself is better for my back because it forces me to use my core muscles to balance , but it’s too short without the stand (I’m 5’7″). I got both from Amazon.

  9. Wannabe Disney Princess*

    Fancy coffee machine! I realize this isn’t something people themselves can (probably) go out and purchase. But the ability to walk in and a get a latte, cappuccino, mocha, chocolate latte, vanilla cappuccino, etc FOR FREE is amazing.

    1. ThatGirl*

      Yeah, it’s a small thing, but our fancy coffee machines are great — they make regular coffee, tea, cappuccinos, lattes, mochas, hot chocolate, chai/tea lattes. That plus the ice/water machine keep me going.

    2. essEss*

      That is a great perk at my office too. We have a fancy coffee machine, plus a permanent hot water spout for making tea. Plus a fridge full of free cans of soda and sparkling water. They recently began making jugs of ice water filled with lemons and cucumbers (one with lemon slices and the other with cucumber slices).

      I found myself drinking way too much soda pop though. I had a previous job that had a juice machine so we could get apple and orange juice all day.

    3. Muriel Heslop*

      Mine isn’t fancy but having my own coffee maker and mini-fridge has been life-changing for me. As a teacher, my time is limited and being able to have time to get coffee whenever I want is huge. And having my food available in my classroom instead of the other side of the school is a lifesaver during my 28 minute “duty-free” lunch. I’m currently shopping craigslist for a cheap micro and my private kitchen will be complete.

    6. Amber T*

      We have one of those kick ass Keurigs that connect directly to the pipes (actually two – one in the fancy board room and one in our regular kitchen). I regularly comment how spoiled we are as an office since we have 500 flavors of coffee, soda, juice, water, seltzer… but now I want a fancy coffee maker…

    7. B*

      Yes, this! While it may be a small thing it is a HUGE perk that I have found very enjoyable at an older office.

      As well, a hot and cold water machine where you do not have to change the bottle because it is tied directly to the water supply line. Being able to order pens and supplies I like. As well, as a decent size fridge, microwave, cutlery, plates, cups.

    8. Clewgarnet*

      Ooh, that sounds lovely! We have actual baristas armed with an espresso machine, but it costs a fortune.

  10. NewHerePleaseBeNice*

    GOOD stationery. Pens that aren’t leaky and blobby. Notebooks with paper that’s not so thin the ink goes through. Files that the rings don’t break on. Labels that actually stick and a stapler that can staple more than one thin sheet, etc.

    And a Plantronics headset with microphone.

    1. Gen*

      Really good gel pens can do wonders for painful hands because they require so much less pressure to get consistent legible handwriting. This is doubly true if they have a soft grip (I use Uniball Signo)

    5. o.b.*

      My bosses actually BOUGHT me a plantronics headset, which I thought was fantastic until it came …. and it was too big for my tiny head :(

    1. DarcyPennell*

      Me too, this has been the #1 improvement in my work life. I bought them for my own birthday a couple years ago and I think it’s the best present I’ve ever had.

    2. Midge*

      YES! I work in an open plan office and I literally couldn’t do my job in this space if I wasn’t able to block out most of the noise. I have a pair of Bose QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones. They’re wired, but it doesn’t get in the way too much.

      Rechargeable batteries are also a must with the headphones. Since I have the headphones turned on probably 20-30 hours a week, I would be going through a lot of regular batteries if I didn’t have them.

    3. MLiz*

      Can you guys recommend some? I’m in the market for a pair, but between all the different tests I never know what to get and it would be great to get some recommendations from office workers!

      1. Eric*

        Bose QC35s if they are in your budget ($350 or so). I can wear them for an entire day and they don’t hurt my head.

      2. Reba*

        If you have an outlet mall in your area, see if they have a Bose store; they also sell the refurb’s online I believe, for under 200 bucks. I also have the 25’s and love them.

      3. Perspicuosity*

        The Bose Quietcomfort 35 are great (and expensive). Rechargeable and cable-free. My former employer bought them for whoever wanted when they moved to a completely open office plan.

      4. IfYouDon'tHave200Bucks*

        I got these on recommendation from a coworker with a reputation for being very… thorough (as in, makes spreadsheets comparing features and price for stuff like this) and I’ve been very happy when them. I recently got moved into a shared office space with a very popular person, and so far these have been great at blocking out conversations happening three feet behind me as long as some kind of sound is playing through them. And the red ones are SUPER stylish, if I do say so myself. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XHBV8H2/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_QYliAbR6YX3CF

      5. The Chatty One*

        I use Sennheiser HD380s and I love them. They’re currently $150 on Amazon. They’re wired and don’t have active noise canceling, but they are extremely comfortable and can easily be worn all day. Mine have seen near daily use for two and a half years and are still in great condition.

        1. The Chatty One*

          Forgot to add: despite having no active noise canceling, the HD 380 is an around the ear design and blocks ambient noise quite well. Depending on how loud your office gets and what kind of music you listen to, they may do the job just fine without active noise canceling.

        2. Annie Moose*

          I have the Sennheiser HD 598 Cs, also $150 on Amazon right now. They’re amazing! Despite not actively having noise cancellation, they’re closed back–I can’t hear a thing when I have them on, and the sound quality is lovely without leaking. I’ve had several headsets over the years (some for gaming, some for music) and these are by far the most comfortable I’ve ever worn. Very soft, with a nice-feeling cover on the earpieces, and adjustable to my smallish head.

          The only complaint I have about them is there’s no volume control on the headphones themselves… but my keyboard has a volume control, so it’s not a big deal to me.

      6. a Gen X manager*

        I wanted the Bose, but couldn’t justify the price, so I opted for these Brand New from ebay for $100: Audio-Technica ATH-ANC9 QuietPoint Noise-Cancelling Headphones

        They are surprisingly great – both listening to music / audio and just on in noise-cancel mode for nearly absolute silence.

        1. Hodie-hi*

          I love my over-the-ear Audio Technica noise canceling headphones.
          They are less expensive than Bose and work very well, even while wearing eyeglasses. They are comfortable enough to wear for hours every day. Required equipment for open office where people don’t use their inside voices. They are wired, which is only a minor nuisance. Next set will be wireless.

          1. Open_office_sufferer*

            Loving these recommendations, will save me a bunch of time in research. I bought noise-isolating headphones, which are just ok in blocking out all the ppl in our huge open office floor. Ok isn’t good enough. In the market for noise canceling ones now.

    4. Anon Accountant*

      Amazing suggestion. This is great and will keep the sound of my 3 coworkers laughing loudly and disrupting everyone else from bugging me. Very frustrating when you’re picking up their slack and they’re having a nonstop party.

      1. Kalros, the mother of all thresher maws*

        Sounds awful! I have been next to a loudly-laughing team before, I can only imagine how much more annoying it would’ve been if I’d been picking up their slack. I highly recommend a white noise website, rainymood.com, or something similarly neutral behind a playlist or podcast or whatever you’d like to listen to. It helps make the sound more “dense,” so it’s really effective at blocking out ambient sounds (and dulling high-frequency ones) without having to crank up the volume. With the noise-blocking headphones it’s sometimes almost TOO effective – I once had a coworker standing at the entrance to my cubicle knocking on the metal filing cabinets for I still don’t even know how long while I was blissfully unaware. He didn’t bother to tap my shoulder because he wanted to see how long I’d be oblivious. It was hilarious.

        1. Midge*

          Thanks for the tip on rainymood.com. I’m listening to a thunder storm right now, and it’s very relaxing!

        2. Anon Accountant*

          Thanks I’m going to try white noise or headphones with music. It gets very annoying, especially now since it’s W-2 prep time.

          Our 1 boss actually told them last week about how loud they were and they pouted. The next day when she wasn’t there it started right back again. Ugh

          1. Windchime*

            I love my Bose noise-canceling headphones. They are an older model; about 6 or 7 years old and they have a cord. I put them on with a white-noise app playing in the background and I am blissfully unaware of the two guys who talk constantly about Bitcoin all day long in the cube next to me.

      2. Julia*

        I knew for sure that I needed to quit my awful former job when I asked my boss for a headset (we were updating the telephone system anyway) because the co-worker I shared an office with was really loud on the phone, kept the TV on non-muted during the day, and huffed and puffed when she was annoyed. I had to press the receiver of the phone to one ear and stuff a finger of my other hand into my other hear when I needed to make a call (often in a different language, which made things even worse) and couldn’t take notes while on the phone without doing distortions with my head.

        He said: “You don’t need that.” When I quit a few months later, he was SO surprised.

    7. NeverGoingToFindAHome*

      My Bose wireless, bluetooth, noise cancelling headphones have been a life-saver on soooo many occasions. Chatty coworkers, construction noise, even just the ambient noise of fluorescent lights and air conditioning bother me after a while. Most people don’t seem to mind the wires, but just like the earlier discussion about two monitors (and that you don’t know you need it until you’ve had it), I feel like you don’t know you need wireless headphones until you do. It’s saved me from ripping the headphones out of the headphone jack (or off my head) so many times, and won’t get tangled up in my desk chair’s arms.

    8. Lygeia*

      First, GREAT username :)

      I wish I had noise cancelling headphones! Everyone in my office is always on the phone talking so sometimes it’s really hard to concentrate.

  12. Amadeo*

    Some kettle or receptacle for hot water for drinking. I have an electric kettle on my desk, the thing is noisy beyond belief while heating up, but on the days when I want tea in the afternoon it’s invaluable.

    1. Rachel Green*

      I used to have an electric kettle at my desk and the noise was too much, so I hardly ever used it. Now, I use the Keurig in the kitchen for hot water to make tea.

    2. Amber T*

      There’s an electric kettle in the back that the three or four dedicated tea drinkers share… I wonder if the office purchased that for them or if it’s an individual’s and they share it.

    3. CarolynM*

      My electric kettle makes me very popular! We have a lot of visiting employees from a country where tea is much more popular than coffee – they do a good job of hiding their horror when told they can get tea water by brewing the Keurig without a cup in it^, heating water in the microwave^^ or using the hot water button on the water cooler^^^, but the relief when I come up afterwards and tell them to find me when they want tea because I have an electric kettle at my desk is REAL! :)

      ^ If I wanted my tea to taste like coffee, I would just have coffee!
      ^^ Tastes funny – I have proven in blind taste tests that without fail, I can pick out microwaved vs. boiled!
      ^^^ Not hot enough!!!!! Brews a cup of dissatisfaction instead of a cup of tea!

      1. AMPG*

        RE: Keurigs for tea – I once made the mistake of trying an actual tea Keurig pod (when my old office switched over, we got a bunch of sample packs for a while and then ordered what seemed to be most popular). It tasted like warmed-over sadness.

        1. Detective Amy Santiago*

          This post is making me want to have a discussion about tea in this weekend’s open thread.

            1. misskleio*

              I’ve only recently begun drinking tea and will be Very Happy to Learn from Those With More Opinions!

        2. Ramona Flowers*

          “It provided him with a liquid that was almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea.“ Douglas Adams

          1. another Liz*

            So let me get this straight. You want the taste of dead leaves, steeped in boiling water?

            Yes, please.

            Working…

      2. Not that Anne, the other Anne*

        My desk supply of tea makes me equally popular. The teabags in the break room are made of sadness, so I always warn those from tea-centric countries that they can come find me and I will provide them with the good stuff.

        In turn, I am often given gifts of tea from said countries. Everybody wins.

        1. Marillenbaum*

          I love this! I was working in a tea-drinking country this summer, and the communal kitchen had the saddest teabags; the tea would turn gray as it cooled (!); I, however, had a box of PG Tipps and a sleeve of digestive biscuits in my desk drawer, which made me very popular with the local staff and any stray children who happened to find my cubicle.

    4. zora*

      Our office has a really fancy water filter that has cold and hot water, and the hot is the perfect temp for tea. It’s great.

      1. NJ Anon*

        Looks like a bike, just the pedal part. Fits under your desk so you can get some cardio in while you work!

      2. lizwid*

        I love my under the desk peddler. Can adjust the tension, use it just as a footrest… I usually get half an hour or more of exercise on it in a typically workday. And it’s quiet, no one else knows I’m using it.

      3. Meh*

        They vary in name, but I have a DeskCycle (http://a.co/eWu0ZtH ) and I love it. It’s a nice way to get some exercise at the desk. There are cheaper models out there, but I think this one is the best.

        1. JustaTech*

          How do you use it with a wheeled desk chair? I tried that with my desk peddler at home and the chair pretty much shot out from under me and I had to make do with a dining chair. If I could make the peddler work with a wheeled chair I could use it all day!

          1. fposte*

            I could actually get behind a setup where the pedaler was on wheels or ball-bearings and you just pedal around the office in a rolling chair all day. Kind of like working on a recumbent bike.

          2. Amber T*

            I’m sorry but that sounds hilarious.

            Reminds me of a time I was doing a sneaky fitness challenge with a friend. Nothing crazy… we’d text each other stuff like “get up and do 10 squats now” or “do a lap around your building” and if we could, we would. She texted me to do tricep dips, so I set myself in my (wheeled) office chair, and as I dipped, the chair wheeled itself backwards, and I landed on my ass. Thankfully, I have a closed door, so bruised ego (and tailbone) remained a secret.

          3. Meh*

            It’s how you pedal. If you pedal more down as opposed to forward, you won’t be pushed back. It takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you get it, it becomes second nature. . The cycles also usually come with a strap to put on your chair as well so that you’re not pushed back, but if you pedal correctly, you don’t need it. I use it with my wheeled chair all the time.

          1. Meh*

            Nope. The model I listed is dead quiet. I’ve used it in an open office with cubes and the folks sitting next to me didn’t even notice I was pedaling unless they looked over. Many were impressed by it.

    3. Purplesaurus*

      Be careful with the peddle action. I had to re-position my ethernet cable because my desk elliptical kept pulling it out.

    4. Ebircs*

      Haha, totally different reaction to what I thought your pedal was! I worked in closed captioning for a few years and we all had pedals on the floor – but they were like sewing machine pedals. They paused, rewound and played the videos we were captioning.

      1. Teacher*

        That’s what I thought too. I have done medical transcription in the past, so that was the first thing I thought of.

  14. S*

    I work from home, and these are the things that help: non-shared office with door. Control over window covering (seriously, this was a big issue when I shared an office). HUGE monitor.

    1. boo*

      Non-shared office! I just moved from a situation where I worked in a corner of my bedroom in a shared apartment, to one where I live alone and have an actual office (OK I live in NY, so actually I partitioned the living room in half with screens, but still.) The psychological difference of having somewhere that is just for work and all for work is amazing. Alas, that’s a much bigger discretionary expense than a new set of pens…

      Though actually, I would say if you work from home and can possibly partition off your office, even if it’s just a tiny corner of another room, it’s still really helpful to have a dedicated space.

      1. Anonymousaurus Rex*

        Yep. I work from home most days and I have made a corner of my dining room into my office. I have a pull out desk (old built-ins from the 1920s). I love that when I’m done with work I can close up the desk and not see my office. I even found a second monitor that fits inside!

      2. Nolan*

        Yeah, when I first started wfh I had to work in a corner of my shared bedroom in Queens, and I started work like an hour before my partner had to get up for his job! Not ideal.

        Once we moved north and had a second bedroom it was much better. My office also contains the “family computer” and some other non-work stuff, but it’s primarily my space and I don’t have to worry about interrupting anybody else to use it

        1. Wendy Darling*

          I work from home and my desk is in our living room. This made perfect sense when we moved here because Mr. Darling is way more bothered by noise than I am, so his desk is in the guest room. I actually like where my desk is mostly — it’s in a very pleasantly sunny corner of the house, and when I’m not working I can do things at my desk but still be near whatever Mr. Darling is doing.

          Now the downside is any time he has the day off and I don’t I’m like “please get out.” Somehow having him not-working behind me makes it absolutely painful to be sat here working.

    2. Wendy Darling*

      My dream is to move to a place with a third bedroom. Right now I work from home and my desk is in (the best corner of) the living room, which is really a mixed bag. The other rooms are our shared bedroom, where my piano also lives scrunched in a corner because there is nowhere else for it, and the guest room, which has Mr. Darling’s desk in it. The guest room is quite cramped and the desk in there becomes completely inaccessible when the the guest bed sofa is folded out, so it doesn’t even really make sense for me to move my kit in there. Working if we had guests would be intolerable.

      I want a third bedroom so I have an office and space for my piano. It doesn’t even need to be big! The piano is digital, it is very small!

    3. LJL*

      Second the door. I work from home and it’s absolutely essential to be able to shut the door to keep critters and hubby out. It also serves as a reminder that when the door is shut, I’m likely client facing and not to be disturbed.

  15. Cold person*

    A heated throw blanket! I walk to work most days and it helps me warm up so much more quickly than anything else!

        1. Lauren R*

          I believe you can find them at Walmart or Target? Heated blankets are so nice and feel like heaven on chilly mornings. I used to have one that was big enough for my bed, and it was great for winter since I’m super cold-natured but also hate the weight of multiple blankets. I’ve definitely thought about getting another one but the big ones I’ve seen are a little pricey, so I may look into getting one of the throws!

          1. zora*

            Sunbeam is a brand that makes them. I’ve seen them a lot recently at the drugstores, but they are also on Amazon.

            1. Lujessmin*

              While everyone else huddles with their heated blankets, I had my little USB desk fan going all the time. In my old office, the heat was turned up because everyone was cold (but me!) I would create a red neck air conditioner by putting a frozen bottle of water in front of my little fan

    2. Anonicat*

      I am the reverse, a hot person in a hot country. A hand fan (as in, the old fashioned ones you fold out and flap yourself with) makes a big difference when I arrive at work already feeling sweaty and blah.

      Bonus points, it’s a beautiful one painted with birds and bamboo that was a gift from a Chinese colleague.

  16. Emily S.*

    I love my flat-stack stapler from Staples. It’s very easy to use (called one-touch), and it was about $10. It impresses everyone who tries it out!

    1. Midge*

      My coworkers at Old Job liked my one-touch stapler so much that it became the office stapler and they eventually broke it. :( I bought myself a new one that stayed in my desk drawer after that.

      It may seem like a small thing to have a slightly fancy stapler, but it makes me so happy every time I use it.

      1. As Close As Breakfast*

        Never underestimate the power of a stapler. Buildings have been burned down in their names.

        1. Goya de la Mancha*

          Well now you’re just jumping to conclusions. You should probably get a mat for that.

    2. Detective Amy Santiago*

      My mom started a job recently where she is assembling a lot of document packets and she had me order her an electric stapler from Amazon. Made her life so much easier!

    3. a Gen X manager*

      agree!! We replaced all of our staplers with these, but we recently ordered an additional one and the quality isn’t what it was just two years ago.

    5. inkstainedpages*

      Yes! My husband got me the One Touch stapler from Staples for my birthday a few years ago and I love love love it!

    6. Rebecca in Dallas*

      I have a Paper Pro one-finger stapler and I love it! My boss at an old job had one, I was constantly coming into her office to borrow it for large stacks of paper (it can staple up to 25) so she finally got me one as a Christmas gift! And now everyone wants to borrow it here at my new job, so I made sure to label it so it doesn’t disappear.

  17. SNS*

    Standing desks and second monitors for sure. I also have a mouse pad with a wrist rest that I love, that our HR rep (jokingly) scolded me for buying with my own money instead of just asking her to order it

    1. Media Buyer*

      Seconding this. As someone who deals a lot with multiple excels, etc. having a second monitor is such a life saver.

      I also got a standing desk about six months ago and having the option to alternate between standing and sitting has really helped my back as I’m no longer sitting for 7 straight hours.

      1. StudentPilot*

        My unit just got standing/sitting desk not too long ago and they have made a huge difference. My concentration has gotten so much better now that I can stand and pace around my office while on conference calls.

        1. Lillian Gilbreth*

          Depending on what you’re doing with Excel, I’ve actually learned a way to do this.

          If you open document #1 the way you normally would, and then open Excel again from the start menu and open document #2 from the file>open drop down, you can have the two documents open side by side (repeat step 2 as necessary for more files.) HOWEVER, this opens two separate “universes” of excel so the files won’t talk to each other. If you’re just comparing number or looking at one for reference it’s fine, but you can’t link doc #1 to doc #2 which is annoying.

          1. Amber T*

            I’m so thrilled that excel has this trick, but I’m so mad that excel makes you use this trick to do it. It’s super obnoxious. Adobe Reader also automatically opens in the same window as an already open pdf, though you can drag it out and place it in its own window now. Ugh.

            2. SarahKay*

              If you move to Excel 2016 it will open everything in a separate window, and they will talk to each other…but, depending on how you work, this is not entirely a benefit. And it doesn’t seem to be optional.
              I’m on a Microsoft Comment thread of people asking to please let them have back the option for all documents in a single ‘Universe’. I gather that it can cause real issues when running macros that work over a number of documents, amongst other problems.

              1. Amber T*

                My dad is a database developer by trade , and my guess is if your macros are getting screwy because your excels aren’t in the same “universe” anymore, he’d tell you your using excel wrong. This is coming from someone who barely understands pivot tables and really only needs to know how to sum up columns, so I am in now way an expert (other than purposely ticking off my dad by asking him “can’t you do that in excel?” anytime he’s explaining a work problem cuz I’m mean like that).

                BRB… asking IT if we can update to 2016…

                1. SarahKay*

                  Truthfully, I’m not clear on exactly what the issue is with the macros either, since I don’t use them much; it’s just what I’ve picked up from reading other people’s comments. The consensus seems to be that serious users are getting clobbered by it – and that if you need many worksheets open at once then you’re also eating significantly more processing power.
                  So far the only reason I’d like the option to have them all in the same ‘universe’ is because if I want to move everything from one screen to the other it’s easier if they’re all attached so it’s one move instead of five or six. That’s a minor complaint though; mostly I find it easier now.

                2. SarahKay*

                  Oh, while I remember, there are two other common irritations with Office 2016:
                  1) No more ‘Auto-Preview only for unread messages’ – Auto-preview is on, or off, but you can’t enable it just for unread messages. Also true for Office 2013; I jumped from 2007 to 2013 so can’t comment on 2010.
                  2)Huge icons for attachments in emails in Outlook 2016 eating your screen space. If you want a feel for the new size, look at your icons in a Windows Explorer folder. They’ve always been set at the ‘Small’ icon size, now they’re at the ‘Medium’.

              2. iseeshiny*

                Ohhhh see I’m on 2010 at my work. We only recently upgraded to Windows 7 from XP so it’s anyone’s guess when I’ll get Excel 2016 but I look forward to it – I only use macros for small things so this will be a lot better for me. I’ve only ever used macros that work on one worksheet, never mind on different workbooks.

          2. taco*

            And here I thought I was doing something wrong when that was the only way for me to get two separate Excel windows. It’s not like one would ever have to compare different spreadsheets side by side….

            Microsoft, why do you do these things to us?

        2. Tara*

          You mean like looking at the tabs in the same Excel doc in different windows? In my 2016 Excel, you can go to View > New Window. It’ll open a new window, but it’s the same document, and both windows are live (like if you update a formula from one tab, it’ll update anything you have linked in the other tab).

          1. Natalie*

            There’s a slightly older version of Excel where they very stupidly took this feature away. I remember it being intensely aggravating when I was using that version at work.

    2. Future Homesteader*

      Oh I recently got a gel wrist rest for in front of my keyboard and while my wrists are indifferent, my elbows LOVE it (no more sore elbows/tingly arms from leaning on the hard desk).

    3. StandingDesk FTW*

      I love my standing desk! It has a handle for quick up/down (instead of a crank or a button).

      – It’s especially great when someone stops by my cube to talk about something. Instead of them leaning into my personal space, BAM! Up goes the desk and we can stand there together to discuss.
      – It’s also great cause if I sit in one position for too long, I feel like a lump.

      Saved my sanity and my urge to fidget.

    4. Hapless Bureaucrat*

      Seconding. My desk is adjustable height, so the whole surface raises to stand and lowers. First time in this short woman’s life that I haven’t needed a footrest. And it’s alleviated a lot of lower back pain.

      As for mice, at my old work I had this roller bar mouse that sat under my keyboard that I loved so much. At this office I have a joystick mouse that I love equally.

      I also second the headsets and nose cancelling headphones upthread. Also, when I worked in a cube with my back to the entrance I used to hang a mirror that would reflect the entrance so that I could see when someone was coming up to see me. People in that office liked to hover, and it made it so much easier for me to relax into work, knowing I’d see them. Also, if I was wearing headphones they could just wave to get my attention in the mirror.

      1. hermit crab*

        We have fully adjustable desks now too, and they’re amazing. The brand is called (checks side of desk) Workrite. It’s motorized and the whole L-shaped workspace goes up and down to whatever height you choose! You can even save your preferred “stand” and “sit” settings so you just have to hit a button and it goes to the right height.

    6. Mbarr*

      I also vote for a standing desk. Sitting for too long causes my lower back to start cramping up, so having the option to alternate between sitting and standing has really helped.

  18. Gen*

    You can get sets of sticky labels/flags from Japan in lots of different designs which are super handy for marking up documents. I personally use cute pastel cat labels because they make me laugh and they never leave my office, but there are less twee designs available. Sometimes it’s just nice to give your eyes a rest from black and white!

    2. Blue Anne*

      There’s something to be said for the cutesy office supplies! When I was the admin/bookkeeper for a small tech company, my stapler would always crap out or go walkabout. I bought a really high quality one in hot pink. No more problems with it jamming up or disappearing from my desk, my entirely male colleagues always returned it.

      1. Karo*

        We have company-supplied staplers so I can’t justify buying it, but Target has iridescent ones that I’m coveting hard.

        1. Elemeno P.*

          If it brings you joy, I’d get it. I bought a novelty otter tap dispenser for myself and that $15 has been very fun every time I’ve needed tape over the past year and a half. Plus, it comes with me if I leave!

      2. Ejane*

        I’m a big fan of cutesy office supplies too! I’ve always worked in very image-conscious environments, so I get my cute in little ways, and one of those is a set of pencils printed with vintage dog themes. I’m obsessed, and they write beautifully.

      3. Christmas Carol*

        Re: Hot pink supplies. Buying hot pink tools was the only way I could keep the warehouse guys from stealing my tape measure/tape gun/utility knife

      4. Ten*

        I get compliments on my crocodile staple eater all the time. I’d never go back to a plain one now. =)

    3. KR*

      I have cactus a sticky notes since we are located in the desert. They aren’t very useful but they’re so cute!

    4. essEss*

      Even simply having multi-colored postit notes instead of plain yellow. That allows me to flag and categorize notes by sticking different colored mini colored postits that stick out off the edge of the page.

        1. Marillenbaum*

          May I recommend Zebra Midliners? I have a bag of about 20 colors, and they are amazing! I use them for notes (grad school) and my bullet journal, and they make everything prettier and easier to sort.

          1. Teach*

            Also the Frixion pastel highlighters! They are pastel colored and erasable. My students (all high schoolers) get to use them as a reward.

    5. Charlie Bradbury's Girlfriend*

      My friend bought me Gudetama sticky notes for work. The older people in the office were kinda freaked out by them! I’m using teddy bear sticky notes now.

    6. LAI*

      My friend bought me adorable paperclips that are shaped like dachshunds and I love them so much that I refuse to use them for anything because I don’t want to lose any.

      1. As Close As Breakfast*

        I have these little red bow shaped ones (thank you Target dollar spot!) and I do the same thing! At this point I’m basically just hoarding them and using them for stuff that just stays at my desk. But man oh man do they make me smile every time!

  19. AnonResearchManager*

    A corporate mobile phone! I honestly can not live without it, being able to see my schedule anytime of day, call into meetings while I’m stuck in traffic, respond to urgent emails/texts in real time. I know a lot of people disagree, but I find it makes things so much more flexible for me… which is the most valuable perk.

    1. Someone Else Needs The Wood*

      This. Although I occasionally grumble about carrying two phones, having one dedicated solely for work is great.

    2. FJ*

      Having one phone dedicated to work is pretty nice! I can leave it behind on weekends and not be distracted by work e-mail all the time.

      I wish our corporate security on e-mail apps would let us use third-party calendars so I could see my google calendar and work calendar in one app though!

      1. A. Schuyler*

        My work calendar syncs into the Calendar app on my iPhone which is also linked to my other personal calendars (Google, TripIt, etc.) and I find this absolutely invaluable. There was a brief period between getting a dedicated work phone and being allowed to sync my calendar to two devices where I could only see my work calendar on my work phone and it was so inconvenient.

    3. Serious Sam*

      I prefer my dual-SIM phone (Moto G5). One SIM for work, one for home, but only one item to carry and manage the charge on. Can turn off the work SIM whenever I like, e.g weekends.

    4. Anxa*

      I would have loved a GPS or smartphone at my summer job.

      I probably would have gotten 20% more work done every other day. I think they forgot I didn’t have a smartphone, although I mentioned it during the interview and once during onboarding. Oh well.

  20. JBPL*

    I have a sunlight replacement lamp in my office. I spend 8-12 hours in this windowless office (which is nice in many other ways) so I rarely see the sun in the winter. It has made my job a lot more pleasant.

    1. Julianne*

      I also work in a space that has no outside windows (there is one next to my door that looks out into an interior hallway). Tell me more about this magical lamp, please!

      1. JBPL*

        Mine is a hand-me-down, and it looks like it’s from the 70s. But the link below shows you something similar. It’s amazing for people who need some daylight in their lives or those of us who have some seasonal affective disorder. My staff calls it my sad lamp (SAD). They always make me turn it on during reviews!

        https://www.amazon.com/Carex-Health-Brands-Day-Light-Classic/dp/B00PCN4UVU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1&ascsubtag=%5B%5Dc2%5Bp%5Dcj8nj3gro001az6yey4fqixg6%5Bi%5Dh0nXBx%5Bz%5Dm%5Bd%5DD&tag=thecutonsite-20

    3. irritable vowel*

      At my previous job, my officemate and I bought some fluorescent tubes that mimic natural daylight and replaced the standard fluoro bulbs in our light fixtures. It made a HUGE difference. We had a window but we were in the basement so didn’t get much direct light. The two light fixtures became like skylights!

    5. Science!*

      I live in a place with low light for winter months and my workplace provides a discount for those lights for all employees.

  21. Snark*

    In no particular order:

    a) a pair of bluetooth earbuds. They don’t leak sound, so I don’t annoy my cube neighbors when I need to rawk, the sound quality is excellent, and I have no extraneous cords dangling around my hands.

    b) a standing desk, because back spasms are unpleasant at work. Honorable mention goes to my gel standing pad.

    c) a one-liter personal hot water kettle, for making the endless cups of tea I sip on throughout the (winter) day, because it’s 7% humidity here and I will spontaneously mummify if not fully hydrated. Honorable mention to my nice MiiR insulated camp mug, which keeps said tea nice and warm for a solid two hours but isn’t excessively bulky.

    d) a tea infuser, for making cold-brewed iced green tea which I sip throughout the (summer) day, because if anything it’s drier during the summer

    e) Ask A Manager, because obvs

    1. fposte*

      I have Gelpro pads in my kitchen, and they are *amazing*. If I had a standing desk I would absolutely get those.

    2. Elemeno P.*

      Bluetooth headphones are really the best. I kept getting tangled in wires and finally got a pair, and they’ve made life so much easier. I can also keep listening when I’m at the printer!

  24. super anon*

    1. One of those long gel wrist pads to use with my keyboard. I do a lot of typing at my job and the pad helps to keep my wrists in a more ergo friendly shape.

    2. A paper planner by Day Designer. I use it to augment my electronic calendars and to do lists and I’ve found it makes me much more productive because I can plan my day hour by hour and have a to do list beside it. I leave it on my desk at work and fill in the next day’s tasks before I leave for the day.

    3. A fidget toy to play with while brainstorming content or trying to plan out complex projects. Really something to play with when I need to focus and think but can’t go for a walk to pace it out. I have quite a few but my favourite is a tangle toy because it’s quiet and can be used in one hand.

    4. A book with a variety of post it notes in a bunch of different shapes and sizes.

    5. Am army of quality notebooks and pens. I have an spiral notebook that I can replace and remove pages in which makes organizing my thoughts and notes much easier. I have good quality pens because I’m less likely to lose them if I spent more money on them.

    I’m sure I have many more (such as a small army of personal care products like hand cream, lip balm, and pain relievers that all live in my desk) but these are the ones that stick out to me the most.

    1. Snark*

      Oh, and my collection of vintage-style WPA national parks posters, which introduce bright, saturated colors and relaxing imagery to my visual field, which would otherwise be dominated by black, medium gray, and fluorescent lights.

      1. Amber T*

        I got myself a fidget spinner which isn’t particularly useful for me (not to mention it broke right after I bought it…), but I got my dad a fidget cube for Christmas and I think I need one for myself. Much more my speed.

      2. Annie Moose*

        I have a little tub of Silly Putty (used to work for a company that produced a similar product) that I play with when I’m trying to figure stuff out. It’s great! The only downside is that it’s brilliant green and uh… does not come out of chair seats easily if you drop a piece. Or the seat of your light gray pants. Don’t ask how I know…

    3. Labotts*

      Ooh, tell me more about this spiral notebook. Where did you get it? Is it letter size or smaller? I love the idea of moving pages around!

      2. super anon*

        It’s a Blueline Miracle Bind. It comes in multiple colours and sizes (11×9 and 9×7) and has a ton of different inserts. There are grid inserts, normal notebook paper inserts, plain paper inserts, monthly planner inserts, project planner inserts, and even a hole punch so you can create your own inserts (for tabbed pages etc). The tabs on each page are reinforced so they don’t break when they’re removed and re-added. It’s super awesome and really useful to be able to create a fully customized notebook to your needs, move pages around or easily remove pages that need to be shredded, etc. It’s a bit pricey but if you’re passionate about organization and planning (or need to be or else you won’t ever get anything done) the money spent is well worth it. The paper is really nice too, which is an added bonus.

    5. But you don't have an accent...*

      I’m seconding the Day Designer! My sister in law got me one for Christmas and I love it :)

    6. Tara*

      Everyone please tell me your improvised fidget toys. Right now mine include:
      -coffee stirers
      -bent paperclips
      -a magnet combined with a binder clip
      -velcro cord tie (use only when alone, too much noise)
      -some string

      1. Jeannie Nitro*

        – Twist-ties from electronic cords
        – The broken-off plug bit of an HDMI cable
        – My headphone cord
        – a cheap plastic puzzle toy I “won” as part of a work contest
        – chapstick
        – a tin of Altoid Minis

      2. Borgette*

        – an orange OXO magnetic fridge clip from home
        – random bits of metal + the magnet in my phone
        – a fancy tin of rose chapstick from the Anthro bargain room
        – a lego infinity cube (Okay, this one is on purpose!)

      4. Amber T*

        I bought a squishy toy of a sleeping kitty. Actually bought a four pack… kept two for myself (the two white ones because it reminds me of my beast, one for work, one for home), gave one to a fellow cat loving coworker, and one to my mom. They’re our squishies. You boop their bellies or tug their ears, or just stare at them, wishing you were petting a real cat.

      5. Anonicat*

        Pen lids
        Rubber bands
        Sturdy twist ties
        Empty chapstick tube (lots of different surfaces and edges to feel)

        I also love fidgeting with a hoodie cord, so I got a roll of that kind of cord from the sewing shop. Cut off a few lengths, hem them at each end, and now I have a hoodie fidget even if I’m not allowed to wear a hoodie.

      6. Kiwi*

        The paper tags from my fancy teabags. They’ve got cutout corners and little notches, so lots of edges to fiddle with and I can fold them into odd shapes. They’re very satisfying.

      7. Been There, Done That*

        A plain ole pen works for me. Help when watching TV to keep my hands busy and out of the potato chips. :)

        I also used to have a “tizzy ball.” One was bright pink soft plastic with all these plastic “hairs.” They were kind of a fad in the early 2000s. Its successor was filled with some kind of gel and little plastic stars so when you squished it it made a soft nifty sound.

  25. Marley*

    Snacks! I always have a supply of things like roasted almonds and dried fruit to take the edge off if I’m trying to get something done and need a boost.

    Lotion, chapstick, a basic supply of other toiletries like contact lens solution and floss.

    Free *good* coffee at work is incredible.

    1. Snark*

      Ooooh yes, snacks are key. Whatever keeps me from wandering over to the convenience store and buying various cured meats and boxes of Mike and Ikes.

        1. Falling Diphthong*

          Z Nation has an episode in which they visit a corporate retreat that’s been going on since the zombie apocalypse started. It’s been three years of passing around the talking stick….

      2. Mike C.*

        In the Senate, there is traditionally a desk filled with candy from the state of the senator who sits there.

    3. Nicki Name*

      Snacks, definitely. The local Target has some fruit/nut mixes that I get in 27-ounce containers.

      Essential accessory: A spare drawer to stash them in.

      1. As Close As Breakfast*

        Or, as I have done, a small file cabinet to store all the stuff that should probably be in what has become the snack drawer.

    4. Marillenbaum*

      YES, supplies! I usually have eyedrops, lotion, mouthwash, floss picks, a compact mirror, and Tide pens. Oh, and Girl Scout cookies.

  26. Nobody Here by That Name*

    A label maker.

    The right stapler for the job and the right staple remover for the job. When you kill as many trees as my dept. does in a day, it makes a huge difference.

    2. Sunshine on a cloudy day*

      Ahhh – I love my label maker. Every once in awhile I go on a spree and start labelling everything

      1. misskleio*

        I got a Dymo Labelwriter 450 Turbo recently in the office and … it is the absolute BEST. No more wasting my time doing one-off address labels via a printer!

    3. LAI*

      Ah, I love the label maker. Also once worked in an office that had it’s own laminator. I didn’t realize how cool it was until after I left and had to live with plain old paper signs.

  27. C in the Hood*

    Hands down, my coffee mug warmer. I nurse my coffee, and sometimes I get so caught up in work that I can’t drink it right away, so it’s good to keep my coffee hot!

      1. MammaLlama*

        I recommend the Yeti thermal coffee cups. The coffee doesn’t get that “old, burned” taste from sitting on a burner all day. Yeti coffee cups are dishwasher safe!

  29. Squeeble*

    A headset for my desk phone has been great. I’m not chained to my desk and don’t get a hot ear from being on a phone a long while.

    Also, double monitors and a sit/stand desk!

  30. Reya*

    Easy touch hole punches and staplers are great for the occasions when I have to do a lot of either (they’re designed to require less force than the regular ones).

    Other than that, computer stands to make sure that everyone’s machine is at the right height for them are really important (also, it makes people happy to have nice ones). And the air con in our building isn’t really enough in summer, so plenty of fans!

    1. Reya*

      Oh, and I once worked for a company that provided tampons/other suppies in the ladies bathroom. It was a really nice touch – people tend to bring their own anyway, but just to know that in an emergency you wouldn’t have to run around trying to acquire one from somewhere, and that someone had thought about it, was so nice.

    2. JB (not in Houston)*

      Yes, I was going to say hole punches and staplers! Other things people have already said on this list are higher up my list of things I couldn’t do without (bluetooth headphones, good pens, snacks, footrest), but my PaperPro stapler is so great. I’m never going back to a regular stapler. You have no idea how much effort you use on a stapler until you switch to one that requires almost none.

  31. Mustache Cat*

    I never realized how much I appreciated tall cubical walls that actually provide privacy until they were gone.

    2. DCGirl*

      +1. I’m in the midst of requesting a reasonable accommodation because the new open office plan is wreaking havoc on my diagnosed attention issues.

        1. DCGirl*

          I just got the results of my neuropsych testing yesterday. I’d initially had it done 14 years by a different doctor, who (for obvious reasons) felt that she couldn’t sign any paperwork on my behalf after not having seen me in 14 years. She was really backed up on appointments (the testing is an all-day process) so I was referred to someone else. His take, which is somewhat different than what happened 14 years, is that I have non-verbal learning disorder for which I compensate with strong verbal skills and general intelligence, but that there are clear differences in how I process things that contribute to anxiety (mine is off the charts since the office move in December), how distracted I can become, etc. The testing is expensive ($3,000) and not always covered by insurance, but worth it.

          His recommendation is that I have a distraction-free environment with higher walls which HR has already told me isn’t going to happen, so I’m asking for some modifications to my existing space (there are, for example, rolling glass white boards that could be positioned near me that would really help), really good headphones, and a better work from home setup. I was roasted by manager for not taking advantage of WFH when I can if the environment is so intolerable (yes, my manager is being a jerk), but I also have myofascial pain syndrome and get massive neck spasms and headaches if I look down at a laptop screen all day. I also had surgery for De Quervain syndrome in my right wrist three years and find typing on a laptop all day uncomfortable. People who are full-time WFH get docking stations with external keyboards and monitors, so I’ve asked for that.

          Personally, I think that they are going to go hard for the WFH solution since the CEO is so obsessed with the look of the new office (sleek, all white surfaces, with happy people collaborating across their miniscule four-foot partitions). It’s an accommodation, but is it inclusive?

          I submitted my request today to Cigna which manages the ADA process for my employer. I’ll post in the Friday forums as I hear anything. Thanks for asking.

    4. Been There, Done That*

      My sympathies. When I joined Old Team, they had just changed to tall partitions and all the chatty people complained that the short partitions were better because people could see each other and talk more easily, which made for a better workplace and higher productivity. Sounded like a big company-paid kaffeeklatsch to me.

    5. Ophelia*

      My workplace has high cubicle walls and I find it unbearable – my coworker who I work most closely with sits beside me but we will often go days without looking each other in the face, and we have to semi-shout over our shared cubicle wall if we want to talk to each other as we’re working. I much preferred the shared office I was in at my last job.

  32. Murphy*

    A dry erase board! When I was an intern (my first office job) everyone had a whiteboard at their desk and they listed what projects they were on, sometimes with a status and important dates. I thought it was a great idea and I’ve always used one since. I obviously have deadlines on my calendar as well, but it’s nice to be able to at a glance see what all my projects are with their important dates.

    1. Breda*

      Ooh, yes! A whiteboard was one of my college ADHD workarounds, and now I’m hooked. My office one has my to-do list on it and sits in my direct field of vision. Bonus: I have to stand up and move around to add or remove things from it.

      1. Oranges*

        I had the giant desk calendar that had every class assignment on it (each class had a different color). I would fill it out at the beginning of the semester and add to it. I miss that. I need a project/time/whatever manager…

    2. AndersonDarling*

      I don’t use mine frequently, but when I have some big time mapping or coding, the dry erase board is so handy! Mine’s 11×17 so it is easy to tuck away when I’m not using it.

    3. zora*

      Our desks face glass walls that are frosted so we can use them as dry erase boards. I love it, I have written up info that I need frequently, like office addresses, billing code #s, important dates, that I get asked for all the time and don’t want to go hunting for.

    4. JennyAnn*

      I also have a notepad of dry erase pages (like 4″ x 4″). I pull off a sheet, use it for all the little scribbling I do, then when it’s finally worn down (which honestly takes like a year) grab a new sheet. The sheets are small enough that they don’t take up tons of room on my desk but big enough to take a couple of notes on.

        1. JennyAnn*

          I picked mine up at Hobby Lobby in their scrapbooking department, actually. I want to say it was like $6 before the 40% off coupon that you should never buy anything from Hobby Lobby without, and it came with 20/25 sheets.

      2. Gwenderful*

        I got some letter paper sized sheets like this and put them in the back cover of my calculus notebooks. I’d use it when working out tricky homework problems so that I wouldn’t waste a bunch of paper while I figured it out.

    5. Pasticcio*

      I made myself several ‘dry erase boards’ by writing with dry erase or whiteboard markers on clear plastic pockets with either plain card or printed calendars/to-do lists in them. They’re great because you can pin them to corkboards or they’re light enough to be clipped up anywhere on suction cup hooks.

      Some combinations of markers/pockets do seem to react weirdly together and mark or curl the plastic permanently, which is why I use the more expensive pockets with the slightly thicker, smoother plastic.

  33. Susan the BA*

    They’re not office supplies per se, but I have a lot of ’emergency’ supplies at the office – extra socks, pants, contact lenses, decorative scarf, umbrella, deodorant. It’s so easy to be thrown off your game by having to spend the day uncomfortable in pants with rain-soaked ankles or in terror because it turns out your button-down shirt doesn’t quite fit around your boobs. This stuff helps me keep non-work-related shit from getting in the way of a happy productive day.

    1. Natalie*

      Yes, this is such a good idea, and is now my go-to gift for people starting their first professional job. I started carrying a dap kit when youth+no car+dating+friends living in other areas meant I slept at other people’s houses a lot. And since then I’ve repurposed it for work.

    2. Zahra*

      Yep! And I include sanitary pads. I’m never without and I always make a point to tell my colleagues where I keep them in case of emergency. The only thing I ask is that they tell me when the pack is almost empty so I can refill.

    3. myswtghst*

      Agreed. I always have contact solution, nail files, pain killers, immodium/tums, band-aids, a Tide pen/wipes, dental floss/toothpicks, and tampons/pads in my desk (or in my bag, when I travel to our other office), as well as a jacket/cardigan and a pair of black flats in my office, just in case. As someone who spills on herself at least once a week and frequently gets paper cuts, it’s really handy, and I’ve helped out plenty of coworkers too.

  34. SQL Coder Cat*

    Four yards of windbreaker nylon. No, really.

    My cubicle walls are six feet high, and our ceilings are eight feet. Due to the way the space was remodeled for cubicles, there is no place within the cubicle where my desk can be that doesn’t result in the AC blowing down my neck. However, my amazing boss let me attach windbreaker fabric to the top of the cubicle, which deflects the air. It also has the pleasant side effect of diffusing the florescent lights.

    1. JustaTech*

      Another way to diffuse the overhead fluorescent lights that I use is this cute leaf-shaped canopy from Ikea. It’s intended for a child’s bed, but it’s not super-cutsie and it really does cut down on the glare. And if you get it from Ikea it’s cheap. For some reason the identical ones on Amazon are $50.
      http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40338405/

      1. SQL Coder Cat*

        I only have it on the back half of my cubicle. That way the ‘visitor area’ is still open.

        Funny side note: my coworkers got me tiki torches to put at the opening of my cube and refer to my cube as ‘the cabana.’

  35. sometimeswhy*

    When we were still dealing with lots of paper that was frequently stapled and unstapled, a wand staple remover was amazing. I still keep a toothy one for industrial staples but for office stuff? Like magic.

    1. Amber Rose*

      I bought my own. It was a dollar, and it’s my most treasured office supply. Toothy staple removers tear paper really badly and are slower/more awkward to use.

      My last job was 90% unstapling things, so I had lots of time to form Opinions. :)

    2. Turtlewings*

      GOSH yes. I’d never seen one of those until my current workplace, but they are so much better in every way, I can’t fathom why the toothy ones even exist. (Admittedly I hadn’t thought of industrial staples, I guess.) They’re also weirdly hard to find in my experience, I have yet to see one in a store.

    3. SilverRadicand*

      This is me showing my ignorance, but how does a wand staple remover work in a way that doesn’t tear the paper? Do you use it on the prongs of the staple first?

      1. CDM*

        I only use it on the prongs first of really heavy duty staples.

        It acts as a wedge, you slide the tip between the staple and the paper, push smoothly, and as the tool widens it forces the staple to unbend as you push further. You end up with the staple wrapped around the remover, and your paper intact.

        I bought mine during heavy backscanning at work because the claw type was killing my wrist. I haven’t gone back.

  36. Can't Sit Still*

    1. Staple remover for industrial sized staples – A co-worker who didn’t know these existed was using a screwdriver on her documents! She hugged me when I bought one for her.
    2. Scissors with a box cutting blade in the handle
    3. Foot rest with a heater and fan which turns off automatically after 8 hours

    1. Can't Sit Still*

      I forgot the best pens ever: uni-ball® Jetstream RT BLX Retractable Rollerball Pen. They have black infused ink in pretty colors that are dark enough to show on scans, and they don’t smear if you’re left-handed.

    2. Beancounter in Texas*

      I’m just imagining the box cutter coming out when using the scissors and cringing. Otherwise, sounds useful.

  37. strawberries and raspberries*

    In our White Elephant exchange, I bought a small French press because my plan was to steal it back if all the other gifts sucked. Luckily I got it back, and it’s the most badass thing ever. I buy my own amazing coffee and make the whole operation right at my desk. I’ve probably saved about $100 this month on coffee and all my coworkers who ragged me about being “bougie” are now super jealous of how Scandinavian the whole thing looks.

    1. Snark*

      Yeah, I’ve got a full selection of teas and coffee, with a French press that I also use as a tea infuser, at my desk, along with agave syrup, caramel syrup, and a water kettle. Total lifesaver. Ain’t nobody got time for $4.50 lattes.

    2. MLiz*

      I have an INSULATED French press slash thermo mug at work. I don’t strictly need it in this office (because I get coffee for free that’s good coffee), but in my last job I had to walk two buildings over just to get milk and hot water or coffee. It’s been a lifesaver. It lives on my desk and when I’m busy/pressed for time/need more than a small cup of coffee I will brew it in there and have fresh, amazing, HOT coffee for a while.

      (Also amazing when the fancy Jura in the break room breaks)

    3. KylieB*

      I do the same thing. I have a 32 oz. double walled French press and my in-laws bought me a milk frother. So yeah, I make my own cafe au lait. The rest of the office has a Keurig. I just decided to own the fact that I was a coffee snob.

    4. Shelby Drink the Juice*

      I have a manual coffee grinder that I use with my press. Made by Java Presse. Everyone knows when I’m in when they hear the grinding.

  38. SM*

    I second a good pair of over-the-ear headphones. They’re great when I need some me-time to get things done because they cancel out the noise around me, and they’re super visible so people know not to bother me.

    And insulated thermos that keeps my coffee and tea warm for hours. I take it with me everywhere.

    My own pens. Our company buys these felt pens that I hate because they write so thick and dry out quickly. I finally caved in and bought a box of twenty of my favorite.

    Although these are the default supplied by the company, I’m really glad for my wireless keyboard and mouse and a second monitor.

  39. AVP*

    A nice Italian stapler that looks so unique from the standard American stapler that it’s essentially unstealable.

    1. AVP*

      I would add that – while you personally shouldn’t be buying this, if it’s in the office budget? If there’s a software program or work app that you’re constantly “sharing” log-ins with a co-worker or abusing the trial periods for, just BUY IT. You’ll be so much happier.

      1. Boris*

        Oh yeah, the day we actually bought sufficient licenses for Adobe Acrobat was a good day in my office.

  40. Rebecca*

    1. Snake plants (my $)
    2. Wireless keyboard/mouse (company $)
    3. Kneeling desk chair (company $)
    4. Square, hard cover, spiral bound sketchbook for notebook (my $)
    5. Multi-colored Pilot Precise V5 pens (company $)
    6. Well-stocked tea shelf, kettle, tea pot (my $)

      2. Rebecca*

        I think I got deleted because I posted an ecommerce link. Sorry. But anywho…it’s sort of like sitting on a comfier zen bench. Not perfect, but helps me sit straight, where regular chairs encourage slumping over.

        2. Papyrus*

          I remember watching the Simpsons and Lisa had a chair just like this one. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in real life and was always intrigued by it, but I wonder if it would be too hard on the knees.

          1. AMPG*

            They were all the rage in the 90’s, which is probably why Lisa has one. My high school computer lab replaced all the regular chairs with these. They were amazingly comfortable, and distribute weight such that they’re not hard on your knees at all. I wonder why they fell out of favor.

            1. irritable vowel*

              Possibly because they’re not best for people wearing business suits (wrinkled trouser knees) or many types of skirts, and they can also be seen as a bit undignified. So maybe that resulted in companies not buying them at scale? At my last job the CEO had one and he always looked a bit weird sitting in it. (I totally get that they’re better for you but they are super-weird to look at if you’re used to seeing people sitting in normal chairs!)

          2. Rebecca*

            It doesn’t bother my knees at all, but if I’m at my desk for too long, my hips freeze up a bit.

    3. CDM*

      Wireless keyboard with programmable keys!!

      I paid for it myself when my cheapo keyboard went kaput. Having a delete key on the left side of the keyboard is a game-changer. I also have keys programmed at the top for single key cut, copy and paste. All I lack is a comma key near the numeric keypad, and I’d be all set. (this design doesn’t have anything programmable in that region)

      I don’t understand why all keyboards don’t come with a left hand delete key and single key cut-copy-paste keys.

    4. Been There, Done That*

      I didn’t know kneeling chairs were still out there. I haven’t seen one since the 80s.

  41. Jen*

    Oh, I wish I could wear my amazing over-ear headphones at work but if I could, they’ve be number one!

    Double monitors are another good one, although the set up in my current job could be better. I much preferred my old job setup of two monitors side by side with one computer tower, whereas here it’s a laptop and a screen.

    Once I get more settled into this job, I’ll also be asking for a padded mousemat or I might just get my own. My wrist is starting to get pretty sore on a daily basis!

    1. Jennifer Thneed*

      Suggestion: reverse your mouse buttons.

      You can change which of the buttons is the main one and which is the “right-click” one. It’s a tiny change that makes a huge difference for some people. Just changing up which finger is doing most of the work made my wrist happy again.

  42. socrescentfresh*

    My standing desk and floor pedaler. (Not to be used simultaneously, unless you want to practice for your circus audition.) They’re the only reason I don’t get chair butt after 8 hours at my desk.

    2. Gayle Davidson-Durst*

      “(Not to be used simultaneously, unless you want to practice for your circus audition.)”

      Thank you for making me laugh – I’m in a shitty mood today and this helped!

  43. Lead Technical Writer*

    Echoing other commenters with additional monitors, good pens, and some way to supply hot water that isn’t a microwave. Also decent tissues (two-ply!), band-aids, and the combination of Aspirin / Acetaminophen/ Ibuprofin.

    These lovely supplies have made my deep freeze of a New England commute bearable this winter.

  44. Amber Rose*

    Space heater for under my desk. I’d freeze to death in the winter without it.

    My label maker. I love my label maker. Much faster to use and easier to read than my crappy handwriting.

    I would probably use a footrest. I’m currently using a spare garbage can turned upside down. It works just fine though.

    Stuff I wish I had:

    A three-hole punch. Everyone in the office has their own two-hole punch, but all 30 of us share a single three-hole, which I keep on my desk and guard jealously. I feel like even one or two more would make me feel less Stapler Guy about it.

    Industrial stapler. The kind that can shoot a staple through 100 pages no sweat. Ours has been broken for a while and I miss it.

    1. Can't Sit Still*

      I love my label maker! It’s so much better than using sheets of labels when I only need a few at a time. I’ve been printing dozens of hang tabs with it this week and it’s great! Much easier than printing the labels, then sticking them on the tab.

    2. Amber Rose*

      Oh, and giant sticky notes. Our crating company has a novelty sticky note pad that comes on a tiny little wooden pallet, and it seems gimmicky until you realize that the added weight means it doesn’t slide away from you while you’re writing on it. The oversize sticky notes are just as good.

      1. Lefty*

        I got one of those little pallet pads at a tradeshow years ago- I loved it for the same reason! Once all of the paper was gone, that little pallet became a cute coaster on my desk.

    3. Ann O'Nemity*

      Space heater for sure. I work in an old building and its HVAC can’t keep up with rapid changes in outdoor temps. There’s been times when I arrived at work and my office was 55 degrees.

    1. Changed*

      My pick too. I have a laptop which connects to a dock on my desk to effectively become a desktop, but every time I undock to go to a meeting I’m grateful that I accidentally bought a second mouse when I was getting a Christmas present for my friend.

  46. Mike C.*

    A pair of Sony MDR-7506 headphones. These are the sorts of headphones you always see radio DJs and camera people wear, black and over the ear. Very flat response and such good insulation that you can keep the volume of your music low while not hearing anything going on around you. Very comfortable to wear for hours at a time as well. Practically indestructible, with replacement parts that are easy to order and install if something does happen. Around $80.

    1. AVP*

      I work with a lot of camera and sound people and these are the only ones we use! They used to seem expensive but as regular consumer headphones get pricier and pricier they feel like a bargain now.

    2. Miss Herring*

      It looks like you can get them used on Ebay for less than half that. I don’t know much about headphones. Would getting them used be an issue? Maybe with new earpads?

  47. RML*

    Standing desk, kitchens stocked with snacks (free soda, seltzer, and water, huge variety of beer and hard ciders, hummus, veggies, fresh fruit, pretzels, chips, M&Ms, beef jerky, string cheese, espresso machines, all types of milk, yogurt, cereal, plus bagels delivered in once a week), focus rooms with comfortable seating (we have open seating and there are a ton of rooms with a table, phone, and some have couches). One of our other locations has way better snacks than my office – when I travel there I stock up on RX bars and all sorts of other treats for the flight home! That office also has catered lunch every single day with a TON of options, a huge spread, plus breakfast 2 days a week. I wish I worked there but I can’t move to that city at this point in my life. :)

    We used to have a deal with Manicube – you could book in office manicures a certain day of the week and they’d do it in a conference room at a discount. (Cheaper than a salon but not free.) We also had free yoga and boot camp classes. But our office moved and we no longer get these perks.

    1. RML*

      Oh, and free tampons and pads in the bathroom, and a cabinet full of ibuprofin, tums, tylenol, benadryl, cold meds, band aids, and all other types of OTC meds. generic, but extremely helpful. Only missing anti-anxieties like lorazapam – I have to bring my own script lol. :)

      1. JustaTech*

        My office used to have Advil, Tylenol and aspirin stocked with the office supplies, but then someone decided there was some kind of liability in having it around. So then people took stuff out of the first aid kits. So then new corporate decided that there couldn’t be any medication (oral medication) in the first aid kits because we might poison each other.

        So now we buy stuff on the sly. *sigh*

      2. Nicki Name*

        +++ for free tampons and pads! I’ve only seen that at one employer and wish more companies did that.

        1. Soz*

          This is one of those things – why is loo roll free and not tampons? they are both things we have to have hygienically. I’ve been to 1 pub which has them free with the loo roll. Banging.

        2. Connie-Lynne*

          I walked into the ladies room at Change.org and OMG the vast selection of free menstrual products made me feel so supported and seen.

      3. Triumphant Fox*

        I did like that my last job had Emergen-C and a whole host of OTC meds available, but it was a little gross. The Emergen-C was fine because it was single use packets, but the other meds were giant generic bottles and we had issues with some people not being hygienic (hand washing, general cleanliness – nails in particular) and once someone pointed out that they never used the medicine because of that and I couldn’t un-hear that. I wished they would have had individual packets. Probably more expensive, but people always dump half the bottle in their hand, then put all but two back.

    2. RML*

      Oh, we also have walking/working treadmills. They have tables across them so you can bring your laptop and walk up to 2mph. At our old location they had monitors on them so you could plug in and actually work on the large screens, but at our new office we have a mix of Mac and PC users so they didn’t add the monitors to them.

  48. ZenJen*

    My must-haves:
    Contigo travel mug (AWESOME and doesn’t leak–I can even put it in my designer tote without worry)
    Quo Vadis Visual paper planner–keeps me organized and the paper is SO nice and smooth and gel pens never bleed or show through (makes those Ata Glance planners look like crap, sorry!)
    G2 gel pens
    wireless mouse
    gel keyboard rest

    1. ThatGirl*

      My Contigo mug is great. I had an older one, and my only complaint was that it was hard to clean; the newer one has the flip-out bit so I can get in there and scrub out the coffee buildup. Hurray!

    2. zora*

      I love the Contigo mug for traveling!!! I don’t really use it on my commute these days, but I love the security of being able to put it in my carry on and not worry about it leaking. Amazing.

  50. Bow Ties Are Cool*

    1) Good mechanical pencils, the kind with the nice gel grip. Our admin got them for us after she noticed how many of us were bringing in our own!
    2) Good pens. Same admin, same reason.
    3) A Cubii (silent under-desk elliptical). I bought that one for myself. It’s amazing how much more productive I am when all my fidget-energy is well directed into real exercise. Also it’s helping me lose weight and my calves are toned AF.
    4) Permission to wear headphones. This is a must in any open-type office.
    5) Dual monitors. Big, nice HD ones.

  51. Cassandra*

    A humidifier in my office. I’m in a cold climate such that indoor air is bone-dry in winter. The humidifier prevents nosebleeds (seriously!) and eases unpleasantly dry skin somewhat.

    I also made myself a back-of-door kanban board with one of those easel-size sticky sheets and Post-It notes. It’s working well to force me to remember back-of-brain things that still need to get done, and I can change out the projects just by putting up a new sticky sheet.

    Repeating things others have said: electric kettle, lamp, decent writing implements.

    1. SometimesALurker*

      Do you have a recommendation of the brand or type of humidifier? I’ve been thinking about getting a desktop humidifier, as the office I share is too large for a standard humidifier for one room in a home.

      1. bohtie*

        if you just need a small one, you can get one of those ones that’s intended as an essential oil diffuser and just don’t put oils in it – mine was about $10, lasts several hours between refills, and is small enough that it just sits on my desk right in my face

      2. Cassandra*

        A lot depends on what your building’s water is like. Ours is harder than nails, so the small ultrasonic I first had only lasted one winter before keeling over dead. I bought one that uses replaceable filters this time.

    2. Gloucesterina*

      Easel-sized Post-its would be at the top of my list–if only my workplace provided them! I love using them for teaching since the buildings I’m typically assigned to have no whiteboards and I make an abject mess trying to write with chalk.

  52. Jam Today*

    Good pens. Pilot G-2 if they’re on offer (they usually aren’t.)

    Notepads that are top-bound versus side-bound.

    A little shelf or enough space on my desk for all my toys. I have a collection of Tintin figurines that I’ve collected over the years and they bring me great comfort.

  53. Catalin*

    A “rear-view” mirror: a small convex mirror that hangs in front of me that lets me see who is coming up behind me.

    Thing I wish I had: easy access to good, good-tasting cold water. We have a water fountain but the water doesn’t taste particularly good.

    1. LBG*

      I brought in my own mini refrigerator and brita pitcher just so I could have decent tasting chilled water. The office has a water club ($7/mo) and the water from that dispenser actually tasted worse than my filtered. I also don’t have to share the tiny office refrigerator.

  54. CatCat*

    I have a small electric kettle that I keep in my office. We also have a large one in the kitchen for people to use. Love having fast hot water available. I like to sip hot tea throughout the day. Makes things so pleasant.

    Facial tissues. Not sure why so many offices don’t provide them. Yeesh.

    1. EddieSherbert*

      My office does not have facial tissues and I hate it. I steal rolls of toilet paper from the bathroom and store them at my desk for nose-blowing.

      1. CatCat*

        Yeah, I take a few paper towels from the kitchen every morning and tear them into little squares to use as tissues.

    2. Flying Fish*

      My office provides cheap tissues. I bring in my own good ones. What’s the point of a tissue if it falls apart when you use it?

      1. As Close As Breakfast*

        My office provides the cheap tissues and I used to bring in my own good ones too. But on one too many occasions, my boss (the company owner and thus the person ultimately responsible for the poor tissue quality, imo) would make a point of taking one of my tissues when he was in my office. So yeah, now I make due with the provided ones because I was seriously going to lose it one time.

    3. Triumphant Fox*

      I was surprised my new employer didn’t have tissues, but now I’m kind of grateful. My skin is sensitive and I don’t think I ever realized that using really high quality tissues could improve my quality of life so much. I will never go back. I just had a serious week and a half cold and went through 5 boxes and my nose never got raw or red – I was amazed.

    4. D.W.*

      Our office has a water filter that dispenses room temperature water, cold water, hot water, and extra hot water.

      My bottle is always filled with extra hot water. It’s amazing.

  55. Ashley*

    A really nice stapler that can easily handle 20 pages.
    A super heavy duty stapler for the 100 page documents.
    A heavy duty 3 hole punch
    A scanner within easy reach for the quick sign and scan projects.

    1. EddieSherbert*

      Oh, we also have this, and it’s great.

      I’m not much of a tea drinker, but once in awhile I crave it, and I’ve done lame instant coffee or delicious hot cocoa, haha! (my company has coffee, and it’s a popular local coffee chain, but I don’t like it).

    2. Midge*

      More often than not I use the hot water spout just to drink plain hot water. I’m always cold in the winter, so drinking hot water instead of chilled is a little luxury.

  57. Natalie*

    I have a small handful of decorative stuff that makes me happy when work is stressful: a few plants, some vinyl toys of various pop culture things (like Funko but also some other brands), and a small easel calendar with vintage floral art. At some point in the future I need to get permission to replace the very “Three Wolf Moon” style framed poster of a bald eagle in the forest. Or perhaps rework it with cut up post it notes.

    I handle a lot of paper so good hand lotion is a lifesaver.

    Good pens. Our organization buys perfectly fine pens but I am loyal to a specific pen an old boss used, so I brought a few in. And I guard them with my life.

    1. k.k*

      Little decorative stuff makes all the difference. I work in a small, bland, windowless office that is basically a closet. I brought in a few little fun things and they just make me happy to look at.

      1. Wannabe Disney Princess*

        Yes! I have a panel on my cube that holds all sorts of stuff I like. Playbills. Musicals inspired artwork sourced off Etsy (this always starts conversation). Ticket stubs from vacations. Etc.

        Also -my Disney mug and Disney daily calendar!

    2. As Close As Breakfast*

      I just counted and I have 9 plants in my office, which is about 10′ by 15′. I love them! About a year or so ago, one of my employees had to purchase a gaseous oxygen meter for a project we were working on. While he was setting it up and playing around with it he was walking around testing the oxygen concentration. He cracked up when he came into my office because it was like a little micro-environment with a higher oxygen level! It was a pretty small increase if I recall, but it was measurable and consistent over several days/tests.

      1. Natalie*

        I have 3 so far, but I’m new so I’m waiting a little bit before I completely terraform my office. :)

        1. As Close As Breakfast*

          I have a golden pothos in here that would probably terraform the entire building if I let it! I’ve had to trim the vines back several times and they just keep growing like crazy. It’s spawned baby golden pothos all over the office and at most of my coworkers homes!

  58. AnnaleighUK*

    A good set of pencils with varying thicknesses – I buy artists pencils because somehow they’re better than the crap ones work gives me.

    To clarify, I draw a lot of diagrams. So I’m also going to say I’d die without my metre long metal ruler. Godsend. Love it.

    1. Regina Phalange*

      I’m about to rock your world — erasable pens have come a LONG way. Buy these immediately: Pilot FriXion Clicker Retractable Erasable Gel Pens.

      2. Kathy*

        Yes! These are amazing! Our office supply company was doing a promo so we got several boxes of 12 for $1/box! I love them so much and use them every single day!

  60. Bearhandler1*

    This probably won’t apply to many people but for me, a wheelchair accessible office. I was allowed to put low coat hooks on the wall, use low file cabinets as opposed to tall ones, and I was given a big office with lots of space for maneuvering. Plus my work has gone above and beyond to make me comfortable by getting me specialty equipment. I think people would be shocked to learn how bad the standard office is for wheelchairs. Keyboards at the wrong height…tight corners where you can’t turn…I’m so lucky my office went above and beyond for me.

    1. Penny*

      That’s really fantastic. You’re right, as I’m looking around my office I think it would be a nightmare for anyone with accessibility issues.

    3. with a twist*

      OMG, this is hilarious! I’m going to put in a request to my boss (with a great sense of humor, thankfully) just to see what happens!

  62. Kitten*

    This sounds ridiculous, but I have a Beanie-Baby Dragon called Cinder and he used to sit on my desk

    Whenever I got stuck on a complex piece of development (I work in Software), I’d sit him on my keyboard and explain the issue to him. Then I’d walk him through my configuration and all the different connectors. And he’d look at me with his big Dragon eyes and I’d figure out where I’d missed something.

    My Developers used to borrow him for the same purpose when they were writing tricky bits of code. They also used to take him on adventures when I had to go off to meetings, so that was cool.

    Not the most obvious piece of ‘office equipment’, but that little team really bonded my team together and nipped some very silly / frustrating questions in the bud!

    (I do know this concept already exists as ‘Rubber Duck De-Bugging’, but who needs ducks when you can have a *Dragon*!? )

      1. Lillian Gilbreth*

        I share an office (with 1 person) and we both serve as rubber ducks to each other :). Several times a week one of us calls the other one over for things like “why isn’t this vlookup working” and like 80% of the time the answer is discovered while explaining what we were trying to do.

    2. SoCalHR*

      That dragon was the “mascot” of my first (purple) car – never tried to explain him my problems though.

    3. Future Homesteader*

      For totally different purposes, I have nerdy bobbleheads on my desk. They’re mostly there to stare down students asking silly questions, but I also sometimes talk to them/create historically accurate quotes to stick to them/make them fight over philosophical issues.

    4. SarahKay*

      This sounds awesome, not ridiculous. Your description of “big Dragon eyes” so makes me want one of my own now.

    5. Snark*

      When I worked at home, my dog served this purpose. She’d sit staring at me quizzically, wagging slightly, head a little cocked, probably thinking “why is friendbeast talking at me so much without saying dinner, outside, treat, or toy? I should keep listening in case he says those things.”

    6. UK Nerd*

      Not ridiculous at all! All developers need a rubber duck, even if it’s neither rubber nor duck shaped. I have a beanie turtle on my desk, who’s helped me out many times.

      1. Marty*

        Well, I’m not sure about that, but what fun would life be without a little ridiculous here and there?

    7. Flying Fish*

      That’s awesome! I have a “stress chicken” from an office Secret Santa years ago that gets passed around on bad days

    8. oranges & lemons*

      When I worked for a Shakespeare website, I had a small stuffed cookie monster that I made a little Elizabethan collar and goatee for. He would often wander around the office. I think one of my coworkers stole him at one point, or he finally figured out how to escape the dungeon-like office.

      1. oranges & lemons*

        I should mention that he was an extremely lazy coworker and refused to help me with any of my projects. If anything, he was a real drain on productivity.

    10. fretnone*

      Totally not ridiculous :)

      I have a work bear with the happiest little face – you cannot look at him and be mad. He has saved my sanity many a time! (And my colleagues may not realize it, but many a “omg how can you be this dumb and still somehow alive” rant has been swallowed by patting that bear’s cute little paws.)

  63. KHB*

    Some previous occupant of my office had installed a roll-away keyboard drawer to the underside of the desk, and I can’t imagine working without it now. I do a lot of old-fashioned pen-and-paper work, and the extra desk space I gain from not having my keyboard in the way helps enormously.

    I also love said previous occupant’s gel wrist rests for both keyboard and mousepad. Which reminds me that I need to order new ones one of these days – I won’t mention how old they are, but they’ve accumulated enough wrist gunk to need replacing.

    1. essEss*

      LOL.. I inherited a desk with one of those and I HATED it. When it was under the desk, it was just the right height to constantly hit and slice my kneecaps. I had to sit at a weird angle all the time to keep from hurting myself or slicing my pants on it.

    2. LCL*

      Rubbing alcohol works awesome for degunking equipment that has been gunked up by humans constantly touching it. I keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and a pack of the wrapped alcohol wipes, and a can of computer duster in my office. My wrist rest and mouse and keyboard are pristine. The rest of the office is wall to wall papers. I’ve read that rubbing alcohol is bad for screens though, so I don’t use it on the screen of my phone.

  64. tamarack and fireweed*

    Good options for seating, lighting and temperature control (with flexibility to accommodate individual needs), and ideally a door that closes.

  65. Steff*

    a VariDesk – it can be raised to stand and lowered to sit. The best part is it goes on top of any desk so even if I switch offices is can come with me.

    1. Turtlewings*

      I have one of those on order, I’m excited for its arrival! I know I sit too much, so I’m hoping it’ll be good for me.

    2. Goya de la Mancha*

      Love mine. I’ve had it for awhile, but sometimes when I get caught up in a project, I have to remind myself to utilize the standing feature.

  66. Kat*

    1) Two computer monitors! At my new job everyone gets two automatically but in previous jobs I’ve had to ask for them. No employer ever said no but in one place I was teased relentlessly about it – called a princess etc. But it was worth it because two monitors made the most tedious parts of my job soooo much easier. Now that I’m used to two screens I can’t stand working at home on my single screen and sometimes think, “what if I had 3? Or 4?”
    2) A warm office cardigan! I’m actually in the market for a new one as the one is been using for years finally wore out. Neutral color, professional-ish. Having something warm I can put on in the office means I dont have to consider the tundra-like temperature of the office in every outfit.

    Interestingly, I never even noticed that my desk doesn’t have a modesty panel until the recent letter! But my cube is configured in such a way that someone would have to come through the doorway to see me, but it is something to be aware of once skirt season returns.

        1. SarahKay*

          Yup, same here. I love it, everyone tells me it’s noisy and are waiting for it to wear out. I haven’t told them yet that I’ve got a spare….

          1. Marty*

            That, and wearing one of those things out takes decades. Even then, you can often just replace the stubborn switch….

            Also, cherry browns are quiet enough to not really cause problems.

    2. Can't Sit Still*

      My vertical mouse is the best! I would be murdered if I had a mechanical keyboard, though. Lots of folks with misophonia here.

    3. miyeritari*

      I use a plastic keyboard but i LOVE my vertical mouse.

      Bonus comedy of watching anyone else try to use it.

  69. Midge*

    Tylenol. A BIG bottle of Tylenol.

    I’m only sort of kidding here. I get headaches triggered by noise/sound/tension (so, you know, the work environment in general), so having painkillers on hand is key.

    1. ThatGirl*

      We have all manner of OTC meds in our first aid cabinet, and I love it – tylenol, advil, excedrin, pepto bismol, claritin, midol and a few others (the generics, but still).

    2. Ten*

      I never go anywhere without ibuprofen. If I get a headache and don’t treat it right away I will be completely out of commission.

  70. Anonymous Poster*

    USB-powered fan for my desk.

    I like having a breeze near me anyway (reminds me of the beach. Oh how I love the beach breeze), and it’s on USB power so it never ran afoul of some office policies on no plugged-in heaters or other items.

    I also have a nice decorative desk lamp for atmosphere, and a tiny space heater for my feet. My feet always get cold in dress shoes, so it’s a great way to try and be able to feel my toes during the day.

    2. Purplesaurus*

      I have a USB powered fan with a little compartment at the bottom that’s supposed to hold scented things and blow the smell at you, but I put ice in it to make it even cooler. Mmmm, cool breeze.

    4. JennyAnn*

      Lol. The IT department in my last job lost their minds when I plugged a USB fan into my thin client because SECURITY!

  71. Curator*

    okay this one is a bit out of left field. My office couch. I have chronic pain and somedays (bad days) my hip pain is so bad that I can’t sit, I can’t stand, I just can’t. I realized that when I work at home, I am most comfortable on the couch, with my feet up and working on my laptop.

    So one trip to IKEA and my office has a comfy couch that I literally cannot work without.

    1. fposte*

      There are several couches in my office building; I have a friend here who can pretty much tell you which IKEA couches will fit into which rooms after several office moves.

      I also have a couch, but it was thrift store, not IKEA. I can’t sit in chairs at length, so the couch is my office seating.

  72. Erin*

    Foot rest, adjustable. Electric kettle and my own little space for it and a few supplies. Mini-fridge.

    What I don’t have and would love is a cabinet or something I could use for my clothes.
    Right now it would be too difficult logistically, but I would love it if I didn’t have to commute in my office outfit.
    This way I just have a pair of flats under my desk. Not much fun.

  73. Tavie*

    Nap room – “quiet room” with a couch in it, a pillow, disposable pillowcases, and a quiet noise machine, that can be booked like any conference room for quiet, non-food purposes. (i.e. you can’t eat your lunch there but you can take a nap, or meditate, or make a personal phone call or whatever, as long as you’ve booked the room)

    It was actually my idea, and the office manager liked it and made it happen, and it has made my life at work so, so, so much better. I eat lunch at my desk while working, and then use my lunch hour almost every day to take a nap. (I have sleep issues so it really helps me!)

    2. AVP*

      We sort of have this at my company as well! It’s a private office that is only used when we have overflow workers (not often), so we put in a small couch. It can be used for reading if you need to research, taking a nap or meditating, etc. The lighting can be dimmed, and it’s a miracle if you’re feeling sick or tired but can’t go home.

    3. Turtlewings*

      I would kill for this. I work in a library, so you’d think it couldn’t be too hard to find a quiet corner to nap in, but I actually wonder if they deliberately ordered furniture that’s uncomfortable to lie down on just to prevent napping.

    4. Manders*

      This sounds wonderful. I wish I had a quiet place to meditate once in a while! I work downtown, so even the parks are crowded and noisy.

    5. Delphine*

      I would kill for something like this during Ramadan. An hour-long nap during lunch would be heavenly.

    6. Hard Boiled*

      My office has this. It’s actually a larger room with 6 couches in it, but they’re arranged so everyone kind of has their own space in there. The rules for being in there are no working and don’t acknowledge anyone else’s presence–not even to say hi. People use it to nap, read during breaks, meditate.

      I think it really boosts productivity since people use it responsibly. Tired? Eat lunch at your desk and then go top up on sleep for an hour. You’ll work better in the afternoon.

      I used it to cry once after some turmoil in my personal life. Letting it out helped me regroup and salvage the rest of the day.

    7. Beancounter in Texas*

      A Fortune 500 employer for whom I worked had these on every other floor. The it was a quiet room that could be almost completely dark, locked, with a recliner, a small pillow and a blanket. Many, many times, just napping for 30 minutes took me from “my migraine is beginning to hurt enough to go home” to “I feel wonderful.”

    8. Joe*

      Yes! My office has a nap room (or as they call it, a “wellness room”), and it’s been life-changing. Every once in a while, I have a day where I’m just exhausted, and a 20-minute nap really peps me up. And when I was sick last year, and on medication that really wiped me out, having a place I could go and lie down for a little while during the day made the difference between being able to make it through the day or not.

  74. Rebecca*

    I have a tiny $15 humidifier that I bought from Amazon (own $) that plugs into my computer’s USB port and is really helpful in my super-dry office, especially when I’m sick but even when I’m not. Surprised not to see more “humidifier” notes on this list!

    1. Amber Rose*

      I was thinking about this but I work in an open space with high ceilings and I’m not sure it would help. Do the tiny ones have much area of effect?

      1. Triumphant Fox*

        We have a small dehumidifier in our basement (super tiny and like $30 on amazon) and it has worked miracles in a pretty large space for its size. I imagine a humidifier would be similar.

      2. Rebecca*

        Mine plugs into the USB port on my computer so I am basically directly over it as I work–it mainly affects me and not the rest of the (admittedly small) room. You need to have a pretty sedentary job for a tiny humidifier to be of much use (lucky me??)

    2. Justme, The OG*

      I have one of those too. It’s really great. But I’m also seeing how gross our water is because the spout is really scummy.

    3. Fabulous*

      I hadn’t even considered bringing in a humidifier to my workplace… I wonder if it would work in an open air cubicle the same as it would in a closed office or even a cubicle with higher walls?

    4. HR Bee*

      I have something similar! Last year I got three nosebleeds over the winter from super-dry air, this year I haven’t had that trouble at all. It’s tiny, but in an enclosed office it actually does help a lot!

  75. Karo*

    I know a lot of people are saying double monitors, but for me it was a single monitor where I could pull up two word docs at 100% side-by-side. I’m on double monitors now and something about the physical separation of the two means I just work on the one screen with my email up on the other.

    1. Karen*

      If you’re using windows, you can still dock programs to the sides of your monitors, like you did before; hold down the windows key +arrow left or right. I keep my monitors next to each other, so there’s less of a gap.

      1. Anonymousaurus Rex*

        Whoa! I just learned a new trick!! I had no idea there was a shortcut for this!! Thank you!

  76. TeacherNerd*

    I took a job in a school where I didn’t have to buy class sets of students’ textbooks or novels or pay for printer paper and my own copies for reading material (making copies of short stories, buying movies I wanted to show for my film & lit class, etc.). I still have to pay for a lot of the teaching supplies I need but it’s finally under $250 a year out of pocket, which I’m really happy about.

    (Really, I’m not being snarky. I’m genuinely happy about this. I still pay for my own classroom decor, and pens and pencils, and I bought a chair that wasn’t one of those plastic school desk seats, but I have novels and can make photocopies for free at school, etc..)

    1. Muriel Heslop*

      I’ve never had to buy class books or novels (thank heaven!) but I do have to buy my own printer paper right now and it sucks. This seems to happen every other year at least. Fortunately, our video library is strong but I do have a pretty big purchased library too – I totally get where you are coming from!

  77. Scully*

    Companies can do all of us a favor and stop with the open-concept office layout. Give. Me. Some. Privacy.

  78. Regina Phalange*

    Guys. Pilot FriXion Clicker Retractable Erasable Gel Pens. Like, they actually erase. And they’re MAGIC.

    I encountered them when meeting with an architect, and she erased a note in red ink (and it disappeared!) and I literally stopped the entire meeting to talk about the pen and try them.

    They will change your life.

    You’re welcome.

    3. Admin 4 Life*

      I had a “where have you been all my life?!” moment when I first tried them. I like to use them for everything.

      1. Regina Phalange*

        Same. Especially as a Type A perfectionist. I would often start a whole page over if I messed up something on my to do list. Now? Erase!

    5. Brownie*

      The only drawback to these is that the ink “erases” with heat. Living in a desert environment means that when I fell in love with these and their matching highlighters (The best thing EVER!), then left the bag with them in my car over a weekend last summer all the ink still inside the pens went clear on me because of the heat. :( Plus some of the writing on documents which were in the bag with the pens disappeared/turned clear, which was actually slightly more disturbing as I then had to remember what I’d written. In an office environment they’re fabulous and wonderful, just don’t let them get too hot by leaving them in a car or other hot place.

      1. Astor*

        FYI: they do the opposite in the cold. That is, it’s thermosensitive in both directions so you put it in the freezer everything will reappear again

        Of course, that’s a drawback if you want something to stay gone.

    6. Matilda Jefferies*

      Ooh! I love life-changing pens, seriously. Are there any lefties here that have tried these? I always find that erasable pens just smear all over my hand, but I keep hoping to find that magic one that doesn’t…

    7. Lissajous*

      Yes! I’m an engineer, and they are the most amazing things for P&IDs! And also, they come in many colours! So if I’m trying to track things for valve lists etc, I have light blue for water and purple for reagents and red for fire water and so on. Or if we’re doing a revamp of an old plant, the electrical engineer can do markups in very normal red pen, and the metallurgist can do markups in very normal blue pen, and I can do my markups in anything but black/blue/red and it’s easy for everyone to see who did what.

      Also, if your writing is tiny? They have a lovely fine point.

      But as Brownie mentioned, the caveat is that the ink is heat sensitive (“erasing” happens because of the heat from the friction between the rubber tip and the paper – hence the name). Definitely do not leave the pens in a car in the middle of desert if you would like them work. Not that I found that out the difficult way on site… *whistles innocently*

  79. paul*

    I asked for and got a wired mouse vs the wireless default and that’s been a godsend even though it’s just a cheap Dell (I think we just dug it out of a box of parts). Wireless mice tend to be heavier because batteries and ug.

    A map of our region and state-helps me to visualize it when I get news about stuff happening that may impact us (OK, where is that, how far, how big is that city, are clients likely impacted, etc). I could Google map it but this is easier. And leaves more screen real estate.

    We have an honor system going on soda in the fridge; 60 cents for a half liter bottle. Maybe marginally more expensive than bringing my own but a lot cheaper than a vending machine and very convenient. This is new, we’ll see how it works.

    A water cooler. It’s dry as hell here. I drink a ton of water.

    1. The Other Dawn*

      I have a wireless mouse at home. I had a cat that would chew through wires–he cost me three wired mice!–so I had to go wireless. But I find that the cursor will often “stick” on the screen for a moment or two when there’s something going on in the background that’s hogging the memory, such as a full virus scan or updates. I assume that’s my issue, anyway. It’s really annoying.

  80. The Other Dawn*

    I have a standing desk (Varidesk), a GOOD office chair and a rocking foot rest. They also gave me a split ergonomic keyboard (by request) and dual monitors. I never thought I’d get used to dual monitors, but I quickly fell in love and now I don’t know how I’d function without them, since I typically need to compare information side by side. One of the company-branded gifts we got a couple years ago was an LL Bean fleece jacket, which I use quite a bit; my office is like the Arctic Circle most of the year.

  81. Aphrodite*

    I now have a private office–woohoo! a great one–but even when I was in a cubicle probably my favorite thing is a pretty table lamp, a crystal and gold one, on the desk. I hate fluorescent lights so I never turn those on but the incandescent 150-watt bulb provides lovely light when it is darker outside. I bought it myself from a thrift store and added a stunning shade.

    A silly gift from an old supervisor is a large chunk of pink Himalayan sea salt. She bought a bag of these so that we could take problems “with a grain of salt.” It sits on my computer as an amusing reminder when stress starts to descend.

    I also insist on certain pens and plenty of color in my pens and highlighters as I do a lot of complex class scheduling where different colors on the same document make it easy to know what I need to do and have done. No noise, no radio; just quiet and peaceful, an environment I work best in. (I loathe radio playing endlessly and stores are especially guilty of this.)

    Another one is my door. I keep it closed at all times, which keeps me mostly out of the gossip/chat railroad. It’s wonderful.

    Finally, last week I asked my supervisor if I could buy a small refrigerator for my office and he said sure. (He has one.) So I am looking on CraigsList. It will make it so much easier for me that using the staff refrigerator even though there are no food thieves here. And as summer begins to come closer, I may buy a portable air conditioner as this new office does not have air conditioning and I am told it can get hot. I do not do well in heat so I may splurge.

      1. Aphrodite*

        I already know that but my office has two windows so I think I am good. I plan to talk to maintenance about it so I know what will work best. Thanks for the reminder, though.

  82. Bend & Snap*

    Wired Bose noise cancelling earbuds for conference calls
    Wireless Bose noise cancelling earbuds for helping me concentrate
    A Franklin Covey paper planner
    Antibacterial wipes to clean my hands, devices, desktop, literally everything
    A space heater

  83. NotThatGardner*

    wireless mouse, gel pads for both wrists on key board and on mousepad, 2nd monitor, extra computer charger, hot&cold water cooler.

  84. Rebecca*

    2 very large monitors, a very comfortable chair, a fan (why is it always so hot in here, even in the winter???), and my little wire mesh desk caddy to hold my various highlighters, pens, staples, etc. all within reach.

  85. cactus lady*

    I have a tiny crock pot to heat up my lunch and I don’t know how I’d live without it. I never have to worry about using the gross office microwave and on cold days I move it closer to me so that it provides a little extra heat. They’re about $20 on Amazon and sooooo worth it!

    1. Muriel Heslop*

      I’ve been shopping for a small microwave oven for my office but I am going to look into this – thanks for the tip!

    2. JustJen*

      I have one of these and love having food that isnt unevenly heated because I’m rushing to free up the microwave. Managed to heat water for coffee in it once after the kettle blew too :)

  86. PeanutButterPrincess*

    Poo-pourri before-you-go toilet spray in our bathroom. No joke. We have one bathroom that is shared by about 7 people across two small clinics it is also directly adjacent to the break room / kitchen. I am sensitive to bathroom smells and have a powerful gag reflex. I used to barely be able to eat lunch and would hold my breath or gag every time I needed to use the facilities. You may laugh, but this stuff really works. Now all you can smell is a faint citrusy aroma.

    1. Beancounter in Texas*

      I second Poo-Pourri. This stuff saved my marriage since we have one toilet in the house. Spray liberally.

  87. Autumnheart*

    I have a 4-port charging station at my desk, which means I can keep my phone and personal tablet handy (and charged) without hogging the few outlets at my desk, or littering my desktop with electronics.

    1. Ama*

      I was coming here to say that when we moved into our new office we were given the option to request additional items for our cubicles, and I jumped at the extra desktop outlet station (two grounded outlets and two USB ports), because it allows me to plug and unplug my laptop without having to crawl under my desk every time, and charge my phone without using my limited USB ports on my laptop. Plus it is exactly the right size for my phone to sit on top of it, so it doesn’t take up additional space.

      Hardly anyone else ordered one and now they are all jealous of mine. (We can get more eventually but the vendor is very very slow.)

      1. Cinnamonroll*

        A plug in strip of USB ports for my laptop. Laptop only has 2 USB slots. Little plug-in has FIVE.

  88. Moon Elf Cleric*

    I love my natural sunlight lamp. Use it for about a half an hour when I get to work in the morning and I have significantly more energy in the afternoon. I have a Lightphoria one by Sphere (about $60 on Amazon) and use it even during the summer, but it is especially nice in the winter months when most of the light hours of the day are spent at work.

  89. miyeritari*

    Expensive stuff: Zojirushi water boiler for Tea On Demand & good-quality over-ear headphones. (I use the Audio-Technica ATH M50x).

    Cheap stuff: Footrest & lumbar support in the chair, a limitless supply of post-it notes.

  90. INTP*

    Two things that have really helped me – an electric kettle and a 32oz water tumbler (I use Bubba brand). The giant tumbler because it helps me stay hydrated when I get busy and forget to refill my water bottle throughout the day (I only need to fill it once in the morning and once at lunch and I’ve had my water for the day). And because I work from home without a hot water dispenser, an electric kettle makes it much easier to make tea throughout the day to sip on and give me a pleasant (but non-caloric) distraction when I need some warmth or stimulation during the afternoon.

  91. Ladylike*

    The post about modesty panels made me revisit the same concern at my office, but I haven’t found a solution yet. I wear exclusively skirts and dresses for religious reasons, and it just happens that just-below-the-knee-length pencil skirts look best on me and make the most sense for work (no long/loose/flowy fabric for when I walk into the manufacturing area). But they don’t always fully cover my knees when I’m sitting. My cube is designed such that my legs face the aisle, and my desk has no modesty panel. It’s just a big, flat surface with a thick post for stability. I’ve tried rearranging the desk to face a different way but it doesn’t work. I’ve considered adding a curtain to the front of my desk, but I don’t want to draw attention to the fact that my legs may be exposed behind the curtain (I think people would ask why I have a curtain). I’ve also considered adding an additional wall to the front of my cubicle, but I think it’s only a partial solution. Moving to another workspace with a different desk is an option, but kind of a pain. I’m stumped, but reading about another person having a legitimate concern about the lack of a modesty panel made me realize I’m not overthinking it!

    1. SoCalHR*

      Is there any way that hanging a calendar, poster or white board there would make any sense? or putting a small filing cabinet or plant there?

      1. Falling Diphthong*

        Yes, something that looks like its primary purpose is to be decorative and shielding your legs is just a side effect?

      2. Ladylike*

        I’ve thought about swiping an unused filing cabinet from another cube. Unfortunately, we have a lot of empty ones right now. :(

    2. InfoSec SemiPro*

      Do you have any metrics or reports that you can put on a white board/pinboard that you have covering the front of your desk? Posting public facing information into an aisle is an office tradition at this point.

    3. Can't Sit Still*

      Maybe a macrame curtain? Or some kind of woven wall hanging? A co-worker uses a plastic metallic fringe curtain on their cube, and it’s incredibly distracting to look at, making it difficult to see what’s behind it, even though it’s entirely see-through. You could switch colors with the seasons!

    5. Guacamole Bob*

      I wouldn’t worry too much about drawing attention to what’s behind the curtain. If you gave a casual answer about storing stuff under your desk or wanting to be able to kick off your shoes when you’re sitting down, I think most people would get it. I know a lot of people who commute in non-work shoes and practically need a shoe rack under their desks!

    8. Stan*

      I added a curtain to the front of my desk (mostly to hide the fact that I kick my shoes off and sit lotus style on the regular). I brought plain, stiff fabric that went with the rest of the decor, hemmed it, and mounted it using removable velcro strips. Because it’s flat and plain, it just looks like a fabric modesty panel. It was up for a week before anyone noticed. Since then I’ve made a couple of others for coworkers and now it really looks like part of the decor.

  92. Admin 4 Life*

    On the purely office side of things I struck gold at my current job!

    *Laptop so I can roam the office and take notes easily (this wasn’t a thing at my last company-if you had to take minutes you did it by hand)
    *Two monitors on spring loaded, multi-directional arms so you can position them in ANY way you like.
    *An L shaped desk so I actually have room to work, stay organized and people don’t lean over me to access my In-tray.
    *Wireless mouse and key board.
    *Two lockable, rolling filing cabinets with one functioning as a comfortable second seat for when people drop by to go over stuff (It’s actually padded on the top!)
    *Electric standing desk so I can sit or stand at the touch of a button.
    *Being provided with tea, coffee, and soda in the kitchen, as well as trailmix, and other dry snacks.
    *And finally, quiet, isolation rooms with a desk or treadmill desk, two monitors and a dock so I can go sit at another desk in the office if I really need to be able to close myself off from the noise and have private conversations or work on things without distraction. This is soooo great for those of us that are out in the cube farm.

    1. Manders*

      Ooh, I’m jealous. I have a treadmill desk at home and I definitely feel like I’m capable of focusing for longer when I’m using it.

  93. WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot*

    A standing desk! I am a former teacher and once I got a desk job I was about to go crazy sitting. I have one that just sits on top of my current desk and you can pull it up when you want to stand and put it down for when you feel like sitting. Best thing I have ever done!

  94. Breda*

    As I sit here with my legs crossed, I’m actually grateful I DON’T have a modesty panel. I would kick it fifty times a day. But I’m 6′ tall, so space to put my legs is extremely valuable!

  95. North Dakota Jones*

    A standing desk. My back and legs have thanked me so much.

    A footstool. I am short and in order to have my chair positioned properly for my computer, my feet where left swinging…which caused me to either lean forward and hunch or rest them on my garbage can…which broke the garbage can. Repeatedly.

    I eagerly await the day I can bring in a second monitor without causing too much consternation.

    Smaller items – a USB plug in fan that I can plug into my laptop when my office gets too hot.

  96. BBBizAnalyst*

    Natural light in the office. We are on one of the top floors overlooking the city and I sit by a window. I don’t care for most open office layouts but this one works.

  97. Kristin*

    Double screens for sure! A wrist support for my keyboard and mouse… and as of yesterday: a humidifier.

  98. ContentWrangler*

    At my office we have rows of desks facing each other, and the dividing wall between the desks is a dry erase board on the top half – I love being able to jot down reminders and chart project progress. It means really important notes can always be right in front of my face. Plus since it’s my personal space, I don’t have to worry about anyone erasing it.

  99. EA in CA*

    Label printer. I am always labeling something, and most of the time, only need 1 or 2 labels at a time, so no need for a full sheet. I have a Dymo twin label printer and have it set with one roll of file folder labels and the second roll with address labels.

  101. The Cosmic Avenger*

    I love having USB ports on my monitors; I used to have a USB hub on my desk, because right now in addition to the usual (keyboard, mouse) I have connected: a USB headset, a smart card reader, and a wireless cell phone charger, and I often need to use flash drives or external hard drives. If you don’t have USB ports within easy reach of your keyboard, and use USB devices even occasionally, USB hubs are pretty cheap. (Actually, the one I was using was a giveaway I picked up at a conference.)

  103. Anonymousaurus Rex*

    I don’t have one of these, but I just heard they exist on the last 99% Invisible podcast– A heated AND cooled office chair. I had no idea this was a thing and now I really want one!

    1. SoCalHR*

      I may be choosing my next car solely on the ability to get cooled seats….didn’t realize it was an option at work lol

  104. CorporateQueer*

    Artwork! I work in a sciencey-type job, and I have various personal heroes up on my walls, as well as artwork done by friends and family.

    Facial wipes! I’m in the process of transitioning, and ya’ll, it’s puberty-skin all over again. I have some grapefruit face wipes that smell amazing, and are also really refreshing and pick me up when I’m in the middle of a long day.

    I also keep a little kit in my desk that has a first aid kit, batteries, a sewing kit, and charging cables for various phones. It’s actually been a great way to meet folks in my (still somewhat new) position, because word has gotten around that I’m the guy with the goods if anybody has an emergency come up.

    1. bohtie*

      Oh man, I’m starting T in a couple of weeks and not looking forward to pizzaface all over again, haha. Any brand recommendations? (my entire skincare routine is “whatever’s leftover from my girlfriend’s birchbox every month,” not gonna lie)

      1. CorporateQueer*

        Congrats on starting T, that’s awesome! I’ve found that Neutrogena Oil Free face wash has helped a lot (I had *terrible* acne as a teenager, and it was a game changer when I started using it.) I also use Neutrogena toner every day. I’m still trying to figure out what to do in terms of bacne, though, it’s a literal pain in the back. I basically just buy what I find in the drug store, I’m not really super fancy. A lot of guys have said that exfoliating helps, and I think they’re right about that.

    2. Lefty*

      Oooh, I’d love to know which grapefruit wipes you’re using! They sound amazing. I found some from the “Yes To” line, I really like their products anyway so I might give them a try.

      1. Autumnheart*

        Neutrogena makes some, and Target has a generic equivalent. I like them for the summer as a way to freshen up if I get sweaty from the heat. They smell really nice, and have salicyclic acid in them.

      2. CorporateQueer*

        I love the Yes To line! I’ll have to give the Target generics that Autumnheart recommended a shot, too :) Right now I’m just using something called “beaute essentielle” that I grabbed from TJ Maxx.

  105. Justme, The OG*

    A door that closes. I don’t need to close my door often but sometimes it’s really nice to be able to have privacy.

    And something I didn’t think I would miss until I didn’t have one and needed it is a paper sorter. The kind with tabs that are the letter of the alphabet to help alphabetize papers. I missed it so much I bought myself one for the few times of year I need to use it.

  106. Aurion*

    – An extra-wide keyboard tray that fits my mouse and my keyboard. (I hate those ones where the mouse is on a tiny wobbly platform; mine is just a slat of extra-wide laminate wood, so my mouse is on the same level and is stable)
    – A third monitor
    – My fountain pen
    – Tons (maybe too much) natural light
    – A small Mickey Mouse plushie to decorate my desk

    1. Aurion*

      Oh, I forgot to add:

      – My wireless mouse/keyboard combo with the emphasis that the keyboard is contoured but not split. I can type on split keyboards but they’re huge and don’t fit in my keyboard tray, and my wrists aren’t comfortable typing on straight keyboards for long. A contoured keyboard is a perfect compromise between space-saving and ergonomics.

      The keyboard tray and keyboard/mouse combo was bought with my own money, and I consider it money well spent.

      1. Nikki T*

        I got a keyboard with a slide-out number pad so now my mouse is right next to the keyboard. I moved the wobbly platform to the left for a while so I wouldn’t have to reach so far, I built a small platform over the keypad too, then our ergo people said they had a list of keyboards without the number pad.

        I haven’t had a problem since.

  107. paperfiend*

    Extra power strips (with long cords). I work in IT and I am constantly plugging things in to test them or work on them. There’s plenty of wall power in my workspace, but setting up power strips where I can actually reach them… huge difference. I have two on the top of my desk, and one actually above on a shelf so I can have power cords going up and out of the way instead of snaking around on the desk…

    1. KR*

      Yes! In my old job we got a huge long power strip that attached to the wall like a row of wall outlets. Stuck it above my desk and it was a life saver since my desk was often the “set up the PC here to work on it”/”let’s plug this server in to sit while we set it up and wait to find it a home”/”we’re setting up laptops and need to have all three of them running updates at the same time” it was a lifesaver.

  108. TotesMaGoats*

    -A really good lanyard/badge holder (which may sound dumb but this thing won’t break and I always know where my badge and keys are)
    -Two monitors: I adjusted to two and now can never go back
    -Ditto the good pens

    1. Lady Phoenix*

      I am an anime fan and a lot of artists in artist alley are selling lanyards now! I have a Dragon Age one for keys and a persona one for my work badge

    2. ContentWrangler*

      I’m totally with you on the badge holder. I have one that clips onto my belt and then the badge is only a retractable line so I can pull it up to scan at gates/doors. But I can’t lose it even if I drop the card because it’s attached to me. It’s vital.

    3. This Daydreamer*

      I have to have keys at work and I made my own beaded lanyard. It’s nice to be able to personalize a little bit.

  109. As Close As Breakfast*

    Notebooks with graph paper instead of lines. I’m an engineer and graph paper just… makes me happy. (It also makes a lot of what I write/draw/sketch easier, but that’s secondary to making me happy, tbh)

  110. Noise-cancelling headphone reqs!*

    Can we do a thread of what headphones everyone uses and how much they like them?

    I use Audio Technica ATH M50x. They’re not technically noise cancelling, but they cancel about as much as I’d like and they’re incredibly comfortable for like 8-10 hour use wear. The sound quality is also amazing – I didn’t notice until I put on some other headphones weeks later. They cost about $150 and amazon says you can get them for $100 refurbished. I prefer them wired because: NO BATTERIES. I hate batteries.

    When I was on a stricter budget I previously used NoiseHush i7 Aviators. These cost about $40. Both pairs lasted me about 18 months – two years, and were pretty effective at noise cancelling.

      1. paul*

        Sure 112-GR has worked well for me. I use them for plane flights ont he rare occasions, and I use them while working out. I don’t use them at the office because I won’t leave my precious here and at 50 bucks I’m not buying 2 pairs, but they’re pretty good.

        I wear glasses so traditional over the ear earphones are iffy for me for prolonged use.

      2. Delphine*

        Jaybird X3’s are wireless, they block out some noise because they’re in-ear, but you’ll still be able to hear if anyone comes up and needs to talk to you. They also sound beautiful and have a sound equalizer app that works great.

    2. Falling Diphthong*

      Sennheiser HD 206. Originally picked out by my gaming son. Over-ear as I hate ear-buds. Around $70 on Amazon, which I know because the puppy really likes them too, so I am on about my fourth pair. (Can’t speak to product life in absence of puppy.)

    3. Natalie*

      Interesting, I’m the complete opposite – after ruining multiple pairs of headphones by accidentally yanking them out of my phone, wireless is 100% required for me, and I wear earbuds for the purposes of office optics and having giant hair.

      Given that, I have a pair of Plantronics Backbeat Fit – they’re made for working out, so they are light, durable, and stay put (IMO). They have a decently long battery life and charge quickly. And most importantly, they were under $100. I’m not an audiophile so I don’t know how the music sound quality compares to really good headphones, but I don’t care since that’s not why I’m wearing headphones in the office.

  111. nnn*

    In terms of employer-provided furnishings, cubicle walls that are tall enough that you can’t see over them are vastly, vastly, superior to cubicle walls that are so short you can see everyone else. Obvs private offices are better, but if you have to have a cube farm, the returns on that extra foot or two of cube height are exponential.

    1. Snark*

      But how will employees leverage their core competencies to collaboratively paradigm-shift unless they are completely deprived of privacy and personal space?!?

      1. Amber Rose*

        Now I have that Weird Al Mission Statement song stuck in my head.

        “We must all efficiently
        Operationalize our strategies
        Invest in world-class technology
        And leverage our core competencies
        In order to holistically administrate
        Exceptional synergy”

        1. Snark*

          Snort. I hate corporatese, especially when it’s paragraphs of self-justification lathered over “we’re too cheap to buy cube walls.”

      2. fretnone*

        The savings in legal costs from not having to deal with that time I whacked the co-worker who won’t stop popping up like Whack-a-Mole will certainly outweigh the synergistic benefits!

  112. Sunnyside*

    I am part of a traveling sales team and we routinely do presentations in different venues. I have a small (growing) collection of accessories: dongles, adapters, cords, slide advancer, laser pointer, etc, so that I can handle any imaginable AV set up. My boss got us all portable cord organizers, like this: https://www.cocooninnovations.com/grid.php It slips right into the laptop sleeve of my bag and I can easily see if I have all of my tools – no more realizing I left my HDMI adapter attached to the system after I’ve already boarded my airplane to my next destination!

  113. Linzava*

    I have severe back issues. I bought a really expensive chair for work. Changed everything. When I left my last job, I took it with me and brought it to my new job. I also brought a monitor lift in, again, changed everything.

    2. RedBlueGreenYellow*

      Same here. It really is amazing how tremendous a change the right chair can make. The last time I changed jobs, it took a couple of weeks to get HR approval for me to bring my own chair, and every day of those two weeks, I had neck and back pain.

      I also really appreciate having good, ergonomically-appropriate equipment all around. My employer made me jump through a few hoops to provide my own chair, but they were great about getting me an ergonomic evaluation and then providing the monitor lifts, adjustable keyboard tray, split keyboard, and contour mouse that make every day at work more pleasant.

    3. Anonymousaurus Rex*

      I was forced to take home my yoga ball chair, Mr. Bouncey, when corporate HR deemed it a safety issue. I love sitting on a ball as it helps me sit in a position that doesn’t scrunch my lower back, plus I’m super fidgety and the bouncing keeps me concentrating. I was miserable sitting in a regular chair when they made me take Mr. Bouncey home. Luckily, now I work from home 3-4 days a week, and my love affair with Mr. Bouncey has resumed, unbeknownst to my office. Don’t mess with a lady who found the right chair.

  114. lcsa99*

    People are gonna think I am crazy for thinking small, but for me, it’s those rubber finger tip thingys! I deal with so much paperwork, it’s essential.

  115. Mockingjay*

    My IT Team. Seriously.

    These magnificent people created a custom SharePoint site for my new project. They added all kinds of features while ensuring the GUI stayed clean and easy to use. They provide constant training, ask for feedback (what do you need, what can we do better for you), and respond to issues within minutes. All of the work they do is invisible to the user, but absolutely essential to managing information for a large, expanding project. These people make me look so much better than I am at my job.

    My company does periodic staff awards ($), and I nominated them for the next one. They deserve it and more!

  116. voluptuousfire*

    For me it’s the rolling file cabinet I use to store my backpack and as a foot rest. I sit at a higher desk with a barstool height chair and I’m 5’4 if I’m lucky that day, so having the filing cabinet is doubly practical.

    Also my amazon laptop holder so I have a double screen. A simple $20 makes all the difference.

  117. Penny*

    I really hate looking at the typical black plastic desk things…pen cups, desk organizers, file holders, etc. I hate ugly things. I like everything to be pretty. I’ve brought in my own desk things and it just makes me so much happier.

    I’m really tempted to bring in my own chair but I don’t know if that would get me the side eye.

    1. KR*

      Ugh this is so me. We had a paper tray here but it was flimsy and black and dusty. I got a clear green one and I love it. It’s like my favorite thing on my desk.

  118. Radio Girl*

    Small under-desk pedestal or footstool so I can rest my feet a few inches off the ground. It’s better for your back. About 4 inches off the ground is good.

    Post-its in several different colors and sizes, desk-top and also purse-size business card holders, three-ring binders for big projects, and a three-hole punch.

  120. Red Reader*

    A good trackball. I have about three square inches of desk space and, between two computers, 3 24″ monitors and 2 27″ monitors. I used to have two Logitech M570 trackballs, one for each computer. A few weeks ago, I replaced both of them with one Logitech MX Ergo, which allows me to use one trackball for both computers (just push a button to switch from one to the other – there’s other possibilities with the software, but I can’t install the software on my work computer). It’s great for the lack of desk space, and also much easier on my wrists. Some trackballs require retraining yourself to click with the thumb and use the ball with your finger, but these two both move the ball with the thumb and click the same way a regular mouse does.

      1. Red Reader*

        I kept the M570s and put one in my work laptop bag. The nice thing with Logitech too is that a lot of their stuff these days can be used with a “unifying receiver” — so if you get a trackball, a regular mouse, and a wireless keyboard, you can hook all three up to one little USB doohickey rather than having to have them all plugged in individually. So while I have a laptop with docking station as my work computer, I leave the doohickey plugged into the laptop itself (instead of into the docking station), and when I have to go onsite, the free-standing keyboard and trackball that live in the laptop bag seamlessly connect to the same doohickey as the keyboard and Ergo trackball I usually use do.

    2. rubyrose*

      Yes, a trackball is an absolute requirement for me. I converted to them in the 1990s when I had wrist strain/tendinitis from a combination of bad crutches and 3 weeks of constant repetitive motion on the keyboard.
      I don’t wait for a company to provide; I have my own.

    3. Don't tell them where I went*

      I have broken my arm multiple times (I am the klutziest of klutzes) and switching to a trackball was such an amazing change. I had NO idea that so much of my pain was due to the stupid mouse. As a bonus, other people hate it so it’s cut down tremendously on the “Well actually, let me just show you…” silliness that I was getting.

    4. CDM*

      Give your left had a break too. I have Logitech Wave keyboards at home and work, I programmed the button left of ctrl and shift to be a delete key. And the keys above my F keys are programmed for single key paste, copy and cut. No more stretching for v.

      1. Red Reader*

        … the Wave looks really similar in structure to my beloved (discontinued) Comfort Curve 2000 keyboard. My only concern is the six miles of empty space in the front – I don’t have a lot of front-to-back space available. But I might need to get one of these and give it a shot. Wireless means I can put it in my lap. ;)

  121. Amber O.*

    Double monitors, wireless phone headset, cordless mouse, and a wireless mouse/keyboard combo. For comfort, you can’t go wrong with anything heated. I’ve got a heated seat cover that keeps you very cozy without being covered up by a coat or blanket.

  122. A Cataloger*

    If you can find it the UltraErgo Split Keyboard (I just found out it’s been discontinued and am really sad, it’s awesome). The Kinesis split keyboard is also good, but the cord connecting the two sides can be a pain. Having the split keyboard lets me put the papers/books I’m working on/with right in between the two halves and in just below the so I’m having to turn my head to one side or the other to see what I’m doing and I can have my monitor the ‘correct’ distance away instead of far enough away to fit both paper/books between the monitor and keyboard.

    The other benefit is that as a larger person my hands/arms are coming straight out from my shoulders as is recommended. It’s really helped with the pain in one of my shoulders.

  123. Ms.Marvel8591*

    My favorite things that have made my workspace better:

    1.My super fluffy pink blanket from TJ Maxx
    2.heating pads for those kinds of days (i hide it under my blanket)
    3.a usb fan for hot summer days (I’m in GA)
    4.My little funko toys
    5.My papermate inkjoy pens in all different colors
    6.My ‘Don’t Be the Office Dementor ‘ Sign in my cubical

  124. NCKat*

    1) A Microsoft Natural Keyboard, because my hands would hurt like hell without it, and 2) a Keurig coffeemaker in the break room. That thing has made life so much easier – no more burnt coffee and no more arguments over caffeinated vs decaf. Bliss!

    1. Nacho*

      Same. I don’t know why, but my hands were killing me before I bought this thing, but now it’s only a problem when I’m grabbing things with them. Which is admittedly still a big problem, but still. Small victories!

  125. Lady Phoenix*

    Space Heater
    Permanent Markers and Ink pens In A rainbow assortment
    Sketchbook for ideas, same with scissors and tape

  126. DCGirl*

    Since I’ve complained so much about the new open office at my company lately, let me find one nice thing to say about them…. I love that the water machine has the option of fizzy water. Like many recovering soda drinkers, I find that I will drink more water if it has bubbles.

  127. Stormy*

    CubeShield. It’s a pop-up framed fabric doohickey that cuts glare. Privacy/glare filters that slide directly over your monitor are not acceptable to me, for two major reasons:

    1. They alter the appearance of the screen output (which is unacceptable for graphic/photo editing work).
    2. They only help with on-screen glare. I still have extreme glare on my glasses, despite their glare coating. I got sick of wearing a ballcap at my desk, and I won’t wear contacts.

    The way the shield is intended to be mounted on a cubicle is cumbersome and fragile, so I use invisible fishing line and 3M plastic clips attached to the acoustic tile runners on the ceiling. Boss is okay with this.

  128. patricia*

    A wireless headset (forever getting tangled in the wired kind, and I’m on the phone a lot). A wireless mouse (for whatever reason, the mouse cord bugged me when it hung up on stuff). And a space heater (I know they aren’t allowed most places and I’m so grateful for mine- I am cold on the best days and everyone agrees my office is the coldest no matter what).

  129. InfoSec SemiPro*

    – Multiple monitors. Screen space directly affects the efficiency of complex system understanding and ability to keep information ‘known’ while working.
    – good pens. dot or graph note paper.
    – hands free headset
    – locking drawers near my desk. (I have carefully guarded a short, rolling file cabinet that is padded on the top for a seat through several furniture changes. Its the most useful piece of furniture ever.)
    – Freedom to not wear shoes – slippers were a productivity boost

    For running my team:
    – setting up my office as a tiny conference room – multiple whiteboards, a table and chairs, a good conference phone
    – if I could get a video conference solution on the wall, even better
    – wall clock so I don’t have to open my laptop or phone to keep track of time

  131. Boredatwork*

    I have these fancy monitor arms that basically clamp onto the desk (any where you’d like) and your screens essentially float in the air. This allows for things like swinging the arm away from you towards a person who needs to see your screen. Which means no one has to stand behind my desk ever again. They also allow you to get the ideal ergonomic monitor height based on your height and natural slouch. I’m very short and mine float about 3″ off my desk, it has dramatically helped with neck pain and headaches. They also organize all of my cords, so my desk is very tidy.

    I spend 10+ hours every day staring at a screen and this has helped tremendously.

    1. AnnaleighUK*

      We have these – I love them because we can twist screens vertically if we’re working on a diagram for a tower block or something. They also mean I can push my keyboard right back if I need more space on my desk.

  132. KR*

    Two large wide screen monitors. It is so irritating to try to do my job without them and just use my laptop screen. The person in my position from another team that trained me insisted that I have two monitors and I am so grateful.

    I have a small tear off notepad with Monday-Friday listed on it so I can fill in my to do list for the week.

    Colorful paper tray and accessories.

    A little thing that holds paper up if I’m typing off paper so I don’t need to look down and readjust my focus. I don’t use it as often as I did in school but when I use it I love it.

    Also, a blanket for those cozy days. And snacks, floss, tylenol, and an ample supply of sticky notes and highlighters.

    In a previous job the office scissors were always going missing and would be replaced with random spare scissors found in supply closet which were rusty and ineffective. We have a good set of scissors and it stays either in my desk or the supply drawer in front of my desk.

    2. rubyrose*

      A vote for good quality scissors! I don’t have the problem now (work from home), but I worked at too many companies where someone would always buy the cheapest ones they could find. They might last one month and were then put in the supply closet, where unsuspecting newbies would be forced to take them.

  133. Collingswood*

    If you are on the phone a lot, a good headset. (Sometimes speaker phone is not a great idea, and not having to hold/cradle the phone is much better ergo-wise.)

    Agree with others re double-monitors, good pens, and footrests, good chairs. Excited to check out all this heated stuff!

    1. Goya de la Mancha*

      Yes. Last job was a very phone-heavy situation (like as soon as you hung up there was another call). When I got a ear set, changed the work flow dramatically. Ear got a little sore once in awhile, but neck no longer hurt and I was able to access needed supplies/information easier during those calls. The one thing that stinks about them is that people don’t “realize” you’re on a call without the actual phone headset to your ear so they just start talking like nbd.

  134. Ms. Minn*

    Mine are mostly about making work life more pleasant and sane, as I’ve always worked in a cube without a door!

    -Good pens and notebooks – I’m picky about stationery and have used the same brands my entire career (Pilot Precise V7 and Miquelrius notebooks)
    -Hand sanitizer – I used to be a receptionist dealing with slimy salesmen all day; enough said
    -Glasses: I used to get headaches all the time until I had an eye exam
    -Noise-cancelling headphones
    -Two monitors – never going back to only one!
    -A nice, colorful calendar to brighten up the spaces – I love Paper Source
    -A shawl

    1. YAS*

      I love Paper Source, too! I “papered” my cubicle bulletin board with a few sheets of fine gift wrapping paper and it made such a difference. I receive compliments all the time! I also use their “Tall on the Wall Grid Calendar” and love it.

  135. Leah*

    A usb label maker. I make hundreds of labels and adjusting the printer and could ring where to start on the Avery labels was getting hold, because I make them in small batches and they are all different. So much easier!

  136. Someone else*

    1. The office water filter in the kitchen which also heats water, because the local water is… bleh (granted, that was already here when I arrived, but it’s such a useful thing).
    2. A steady supply of a drink that I know I’ll drink without thinking about it (seems like it should be straightforward, but I kept trying to force myself to drink water or herbal tea and ending up super dehydrated having only drunk one mug at best all day).
    3. Colourful stationery- a brightly patterned tissue box, and some pretty (but not overly cute) sticky labels. I move desks a lot, so having small things that I could take with me to brighten things up was helpful.
    4. A scarf which is essentially a blanket, but smart-looking.

  137. Not the real Slim Shady*

    Dual monitors are immensely important to my daily productivity. (I tried 3 for a brief period, but couldn’t really get used to it … although the 3rd was a 17″ non-widescreen monitor, and my other 2 are 22″ widescreen, so maybe if I got a 3rd monitor the same size, I’d have liked it better)

    In the summer, my desktop fan is very useful, despite the AC in the building.

    I’m also a big fan of a headset that will work with my desk phone as well as attach to my computer for softphone/skype/bluejeans purposes.

  138. Intel Analyst Shell*

    Something I’ve bought: A mini fridge for my cube. I don’t have to use the perpetual stinky communal one.
    Something my office has provided: Double monitors. And the willingness to make special orders. I’ve never needed anything but there are plenty of people who have needed chairs with better support, foot rests, etc and they are never met with any pushback on their requests.

  139. NW Mossy*

    I have horribly dry hands, so a high-quality pair of very quiet nail trimmers for my constant broken nails and a tub of O’Keeffe’s hand cream save me!

    1. BeenThere*

      Dry hands or the worst in air-conditioned offices. Here I was thinking I thought I added everything! I always have a tub of lush Helping Hands and a glass nail file.

  140. BeenThere*

    I’m a technical lead it’s all about comfort, ergonomics and limiting distractions

    Managers Who Used Their Own Resources
    A giant portable heater during the polar vortex in Houston. Our office was not built for cold weather, I’d say it was a level above a shed. After witnessing everyone at their desks with multiple winter layers on my manager showed up with a portable heater and put it under my desk. Turns out she’d purchased multiple ones during renovations and the minute people were looking cold in the office she appeared and dropped these off with all her directs that were cold.

    Things Coworkers have Procured Through the Dark Arts
    Wireless headset with microphone and answering button for my desk phone (tap the button on your ear and it both answers and hangs up the phone). This was at an old job and I got along very well with our IT Helpdesk in particular one of the guys became a close friend, overall we had about half a dozen “IT” people and we were nearly all on different teams. When I asked for a headset I expected something I’d need to plug into the phone each time I used it, instead he showed up with the most expensive headset you could buy that my manager would have never approved. I have no idea how he managed to get it, it was my favorite thing in that job.

    Company Issue
    A view of the mountains – it’s the next best thing to having an office
    Fancy sit stand corner desk motorized with three height settings
    Two monitors with appropriate height stands
    Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
    Desktop and Laptop computer – first time either I didn’t have to chose between the two
    Wireless noise cancelling headphones which I didn’t like the sound on and irritated my jaw so I gave them to a coworker.

    Self Purchased
    Wireless noise cancelling headphones – Bose QC35 series 1. I like to travel, a lot and these are way better than the company issued ones.
    A laptop lap desk that is also use to carry the laptop (Quirky Scribe Lap Desk and Laptop Holder) – I work long hours and am often stuck with meetings spattered all day so I don’t always get to turn my desktop on. Being able to be a laptop warrior is important. Being able to carry things other than my laptop and open a door is important
    Pilot G2 Pens, if I need to revert to pen and paper it better be a nice pen.
    A large stash of snacks from my home country
    Tea and Milk – because I’m extremely particular about the flavor of both and we keep running out of milk. Yes we can afford all the fancy toys in the world however keeping a refrigerator fully stocked with the white stuff, that’s an unsolved problem :p

  141. Ejane*

    A two-inch-thick pressure-relieving seat cushion. I have extremely sensitive skin, and–this is embarrassing–before this cushion I would get horrific folliculitis on pressure points on my rear and thighs. It was like high school acne, but in embarrassing places, and it HURT.

    This cushion was $80, and I bought it with my own money so I wouldn’t have to leave it behind when I switched jobs. It is a LIFESAVER.

  142. Volunteer Enforcer*

    As an admin, oodles of things. Pens that wriye smoothly. Different size and strength holepunches and staplers. Good size and strength folders. Good quality printers, paper and ink. My best lifesaver is something that can remove staples, I call it an anti stapler and another colleague calls them nippies.

    1. Ten*

      Those handy gadgets were introduced to me as “staple eaters” by a teacher. Pretty sure she just made that name up to be cutesy with her students, but that’s what I’ve called them ever since.

  143. Merci Dee*

    I love my Zip Notes. They’re 150 feet of post-it notes on a continuous roll, and you rip off the amount you need. I used to keep tons of post-its in different sizes, but having a single roll is so much more efficient and space-saving. I love being able to customize individual note sizes based on what I need to write.

  144. Fabulous*

    A different chair than the rest of the floor. I tried sitting in the standard desk chair the first week or so and had the worst lower back pain. Mentioned it to the office manager and she had one different style chair available that I snagged up right away. No more lower back pain! Woohoo!

    To be clear, I think the standard chairs are meant to be lumbar supportive, but because 1) I have a larger behind than most, and 2) I always sit at the very back of my chair, the lumbar area was in completely the wrong place on my back. It kept pushing me forward with my back at a weird arch and I was getting terrible spasms. I guess most people don’t sit with their butts jammed up against the back of the chair or something! Soooo glad they had another option available!

  145. Administrative Assistant*

    A small footstool. This is actually a “nursing” stool, with the surface being tilted, but it’s awesome for leg fatigue.

  146. Alternative Person*

    Staple-less stapler
    Lumbar pillow for my back
    Four slot pen with cheap refills
    Erasable highlighters
    Clearfiles
    Folders with lots of A4 pockets
    Assorted things like pencils, erasers, tipex etc.

    I buy all this stuff myself because my company thinks we can do our jobs with two old laptops, the free pens we get from catalogs, a stapler and a lot of A4. What I wouldn’t give for a work laptop than wasn’t five years old and not so screwed that the battery is gone.

    (This stuff isn’t expensive and spread out over a year it amounts to less than a day’s pay but urgh, I do resent a little having to pay out myself because I want to do a proper job)

  147. Colorado CrazyCatLady*

    One of those things you clip to your monitor that you can hang paper from. I’ll post a link separately, but it’s a neck saver when you’re re-typing something because you don’t have to look down.

  148. ItsOnlyMe*

    I have a mid size portable fan that has moved with me from cube to cube (I am that colleague that is always too warm).

    At Old Job I was given a Cube Guard – a retractable Do Not Disturb sign for my cubicle, it was simple, effective and just awesome. I have tried to find them to order for my new office but I can’t even locate the website, it seems to have vanished. I would love to know if anyone can recommend anything similar.

    1. Ms. Minn*

      I would love one of those signs too! But I don’t think my most annoying co-worker who interrupts me constantly (seriously, one day I counted 10 times) would obey it. :(

  149. DCGirl*

    Well, all I can say is that I better not stop by Staples on my way home tonight. I could drop a few hundred dollars easily on all the cool things I’ve seen here.

    1. Matilda Jefferies*

      Seriously. I have about a dozen tabs open on my browser right now, with all the cool new office supplies that I want!

  150. Turtlewings*

    The office Keurig — I don’t even drink coffee, but I love me some hot chocolate.

    Space heater. My little office is the coldest corner of the building. Part of this is because I’m right in front of a huge window, but you can take my window, with its natural light and view of trees and squirrels, when you pry it from my dead hands.

    This won’t apply to everyone, but I work all day with items that have barcodes, and finally getting my own handheld scanner so I didn’t have to type in the numbers was a huge workflow improvement.

    By the way I’m so surprised by the number of people saying footrest — it’s never even occurred to me to get a footrest, but maybe that’s because I’m tall-ish? (I’m 5’6″, which is actually short in my family and I get teased for it, but I do seem to be taller than most of my female friends and co-workers.)

    1. Turtlewings*

      I meant to also say: The number of people raving about their heated seats, throws, standing pads, or straight-up space heaters is surely an indication that virtually all workspaces need to turn up the darn heat already!

    2. Higher Ed Database Dork*

      I think the footrest thing also has to do with the fact that cubicle and desk furniture seems to be made for a much taller person on average, so even if you are “average” normally, a lot of people have trouble with big furniture and weird cubicle/chair combinations. Also I like having the footrest just to help with blood flow and being able to put my feet in a different position that alleviates some pressure.

    3. Amber Rose*

      I’m 5’6″ as well and I like my makeshift footrest. But I also have really messed up ankles and a very low desk/chair, so it’s good for my pain levels to get my feet off the ground.

  151. Neosmom*

    Basic tools: hammer, screw drivers, pliers, box cutter, scissors, tape measure. They are from Orvis and have flowered handles. They sit in a large coffee mug on my desk and, because of the pretty handles, if they get borrowed they get returned promptly! So handy for tightening the boss’s chair, hanging a picture, pulling a wire stuck in the heavy duty stapler!

  153. Aunt Piddy*

    Two monitors (they were mandatory in one of my old offices and I CANNOT go back to just one)

    A small pedal-bike thing that sits under my desk so I’m not sedentary all day. It also helps keep me warm! I burn calories all day and my calves are like iron.

    A platform that attaches to my chair arm that has a mouse pad. I don’t hunch over my desk anymore, and my back feels so much better.

    1. Merci Dee*

      ~feels the clouds roll back as the angel choir begins to sing~ a mouse pad that attaches to the arm of the chair? Hmmmm…..

  154. K, Esq.*

    A large black calculator! My desk is beige and so was my calculator, which I constantly lost. My paralegal got me a black one and I can always find it. Such a small change for such improved quality of life!

  155. Ihmmy*

    -Speakers (since we aren’t allowed headphones at the front). I die without music
    -Dual Monitors. I had them at last job too but do they ever make life easier
    -Magnetic staple remover. It’s a small thing but I find them so much easier to use than the fanged looking ones, plus the magnet catches the staple after it’s been pulled out
    -Windows!!! Our light goes through two sets of windows before it gets to me but! it still gets to me. It’s helped my SAD dramatically
    -Good pens. I’m a pen snob and I fully admit it, but it’s so nice to have good writing implements, and doubly so when you can get a few colour variations. My favourite to draft documents with by hand is a Zebra Sarasa but we also get those awesome eraseable pentex ones in a few different colours and it’s great.

  156. Ramona Flowers*

    Things provided by work:
    Chair with a headrest (bought for me as I have a medical need)
    Document holder so I can read without craning my neck / stand papers by my computer / etc
    Post-it tabs to mark pages and neon square post-its (they make me happy darn it)

    Things I have bought or got as gifts in my personal life:
    Nice notebooks (currently a moleskine with a cover that relates to a thing I like)
    Hand cream in nice packaging that looks pretty on my desk
    Novelty highlighters

    1. Ramona Flowers*

      Oh and we have loads of plants around which are lovely.

      Now settling in to read the rest of the comments and make a shopping list…

  157. Scrumtrillescent*

    Fine line pens (uniball signo 0.28)
    A scentsy warmer (I don’t sell scentsy.)
    Hand sanitizer
    First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream (I handle a high volume of paper every day, which dries my hands out, and a high volume of cash every day, which calls for lots of washing and sanitizing. This lotion keeps my hands nice and soft and improves my grip on paper!)
    Baby wipes, Clorox Wipes, and a Tide To Go pen.
    A medicine shelf
    A snack drawer
    A purse hook
    Bob Ross sticky notes (They were more than I wanted to spend on sticky notes, but who DOESN’T need sticky notes that say “Let’s get a little crazy here.” or “I like mountains.”)
    Porg file folders
    A set of memory foam cushions to help with sciatic pain.

    1. justsomeone*

      Sadly, my office bans wax warmers, or I’d have one here. I am obsessed with the indie wax scene.

    2. I'll come up with a clever name later.*

      Oh yes…clorox wipes are a must. I wipe down my desk every day and then do a thorough scrub on Friday before I leave. My coworkers think I have issues but I sit next to a woman who doesn’t cover her mouth when she sneezes. She’s kind of gross already (she uses her hand or a dirty rag to wipe her nose because tissues are “waste”, she picks her nose, she wears her winter coat all day long and doesn’t take it off even when she’s using the rest room) so sitting next to her has made me a bit of a germ nut about my desk space. I literally don’t let anyone touch anything on it.

      1. Scrumtrillescent*

        I want to mail you tubs of Clorox wipes arranged into a frowny face. You are a trooper.

  158. ForeverAnon*

    I had to purchase these items outta pocket but I bought a wrist rest for both my keyboard and mouse. I also bought a chair back support. If you can only do one of these things I highly recommend the wrist rest for keyboard. It alleviated a lot of discomfort for me.

        1. ForeverAnon*

          Ramona Flowers – My company generally won’t accommodate things like this unless an employee has a medical condition.

  160. I'll come up with a clever name later.*

    In no particular order:
    – one of those old style rolodex boxes. I got it at a yard sale for a quarter. I use it every day. I call a LOT of health insurance companies every day and there are different log ins and the rules for how we bill them are all different. I tried a spread sheet on my computer but it got wildly out of control. This box keeps them all under control in a way I had never imagined when I bought it.
    – a fun desk calendar that has nothing to do with keeping organized. My kids buy me one of those small daily rip off calendars every year. Texts from a dog, Mr Rogers Quotes, and Daily Sudoku were all past calendars. This year is the Quotable A**hole. I look forward to what each day’s quote will be.
    – I decorate my cube with my kids artwork. I’m selective about what I bring in to hang on these fabric “walls”. Bright colors, fun shapes – usually the stuff they did in art class that they don’t think is very good but I love. It makes me happy to be surrounded by all the color.
    – A bottle of “good” lotion. This place is dry and I like knowing that I have a really nice bottle of hand lotion at the ready. I like Crabtree and Evelyn’s Avocado olive and basil ultra moisturizing hand therapy. It’s a small indulgence I allow myself.
    – Because I have fabric cubicle walls I occasionally will pick up a pin (the kind that they sell at Hot Topic) that I can attach to the wall. They’re small enough that they can be inappropriately funny without drawing the attention of my coworkers. I usually place them on the inside walls, close to my monitor, where nobody but me will see them. They make me laugh.
    – Oh…and pens and the 2nd monitor. I LOVE my pens and monitor. And post its. I am very specific about my post its!!!!

  161. Shishimai*

    I have a whiteboard notebook – four double-sided whiteboard pages with clear plastic between so they don’t smudge each other when it’s closed or riding in my messenger bag. This thing revolutionized my note-taking – now I can doodle, note, make to-do lists, and wipe it clean when it’s done. I’m constantly doodling in meetings, and it helps with the optics of the thing if I can subtly wipe the doodle and then make a new one. Also, I don’t feel bad about throwing away a fat notebook per quarter that’s full of no-longer-necessary notes.

    I just got a fountain pen, and would like to second the love for them upthread. I swear it makes my handwriting more legible, and it feels lovely to use when I’m making notes I want to keep.

    1. Ramona Flowers*

      I bought a whiteboard notebook after someone – maybe you? – mentioned it on an open thread. It’s pretty cool.

  162. AndersonDarling*

    Squishy Butt Cushion. I thought people were going to make fun of me for getting one of the gel/memory foam seat cushions, but no one has said anything. My office chair is 25 years old and all the cushion is flattened, and I doubt the company will buy me a new chair, so a new cushion was a good fix.

    1. SarahKay*

      Your company may not pay for this either, but did you know there are firms out there that will refurbish office chairs? New cover, or new foam, or repaired arms etc.
      We have a large number of similarly aged chairs where I work; the basic construction is excellent and they’re fully adjustable, but they were definitely worn. I think we paid about £58 per chair for the refurbishing, which still isn’t cheap, but did include loan chairs while ours were being repaired. And it’s lots less than the £250+ that similarly sturdy and adjustable chairs cost to buy new.

  163. nnn*

    Ergonomically, what has come in really handy is having two different computer mouses with different shapes. It’s not so much any particular shape of computer mouse that keeps me from getting RSI, but rather switching between two different hand positions.

    Also, a keyboard with the number pad on the left lets me keep my mouse right next to my keyboard, so I don’t have to reach and strain my shoulder.

  164. Desert Dweller*

    My 2 fav office things (in addition to pens in ALL THE COLORS!) are my own small desktop printer/copier that I can use when the giant shared multifunction is tied up (because I do NOT have time for that!) and my electric 3 hole punch. I am a university academic dept admin and I have a lot of files that work best in 3 ring binders. It was horrific when I just had a little manual one on a counter.

    1. Goya de la Mancha*

      Electric hole punches are great. Many moons ago at a college job, I was introduced to the fact that there is paper that can be purchased pre-punched. Not terribly more expensive then regular paper and a lifesaver when you’re putting together 43 manuals of 500+ pages each!

  165. An Anon*

    I coworker gave me a Pilot FriXion Clicker Retractable Erasable Gel Pen and I am OBSESSED with it, and have gotten more!

    They’re a bit pricey at $15.49, but the different colors are great for those who like color-coordinated notes. And they’re 100% erasable!

  166. rosiebyanyothername*

    Initially I thought I would hate having double monitors when my office announced the transition, but now I can’t live without it! Especially useful if your work involves lots of database stuff.
    For Christmas I got a little tin of this stuff called Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty–it’s similar to Silly Putty but a bit denser/tougher. It’s a cool alternative to a stress ball and it’s helpful because I’m always fidgety on the phone!

  167. Bobstinacy*

    Mine is slightly different since I don’t work in an office environment but when I’m managing in a kitchen I keep an ’emergency’ supply kit in the staff bathroom or my office. It’s usually stuff like OTC medication (pain killers, day time cold, allergy, anti-nauseant, etc), pads/tampons, Kleenex, mouthwash, floss, spray deorderant, a small sewing kit, shoe goo, and extra uniform stuff (hats/headcoverings, socks, etc).

    It’s not a huge thing but when my employees are having a shit day or aren’t feeling well it’s really handy to have a stocked kit to help them. Plus we do sweaty, hard work so the extra deorderant is really nice to have around; I’m short and being at armpit level of my employees can be a real test some days.

    1. Julia the Survivor*

      Also baby wipes and deodorant in my office for freshening up after workouts or whenever. :)
      I’ve found if I bring an almost-empty deodorant from home it will last several months at work.

    2. Natalie*

      If you don’t already stock this, some of those no-rinse body wipes can be really nice when you do a lot of sweaty work. I used to carry them when I bike commuted to work.

    3. Bebe*

      I’m a massage therapist and one of my employers stocked this stuff, plus toothpaste and hair ties. It was a godsend.

      I work in a clinical setting now and have access to cold and hot packs to use on myself when I’m sore from working and it’s amazing.

  169. Julia the Survivor*

    My employer escalated cost-cutting and the result was we were not allowed to order pens that write reliably. I rely on handwritten notes in meetings and when taking instructions on the phone, and I have to write!
    I requested a box of blue flair pens and a box of red or pink ones.
    The supply lady brought me both, *plus* a set of flairs in 20 colors! :D
    These have been very nice for color-coding and general cheerfulness. I can make reminder notes in different colors so they stand out, and make notes in pink on sheet written in blue, and so on. They are worth whatever they cost!

  170. Student Affairs Professional*

    Office Supplied:
    -Plenty of sharpies on hand – for someone with a job that’s mostly on the computer, I feel like I’m always needing to label a box or write on something shiny and sharpies are perfect.
    -A good chair
    -A big computer monitor (I have a 22″ screen now and I love it)
    -a small space heater under my desk for when it’s cold and a small fan for when it’s hot

    Self supplied:
    -a mug that makes me happy to look at on my desk to store all my pens/markers/scissors (it’s a kate spade mug that says “LIVE COLORFULLY” in bright letters)
    -Basically a complete toiletries kit in my top desk drawer. I have lotion, mints, nail clippers, tampons, floss, toothpaste/toothbrush, make up, a cell phone charger, band-aids, itch cream, tums, advil, plastic forks, thank you notes, stamps, a tennis ball (for myofascial release). And more! Ha. It’s so, so useful though. I keep it all organized with little drawer-organizer compartments that I got at Bed Bath and Beyond or Target.
    -I keep a blazer on the back of my door for times when I’m called last minute to sub in for someone at a meeting or presentation. It instantly dresses up my outfit!

    2. R2D2*

      I have a similar non-prescription pair from Eye Buy Direct! The blue light filtration makes a huge difference.

  172. Mary (in PA)*

    Reporter’s notebooks – the perfect size for holding in one hand and taking notes with the other.
    A fun calendar – I always like to have a fun yearly calendar hanging in my workspace. I work for a professional organization that supports scientists, so this year I picked the 2018 Women in Science calendar.
    Floss picks or dental floss – to add to the Drawer of Personal Emergency that many have suggested up-thread.
    Document scanner – one of the ones that’s just a stick and a cord. Super useful for scanning in receipts for expense reports.

  173. Laura H*

    I work retail but I have a small mesh water bottle holder that slides onto my walker handles. I use it to have pens, postits, and my stylus for the company iPads onhand. Also makes a good place to store the name tag when I’m not wearing it. Purse goes in, holder comes out and I’m ready for the day.

  174. Rosemary*

    A second monitor, a laptop (replacing desktop computers) and office wi-fi. This is a personal item, but I love my wireless earbuds too.

  175. Bittersuess*

    Duel large monitors and a space heater. Since we have to wear dress shoes, I find the standing desk useless.

  177. Catabodua*

    We have moved to 3 monitors each … and I love it! Working from home on my one tiny screen laptop is actually almost impossible now. If I know I’m going to be working from home I save up email responses to do vs trying to work on our financial software because I’m so accustomed to being able to have different documents/systems up at the same time.

    I am also very, very particular about my pens and post-it notes. I am in love with gel pens of various colors and use them on specific tasks in a way that if I ever tried to explain it to anyone they’d probably have me committed.

    Something I never thought of but ran in to recently – having access to a water cooler with hot and cold taps. I had to work at a satellite location and they don’t have a water cooler or a microwave. It was.. seriously, it was awful! I showed up the first day with my empty travel mug and the tea I like, thinking I’ll use the cooler and their supplies… I couldn’t believe something that I think of as so basic just wasn’t there.

    1. Corky's wife Bonnie*

      I agree. They don’t do that at my office, but most of the women don’t need to worry about it anymore. Besides me there was only one other woman, so when I had surgery over the summer that took it all away, I gave her my “work stash” and she very much appreciated it.

  180. Enginerd*

    I actually wish I could remove the modesty panels on my desk. I’m 6’4″ and I’d love to be able to stretch my legs out under the desk. As for what made life easier. Blutooth speakers, wireless 3D mouse and wireless keyboard.

  181. justsomeone*

    Along with the dual monitor setup others have mentioned, my biggest item that’s made my life better is my ergo mouse. It’s vertical rather than flat and made my wrist issues disappear.

    I’m also in a grey, grey, grey windowless office. I got the office to paint one wall yellow and have two pieces of art that look like beach scenes so I can fake windows. In combination with my happy light, it’s as if I have windows sometimes.

  182. Delphine*

    For pen lovers, I have a bunch of the Pilot Juice 0.5. They write thin and beautifully and come in a variety of colors.

    Can anyone recommend good lumbar support pillow while I’m here?

  183. Frances*

    Dual monitors and a standing desk have changed my work life. The dual monitors improve my efficiency and the standing desk helps me not feel like crud by the end of the day. I don’t stand all day but it allows me to mix it up.

  184. Millennial*

    1) A sit/stand desk is my favorite item! I feel more productive while I’m standing.
    2) I have to agree with the second monitor as well – game changer
    3) I bought myself the kinetic sand from Brookstone and I keep it out on my desk. It gives me something to fidget with when I’m on a call or just need to decompress. My coworkers like to swing by my office and play with it too (we are an open door, pretty tight knit group thats able to balance working & chit chat, so I never feel like this impedes productivity like it might in some other offices.)

  185. Kimberlee, Esq.*

    I got a combo cork board/white board for my home office, and I love it. I am a very visual person, so having stuff that I reference a lot literally pinned to my wall for very quick reference is so great. I’ve found, in general, that taking stuff off of my horizontal surfaces and putting it up onto the wall is magic for feeling organized. A couple jobs ago, I had a GIANT cork board (like 3×5 feet, which I used vertically) and it was essential for quick-reference maps, finding phone numbers for vendors I used all the time, etc. I’ve also just used packing tape to create folders on the wall for commonly-used forms.

    A bonus was that having it all on a board right next to the desk really helped out with the classic hit-by-a-bus/won-the-lottery plan; people who came after me didn’t need to hunt around for a lot of basic info on a computer or hidden behind logins.

    Another one: I picked up the “one-third sheet” thing from an old boss, and it’s really handy. It’s basically just a piece of paper or cardstock, printed 3 to a page and cut (so each is like 1/3 of a page, and the right width for putting in a standard envelope). One side is all branding, with the company logo or whatever, and the other side sometimes has more branding, but mostly just has lines, like looseleaf. If I need to send someone something in the mail (back then, he’d use it to send brochures and the like to ppl he met at conferences and whatnot; for me, now, it’s usually like some stickers), and it feels weird to just send it with no comment, but it also just doesn’t feel like a “typed up message, printed and folded up” type of production, it’s perfect for hand-writing just a quick lil note. I use them constantly.

    1. Katie*

      Totally agree about the noticeboard / whiteboard sitch. I love having a bit of both to hand, and finding magnets /good magnetic whiteboard isn’t the same.
      Those one-third sheets are called complements slips here ( for when you aren’t writing much of a note, just “with complements”) in the UK. I’m excited to get some printed when I finally have my own stationary designed!

  187. MCM*

    Kitchen cleaning service once a month including refrigerator & microwave. They paid housekeeping an extra $30 to clean the refrigerator & microwave once a month.

    It was a godsend.

  188. Guacamole Bob*

    This thread is fascinating, and I hope managers take note of how much happiness (and productivity! and loyalty!) can be produced by spending well under 1% of someone’s annual salary on making their workspace comfortable, pleasant, and ergonomic and on giving them good tools with which to do their jobs.

  189. Bebe*

    A tiara.

    During an extremely stressful time at an extreme dysfunctional workplace, a co-worker got me one of those children’s plastic tiaras as a joke on my birthday. I kept it at my desk since it made me smile, and every once in a while, when I was having a bad day, I’d wear it. It actually made me sit up straighter and put me in a better mood! Even when I forgot I was wearing it and went into my great-grand boss’s office with it on…..

    2. Lauren*

      I have a tissue box with a tropical / beach image on it. I buy that one on purpose all the time. It’s relaxing to look at.

  191. Beatrice*

    Company-provided pain relievers and feminine products are really nice to have. I took the acetaminophen out of my purse last weekend for reasons, and I would have had to go home or to a drugstore yesterday for a killer headache if I hadn’t been able to run to the medicine cabinet. I’ve had to use emergency tampons a couple of times, too.

    Also, an instant hot water dispenser in the kitchen. It’s nice to be able to pour hot water for tea or instant oatmeal.

    Access to dishes and a dishwasher and disciplined coworkers (and a great cleaning staff if all else fails) – there are *never* gross dirty dishes in the sink here, and there are *always* clean dishes in the cupboard.

    And reasonable access to conference rooms. You can nearly always find the space you need, even on short notice, and even if you just need a corner to work quietly in for a bit because your workspace is disruptive. I’ve worked in another building without adequate conference rooms and with people who use them inconsiderately, and this is *so much* better.

  192. Beautiful, talented, brilliant, powerful musk ox*

    Good pens, headphones, and a phone charger (because I am forever letting my phone die). I also started using a bullet journal, which has made life a bit easier at times (I buy small sketchbooks for this because I prefer the paper). Oh, and a lunchbox instead of using a grocery sack! People seem less likely to dig around in something that zips up and I haven’t had issues with well-meaning, spontaneous fridge cleaners throwing my containers away (this has happened twice with perfectly good food that had been in the office fridge less than eight hours).

    Also, as far as something that offices usually supply: a water dispenser/filter tied directly to the water line. No more lifting and spilling water jugs into an cooler!

  193. Argh!*

    A tiny space heater that I can aim toward my fingers as I type.

    …and a slightly bigger one for my feet.

    2nd monitor is a must-have!

    Phone upgrade.

    Candy jar on the receptionist’s desk.

  194. Elizabeth West*

    Things that made me happy at Exjob:

    –My tea
    –A mug warmer
    –A second monitor (technically, I had three with my laptop)
    –A sideways trackball mouse
    –A footrest (one of those cubes from Target)
    –A blankey (it was really just a fleece remnant that lived in the footrest when I wasn’t using it)
    –A decent paycheck :P

  195. CanadianDot*

    A quite cube-mate. We work in a pretty open-plan space, which is so noisy, and it’s pretty wonderful having a cube mate who values quiet. (He’s not unfriendly or anything – I’m just so lucky!)

    2. Jiya*

      I used to cube-share in an extremely paperwork-heavy job (I was second shift, so I’d come in around 5 and stay until 1am). I had a few first-shift counterparts, and wow did it make a difference when the person I shared with was a generally good dude who didn’t do things like dump a pile of rubber bands on the desk and leave it there.

  196. broadcastlady*

    I work in small market radio news. The Iphone completely changed the way I work. The Tape A Call app made doing interviews at home a breeze. I can’t stress enough how life changing this combo was for me. LOL.

  197. PB*

    My office just got a new water dispenser that has a sparkling option. Free sparkling water any time I want it is nice.

    1. Cari*

      My office just got a new water dispenser that has a sparkling option. Free sparkling water any time I want it is nice.

      YES! Also epitome of I didn’t know I needed it, until I had it.

  198. a Gen X manager*

    I can’t live without my Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. I’ve used them for about 10 years and they stopped making them so I have two bought from ebay in my storage closet. I don’t know what I’ll do after those die! SO comfortable even after a long day of typing!

    2. That Would Be a Good Band Name*

      I used to have one of those at my last job and it was awesome! I soooooo miss it. I may have to buy myself one so I can have a good keyboard again.

    3. Red Reader*

      Mine is the Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000, haha. The ones they’ve done after that are more dramatically curved, or raised up in the middle, or fully split or or or. I have one that I’ve been nurturing along for like six years, and a backup stashed on a shelf. :)

      1. Aurion*

        I used the Comfort Curve 2000 for years (one at work, one at home) and they were cheap and durable. Finally killed one after I dumped a mug of water in it (the water resistance had limits!). I was super wary of the raised-middle contour of the Comfort Curve 3000, but now I moved to a Sculpt Comfort (basically a mouse/keyboard wireless combo of the Comfort Curve 3000)…and I love it. In fact, my old Comfort Curve 2000 (the one I still have that didn’t get water dumped in it) is not as comfortable anymore even though it still beats out a straight keyboard any day.

        I do hope they bring back the Comfort Curve 2000 because it was an excellent keyboard for cheap, but the contours aren’t too bad for me. :)

        1. Red Reader*

          Someone mentioned the Logitech Wave up a ways, and it looks really similar in layout to my Comfort Curve 2000. I ordered one from Amazon to give it a shot. :)

          1. Aurion*

            Do you put your keyboard on your desk? If my memory serves, Logitech Waves is a contour keyboard but with the size of a split keyboard, which is annoyingly big for me. It does have a raised middle contour too.

            1. Red Reader*

              I swap between putting it on my desk or in my lap. (I have an ergonomically awful, but puppy-approved, big stuffed armchair at my control center instead of an actual desk chair, because the puppy who was 8 weeks old when I first started working at home and napped in my lap all the time is now 45 pounds and still likes to get up in the chair with me, and I’m a sucker for my pups :) so I sit cross-legged in the armchair at my desk.) I’m a bit concerned about the size of the Wave, but I figure if it doesn’t end up working for me, I can either return it or pass it on.

    4. Cassandra*

      I have a couple of Kinesis Classic keyboards — so old that they still use PS/2 plugs and I have to use an adapter. 100% worth it, though. Reprogrammable keys for the win! (CapsLock can die in a fire any time, but it’s not a problem for me because I have it mapped to the Mac option key.)

    5. Corky's wife Bonnie*

      I have one too and I LOVE it. I didn’t know they stopped making them, I better make this one last!

    6. The Grammarian*

      I also love this keyboard!! I love it in conjunction with a gel wrist rest and a standing desk with a comfort pad to stand on.

  199. Lora*

    An office with a door I can shut. I don’t always have one at a client site, but when I have one it’s lovely. I work from home when I can, if I have documents to churn out or something.

    Moto Z phone with the projector mod. Because conference room projectors either don’t work or don’t work very fast, or need rebooted or the wireless signal isn’t working but it needs an HDMI connection and won’t take an ethernet connection or SOME fking thing, they just never work properly. My boss a couple of jobs ago had one of those $600 mini-projectors, but the Moto Z phone is just a fancy smartphone and the projector mod is about $200 on sale – less if you have Amazon Prime. Also, the backup battery.

    CamScan and CamCard apps, because I have perpetual IT issues with shared scanners, don’t have access to a scanner when in the field, and entering tiny print from business cards into my contacts list is a pain.

    Voice recognition on my Droid. I can voice-to-text, reply to emails etc. while driving, just by turning down the stereo and telling the phone to do something.

    Adobe Pro subscription so I can convert all my documents into forms, then make all the forms into fields that I can then pre-enter a calculation or else upload to a database and track everything. Then I can track everything for a particular client in the database.

    Jetpack MiFi, also so I can do field work more places, such as on public transit. The US is far behind other countries on offering WiFi as a public service.

    The Google Maps “(whatever) near me” feature that brings up restaurants, ATMs, whatever I need.

    I also really really wish Como Llego would do other cities than Buenos Aires. It’s glorious if you’re visiting Buenos Aires, but it would be extremely helpful to be able to find my way around other cities so easily.

  200. Jukeboxx32*

    My last office didn’t have any windows in our section, so I bought a 9 by 7 Hawaiian sunset poster and hung it on one of my cube walls. I was a little nervous when I put it up, but everyone loved it. People even started donating props to make my cube feel more “beachy” after that. Haha.

  201. jw*

    A USB-powered humidifier. It gets very dry in our office in the winter, and this tiny appliance has been a life (and skin) saver.

  202. KatieK*

    A roll-bar mouse!! Gel pads for mouse and keyboard just don’t cut it for me, if I’m at my desk all week I get really sore wrists, and the roll-bar has saved my butt! Coworkers think it’s weird but I couldn’t live without it.

  203. FJ*

    Logitech MX Master Mouse – has a 2nd mouse wheel for side-to-side scrolling! It’s incredible for spreadsheets and super-wide websites (JIRA story maps for example)

    Also a single super-widescreen monitor (29 inces or 31 inches) – much prefer it over dual-monitors for big spreadsheet and also works well for side-by-side stuff too. And being able to maximize a window to full screen helps focus issues too.

    1. Marty*

      Not to forget that free spinning mouse wheel, at the top of a long document, flick flick, at the bottom, or anywhere between. Love that thing.

    2. VermiciousKnit*

      YES! The horizontal-scrolling mouse is key! Mine just has a normal wheel that tips side to side vs. a ball, but either way, being able to scroll sideways is so key to comfort and efficiency, especially if you a a person who works with large spreadsheets.

  204. Faithful Reader*

    I love my Moleskine “Professional” notebooks. They have a table of contents, sections for tasks, goals, and project planning, as well as tabs that can be affixed to pages to mark sections, a few detachable pages, and a sizeable pocket in the back. The majority of the pages are numbered (except for the detachable ones, of course) and they are formatted for really efficient note-taking: there’s a section at the top for big-picture info (agenda items, meeting attendees, etc.), a section on the outside edge for specific to-dos/takeaways, and the remainder of the page is for more in-depth note-taking. I absolutely LOVE using these in meetings — the vast majority of my work is done on a computer, but I still prefer to take pen-and-paper notes and this notebook makes it incredibly easy to organize them!

  207. Sled Dog Mama*

    Employer provided: dual monitors, good facial tissues, fancy coffee machines that have a separate tank/spout for hot water so your tea doesn’t taste like coffee
    Me provided: unlimited hot tea, foot rest,
    What I wish employer would provide: standing desk or just a desk period my desk is a counter attached to the wall.

    1. Sled Dog Mama*

      AACK! I forgot the most important two things: a coat rack (like a real honest place to hang your coats) and a USB extension cable (our hard drives are required to be under the desk so I have a cable that plugs into the USB port and runs up onto my desk so the USB port is accessible without having to crawl under the desk)

  208. Anlina*

    A laptop stand and peripherals so I can have my laptop at eye level.

    A vertical mouse.

    Good tea making supplies, including a variable temp kettle.

    Desk lamp so I can turn off the overheads.

    Space heater and fan.

    Snacks.

  209. LizB*

    A water bottle and a phone charger that live at my desk. A cute coffee mug, bowl, spoon, and fork so I don’t have to rely on the mishmosh of dishes in the communal kitchen. Coathooks on the back of my door so I don’t have to hang my coat on my chair and roll over it all the time. A pair of flats that live at the office so I don’t have to wear my snow boots all day (or if my shoes turn out to be uncomfortable. A stash of lotion, floss, tylenol, gum, and contact solution. A bunch of fidget toys.

  210. The Claims Examiner*

    As a pregnant lady I’m currently enjoying a small personal humidifier that helps prevent the nosebleeds I get from heaters running all day.

    Also appreciated: A cabinet to hang my coat in, a desk light, a headset (thought I would hate it, but it’s awesome), and the freedom to do whatever I want with decorations and organization of my cube. I used to work at a place that provided free canned soft drinks, but had a rigid policy on what your office could look like. I’d rather have the homey feeling.

  211. Ann O'Nemity*

    A decent computer.

    When I worked in academia and government I always had these crappy computers with slow processors and insufficient memory. So freaking frustrating. In my current job, I get to pick my own computer and it’s glorious.

    1. Goya de la Mancha*

      Agreed. I have a laptop for personal use at home that I can not stand, because it is so slow compared to my work computer. Saving to eventually treat myself to an upgrade, but until then I wallow in self-pity and frustration for how slow it is.

  212. Mallory*

    These aren’t all things, but here we go:

    -I work out every morning at 5 AM. Completely clears my head for the day, energizes me–and the early wake-up + added no screen time makes me think more creatively.
    -I start my day with Celestial Seasoning’s Morning Thunder tea with mate instead of coffee–all the energy without the jitters that make me jump unproductively to one task or another, or make it hard for me to listen and process.
    -A big notebook and a small notebook. I use the big notebook for ideas, notes, and details, and the small notebook for a daily to-do list.
    -One fancy-ass black pen and one fancy-ass red pen. I write my to-do list in black, and cross it off in red. I don’t fully understand the psychosomatic benefits of this, but it totally works for me.
    -I take an out-of-the-office lunch break every day. I am not a lunch packer, so I take my lunch at a local coffee shop. Sip a cortado, read a newspaper, or just sit and think. The break COMPLETELY recharges me.
    -Aromatherapy hand lotion. Major mid-day or post-angry-meeting boost.

    2. Delta Delta*

      I love your black pen/red pen system! I’m known to travel with an entire rainbow of pens and always use a 2-color system (although I don’t always stick to the same colors).

  213. HedgehogCircus*

    A long piece of string! To adjust the blinds behind my desk, I literally have to sweep everything aside and then climb up on the desk to reach them. Bit of a design flaw in this building, really. So now I can just lean over and pull the string.

  214. Nolan*

    A Windows laptop ;)

    Incidentally, my boss made me upgrade to a mac book pro like a year ago, and though I am used to it now, I’ll never not hate this thing. (my kingdom for keyboard shortcuts!!)

  215. Ten*

    I LOVE my keyboard. It’s a left-handed keyboard that has the numpad to the left of the letter keys instead of the right. I’m right-handed, but having the numpad on the other side allows the mouse to be directly next to the keyboard and eliminates the need for repeated reaching (which was causing me shoulder pain before). Also, the keys are angled just slightly, which is more comfortable on the wrists.

    1. nonegiven*

      That’s why I use my mouse on the left side even though I’m right handed, it’s opposite the number pad. When I switched from DOS to Windows and bought a mouse, it felt natural to put it on the left. I’d been using tab to move around so I switched to using the mouse to move around with the same hand, while I used the number pad with my right.

  216. Goya de la Mancha*

    Employer purchased:
    Convertible desk (sit or stand)
    Dual monitors
    Keurig
    My own little comforts:
    Space heater & fan
    Desktop organizer that has standing file slots as well as trays
    Desktop Wallpapers (one is an organizer for icons and the other is the current year calendar)
    Pentel Energel .7 pens in all the colors!

      1. MechanicalPencil*

        They have pods that are metal/reusable. Perfect for purchasing coffee from local roasters.

      2. Goya de la Mancha*

        It is, but actually most of us only use it for the hot water function. There’s not a whole lot of coffee drinking in our office (so not sure why it was purchased, but hey, I won’t argue!)

        1. Mallory*

          Hah! Gotcha. I also didn’t know that there was a reusable pod option, so that’s pretty dope.

  217. TeapotAnalyst*

    Wireless headset – it connects to both my computer AND my cellphone , and I can get up and walk around if I need to without getting tangled up. My absolute favorite thing about my workstation.

  218. Tau*

    This is an odd one, but my employer funded office plants a while back – everyone got a budget of €15 and could pick what they wanted from a botanical catalogue. The office is now incredibly green and I love it! All the different plants make for a really nice atmosphere.

  220. plot device*

    Other than the usual niceties, I miss having a small stand to hold papers upright when I’m typing. I had one at a former job and I find myself hunting for it at my new job.

  221. mikeiam*

    We need badges to get in/out of work space and retractable badge/belt clips are a necessity which are always in short supply. Or at least the good ones that don’t break every 2 months.

    I broke down and bought myself a good backpack instead of the company provided one that is far less bulky, weighs 1/3 of the other completely empty, and actually looks nice. Got it on sale, but would gladly pay full price for it. Why I waited for 10 years to get a new backpack is beyond me because this one is so, so much better.
    https://www.ebags.com/product/ebags/tls-professional-slim-laptop-backpack/249582

  222. Brett*

    An AppleTV for our team room.
    We don’t use it for the normal AppleTV apps, instead we use it for AirPlay.

    Rather than fiddling around with all sorts of connectors and screen resolution changes and everything else, we just hit the AirPlay button on our macbooks and our screen pops up on the tv attached to the airplay.

  223. Gyratory Circus*

    I got a desk lamp at Target (in their Room Essential line) that has 2 electric outlets on the base – no more crawling under the desk to plug in my phone charger!

  224. Ten*

    Ooh, I thought of another one! My Pixel computer glasses have been a lifesaver for me. They’re non-prescription lenses that filter out blue light and reduce glare. I bought them expecting them to help a little bit, but they changed my entire office life.

  225. Surrogate Tongue Pop*

    I just started using a Rocketbook (purchased myself), which is a thin, re-usable notebook. The ink washes off with a wet paper towel, and after I write my notes in it, I can scan the page with my phone (the corresponding app) and send it off to various places. I send to One Note, which I also just started using and am categorizing my notes. Finally! Plus, this thing is thin, as I mentioned, and since I have to walk around a large campus of office buildings at work, it’s easy to carry with my laptop. It’s all good for me, as we are in transition with the company due to a merger and I think I’ll be taking a lot of notes I’ll want to look back on later!

  226. Former Admin Turned Project Manager*

    We did a massive re-model a year or so ago and changed everyone to open space (not even the chiefs have offices anymore) and here are some of the things in the new space that made going to the fishbowl more tolerable:
    – adjustable worktop: I rarely raise mine enough to stand up, but it’s good to have the option
    – auxiliary monitors (choice of one or two, with arm to attach to cubicle) in addition to laptop and docking station
    – at least one treadmill desk on each floor
    – small power strip (2 electrical outlets, 2 USB ports) on each workstation at desk level instead of on floor
    – rolling two-drawer file cabinet with padded top, which can be stashed under the workstation or can serve as a second seat for a visitor to your cube
    – BusyLight that connects to company-wide calendar/IM app; lights up red when you set your status to DND, yellow if you are on phone call/in meeting/set yourself as busy, green when available (allows folks to see your status without getting all up in your grill)
    – lots of huddle rooms for when you need quiet or just want to do a quick conversation that doesn’t warrant a meeting room

    Things we do in our department to keep each other happy:
    – bell on the big table so that we can alert each other when we bring in food (even if it’s a bit Pavlovian to see all the heads pop up when a bell rings)
    – quarterly social opportunity (birthday celebration in the lunchroom with core group bringing in snacks and sweets; chili cookoff; spirit week for the holidays- cube decor contest, ugly sweater, cookie exchange)

    Things I do for myself that make work more comfortable:
    – lots of colors of sticky notes and file folders; various sizes for sticky notes
    – clear desk mat so I can keep a lot of photos, cartoons, etc. on my desk to see through the day (I have almost no shelf space for picture frames). I periodically rearrange the photos under the mat so I can see different ones.
    – Emergency stash in my bottom desk drawer: nail file, hand cream, OTC pain meds, static spray, heating pad, antacids, breath mints, sewing kit…My status is legend; I’m often greeted with “You don’t by any chance have a …?” and the answer is often “As a matter of fact, I do!”

  227. Fishgal*

    I love my label maker. So quick to label my files and no more chicken scratch to decifer on the tabs

  228. Tabby Baltimore*

    The three things which have kept my carpal tunnel syndrome at bay: a gel-filled keyboard wrist rest, a gel-filled wrist rest-with-mousepad for my mouse, and a smallish folded-up hand towel for my elbow to rest on.

  229. Teapot Tester*

    The previous receptionist started ordering moisturizing hand soap for the restrooms and it’s amazing. Like many others I live in a very dry climate and have a bottle of lotion on my desk but I haven’t touched it in forever because my hands are nice and soft and moisturized after using the bathroom.

  230. Matilda Jefferies*

    A few people mentioned the Passion Planner in an open thread in December. I ordered one, and I *love* it! I love that there’s space for personal and work projects, and lots of blank space to bounce around the page. Yes also to a “just right for you” pen if you do any kind of writing by hand – mine is actually just the basic Bic 4-colour pen.

    A good coffee mug and a water bottle, and a variety of “office cardigans” to deal the randomly fluctuating temperatures in my office.

    I also listen to old-fashioned, analog, local radio. (CBC 1 for those of you in Canada!). I find the background talking is better for my concentration than white noise, and also better than music (which, if I like it, I want to sing along; and if I don’t like it I just want to turn it off.) The rhythm of the news day is also really helpful – I know what time of day it is by what program is on, and once they start doing traffic reports in the afternoon I know it’s time to start winding up for the day.

  231. CMF*

    My employees – male and female – go on and on about how I don’t scrimp on toilet paper. I buy Kirkland, but you’d think it was cashmere for all their raving about it. People appreciate good toilet paper.

    1. Camellia*

      Yes! When will the people who stock the bathrooms realize that the thinner and flimsier the paper, the more you have to use???

  232. Things*

    The humble Swiss Army knife makes retail jobs run a lot smoother. Always have at least two screwdrivers and a pry bar when adjusting shelving. Have something that can get through clamshells and zip ties quickly and easily. Can get leverage to jimmy whatever thing got stuck in a weird place. Never need to run off looking for scissors. Can pop shelf label holders off the shelf when they get stuck. Can open canned food in the breakroom at lunch time. Then there’s all the one-off improvised uses I’ve gotten out of it and then forgotten about. And they look very unthreatening, so management ignores them, rather than getting upset like they would with other, more “knifey” looking pocketknives or multitools.

    1. The Themed Guy*

      When I worked as a “Ride Operator Supervisor” in a theme park, I always carried a small flashlight in a holster on my belt, as well as a leatherman tool, and a small pocket sized notepad, all of which I purchased myself.

      We all carried two-way radios, the company provided each of us with our own headset, which were pretty uncomfortable to wear. At one point, they brought in an audiologist, who took a mold of our ears, and we could order a custom earpiece, which would attach to the company-provided headset. SO much better.

  233. CG*

    A couple:
    -Nalgene that stays at my desk (I fill it every day in the morning, then when it runs out, I refill it and keep drinking – so hard to stay hydrated in my dry office!)
    -Hand sanitizer and its close friend hand lotion
    -Semi-nutritious snacks for rumbling tummies and days where meals at reasonable times aren’t exactly feasible (I have crunchy chickpeas and almonds right now)
    -A million billion post-it notes
    -Second monitor
    -Hairbrush (both moving and not moving both lead to my hair slowly tangling and getting weird over the course of the day)

  234. Hodie-hi*

    If you use a paper planner, take a look at Planner Pads. I used them for years before switching to digital tools. They align better with the way I think and work than traditional planners and calendars.

  235. Akcipitrokulo*

    Two screens. Didn’t realise how much of a difference it would make!

    And headphones so I can listen to music. That also makes work a lot easier :)

    1. Mallory*

      Hah! I’m in Denver, and a lot of people are known to microdose. Microdosing: not just for weed anymore!

  237. DeskJob*

    He’s not a thing, but my boss has gone above and beyond in terms of being supportive of his employees. He’s gone to bat for us with upper management consistently, and provides constructive, honest feedback in addition to praise. I would have moved on a long time ago if it wasn’t for him.

  238. Akcipitrokulo*

    ooh… the one I love so much… in corridor near hr, there’s a supply cupboard where people can’t see, which has tampons & towels that you can just help yourself to.

  239. Scott*

    An ergonomic mouse. Once you have one, you’ll never understand how you could have lived without.

  240. Zahra*

    Self-supplied:
    – My gaming mouse which has back and forward buttons (it’s becoming as essential to me as the scroll wheel)
    – Emergency supplies (pain reliever and sanitary pads, plus whatever accumulates as time goes on)
    – Over-the-ear headphones
    – Shawl (because I’m always cold)
    – Laptop backpack (one-shouldered stuff make my neck ache. On the other hand, I have a strong back and can carry heavier weights without problems)
    – Laptop stand (bought a StandStand from the original KickStarter, when the US-CAD exchange rate was reasonable)

    Company provided:
    – 2 monitors mounted on arms (one above the other is nice, but I usually get side-by-side)
    – Keyboard tray with space for the mouse (no one seems to provide those anymore)
    – Numpad for when I only have my laptop with me (I work with data)
    – Extra power outlets and USB charging ports
    – Rolling two-drawer file cabinet with padded top, which can be stashed under the workstation or can serve as a second seat for a visitor to your cube
    – Indoor parking for my bike
    – Natural light and the possibility of having the fluorescent above me turned off

  241. STB*

    Special computer glasses that reduce glare. These were such a life changer. I’m on my computer almost all day, and my eyes have gone from being achy and tired at night to feeling normal and rested. I use the ones that Felix Gray sells. (https://shopfelixgray.com/)

    Plus a big fan of Varidesk, an insulated mug for coffee, and a Hydroflask for keeping my water cold all day.

    I’ve now made a list of all the other things I need (“need”) after reading through these comments today ….

    1. Chalupa Batman*

      Related-I used to have a privacy screen for my computer, and I miss it. I got it because I was handling confidential information in a space where the only logical configuration had my back to the door, but until I left that job I didn’t realize how much it cut down on glare.

  242. Matilda Jefferies*

    I also want to put in a plug for boring old “good life habits” – get enough sleep, water, exercise, that kind of thing. It really does make your work life easier!

    And if you’re having problems concentrating, or if you feel like your brain isn’t working as well as it should be, please please please talk to your doctor. And if your doctor doesn’t help, talk to a different doctor. I can go on about life-changing pens all day, but what has really made the most difference for me is treatment for my various mental health issues. It was one of those situations where things changed so gradually that I didn’t really notice, or I just coped with it, until I couldn’t “just cope” any more. So I didn’t know what I was missing in terms of mental health, but I can see a huge difference now that it’s back.

    1. Amber Rose*

      Unfortunately, none of those things can be purchased for people, which is mostly what the focus here is on. ;)

  243. Anecdata*

    Things that I appreciate every day:
    -the /good/ pens
    -brand-name postIt notes, especially the extra stick ones : nothing quite as frustrating as mapping out a huge system on the wall and then picking it up off the floor the second someone turns on a fan
    – a little water boiler (these are probably not fire-safe for US offices, but it’s basically just the heating element from an electric kettle; and you stick it directly into your mug. I can make tea at my desk whenever I want instead of going to the kitchen, starting the kettle, and realizing an hour later I never went back for it!)
    – an external mouse
    – 2 laptop chargers, so one lives at home and one lives in the office

  244. Garland Not Andrews*

    Kind of old school, but my constant desk companion is a Steno Pad. Just the right size for jotting down notes or tallies or info from a phone call. The pages don’t fall out easily. Small enough to grab for a meeting.

  245. Adjuncts Anonymous*

    What’s made my work life easier as an ESOL community college adjunct instructor:
    -Microfiber towels to erase the whiteboard with. The felt-based erasers can’t be washed and gum up so quickly.
    -Projectors installed in the rooms. It’s so much nicer than having to check out an overhead projector and hoping
    that one of the three (for fifty classrooms) wasn’t already being used. Also, I can show work from the computer
    itself. (All the talk of double monitors is making me jealous!)
    -A Koosh ball. It’s multi-functional: can be used for fidgets, demonstrating “throw” and “catch,” and changing
    students’ turns.
    -A table for tea, coffee, and hot chocolate. I brought in a hot water pot, bought a coffeemaker, and provide drinks
    for my class. This allows me to keep break times shorter since the students don’t have to go to a different building
    or off-campus to get a drink. I also like being able to get a cup of tea myself when the cup from home runs out.
    -A multi-port charger. Not only can I charge both my phone and tablet at the same time, students can also charge
    their phones.
    -A classroom to myself. It functions as a private office after they students leave, so I can work on my paperwork in
    peace. I do have to print in a common area, but everything else is in the classroom.

  246. LP fan*

    I keep Klenex on my desk since I have to check my blood sugar multiple times a day, but it’s helped with so many other things – drink spills, paper cuts, random winter runny noses, you name it.

    Also this is uh kinda gross, and more of a workplace habit than something to buy, but I used to have a bad habit of picking acne scars at work. Like I’d be deep in thought and not realize what I was doing until it was too late. But I’ve trained myself to almost completely stop doing that by rubbing a fingernail gently against my thumb instead, and my skin health and confidence have improved tremendously! I have very sensitive skin, so I suspect the small endorphins from nail to skin contact are what make it work for me. Anyway, while we’re talking about improving our work lives, just thought I’d throw that advice out there. To anyone who’s struggling with workplace anxiety/stress picking, I wish you the best of luck!

  247. June*

    Custom office chair. I use to hurt after a long day at the office. But with my custom chair, I don’t feel any pain whatsoever, no matter how long I sit. Which is bad cause that means I am not moving like I should. :) But seriously, see if your agency will let you go get a personalized chair measurement. Not only did they measure me for the perfect chair, they let me pick out the fabric (it’s a snazzy orange pattern which makes me smile every time I see it). It’s heaven for my butt.

  248. Nita*

    A mat for my coffee cup, which has finally banished little round coffee stains from my desk. A cute pen holder, just because I love pretty glassware. And a nice photo frame for some family pics. That one was a gift, and it makes me think of the friend who gave it every time.

    We also have a LOT of people with awesome office plants. I don’t have any right now, but when I was new here, I brought in a tiny little pothos vine. That plant survived two weeks without water after Hurricane Sandy, changed owners several times, and is still sitting pretty on a neighbor’s desk :)

  249. Cassandra Lease*

    I have bad legs so I added a power strip that plugs into the outlets below my desk and sits on top. My job involves a variety of devices and I have to bring my laptop to some meetings so I have to do a lot of plugging and unplugging. The simple addition of a power strip on top of my desk has improved things immensely for me.

    I also love that, rather than drawers built into our desks, we have file cabinets that roll out from beneath them. It lets me store what I need to and add some surface space — I like surrounding myself with pictures and toys for a bright, colorful environment. (This isn’t an issue with my office and I’ve gotten compliments on my desk collection in the past. I guess all the pictures/toys/trinkets I’m allowed to keep on my desk also help my psychological health at the office.)

  250. CW*

    2 monitors in addition to my laptop, a proper DasKeyboard, a wireless mouse, and my bluetooth Bose headphones.
    Having a laptop is a given — many meetings to go to and presentations to give.

  251. LaBelleFleur*

    1. Echoing the two monitor sentiment. I inherited a two monitor setup and will never ever go back.

    2. A MFP in my office. I do a TON of scanning & printing, and a bit of faxing. I used to have a seperate fax machine and printer in my office, but had to walk to Accounting to scan. When the fax machine kicked the bucket, I requested an all-in-one, and it is glorious.

    3. Stuff that makes you smile. For me, it’s my Pusheen vinyl figurines (swapped out seasonally), pictures of the beach, my cat & my boyfriend on my corkboard, a large selection of tea in my drawer, and a teeny picture of our company’s mascot in my e-mail signature. It gives me a happy feeling whenever I send an e-mail (which is constantly). It just makes tough days a little more bearable.

    2. Nita*

      I used to have a purple, fuzzy, bug-eyed critter that looked like a giant bacterium. Someone bought it for me during a very stressful year at work, nicknamed it “Stress Monster,” and insisted that it should live in my office and make me smile. It sure did! Sadly, it fell behind my desk a couple of months ago, and I can’t get it out – the desk is too big and heavy. I know it’s still here though :) If there’s ever a big renovation, whoever does move the desk will get an interesting surprise.

  252. Chalupa Batman*

    I need use of a whiteboard, and at least 3-5 colors of dry erase marker. For some reason, it seems to be the most effective way for me to get an idea fleshed out. It’s not unusual at all to be able to walk into my office and learn all about my crazy new idea from the sprawling concept map on my whiteboard.

  254. MustNotBeNamed*

    In contrast to everyone with their personal heating objects: I have a USB fan that is a life saver. I run hot, and so does my office, and I’ve found this to be a real help.

  255. Greg M.*

    ok so retail worker and home crafter here so a bit different but still.
    at work: I have pen and paper on me for writing down product numbers to check inventory. I carry a black permanent marker for various tasks. I have an auto retracting box cutter because apparently I can’t be trusted with a real knife. (well not just me) but most important is my belt clip watch. I check time as a compulsive habit and I destroy wristwatches so having it clipped on my belt is do great.

    at home, coin envelopes are a great way to sort resistors. I love the pegboard I installed and ziptied a bunch of cups to. dollar store craft jars for holding various supplies are great too. the joy of having consistent size containers.

    1. Things*

      I do carry and use a Swiss Army knife for all sorts of retail tasks, but I like the auto retracting box cutters for the specific task of opening boxes. They really are a lot smoother and faster at it. I just don’t use them for anything else.

  256. Normally A Lurker*

    I live in NY and in the winter, it’s rough. I have a personal cactus humidifier that I got off amazon for like $20 that’s the best thing I have ever owned. It’s ridiculous looking, but adorable, so I get lots of compliments on it. Also, it keeps my lungs from being a wreck from the winter air. It plugs into my computer and is wonderful.

    I’ve also started a trend at work, there are now like 4 or 5 of us with them.

  257. Darth Brooks*

    I have two monitors, which makes my job so much easier. No alt-tabbing back and forth just to compare two applications.

  258. Salyan*

    For filing, I asked my office to purchase a 3-shelf Rubbermaid service cart. It keeps the pile of filling at just the right height to grab, rolls wherever I need it to be, and the extra shelves are handy for temporarily stashing documents that got in the wrong file pile. It significantly decreases the strain of filing.

  259. Allie*

    As a person who spends 9 hours at a desk 5 days a week:
    1. A sit-to-stand desk (veridesk brand)
    2. Wrist-supporting mouse pad
    3. A wireless, ergonomic keyboard with wrist support

  260. The Moops*

    Standing desk folks — which ones would you recommend? I’m looking for one that I can adjust (fairly) quickly and easily. The cost will likely come out of my own pocket, so I imagine I’ll want something desktop, and that can accommodate two monitors. Thanks!

    1. Anita*

      My co-worker and I bought the Lorell brand sit to stand monitor riser from Amazon. We didn’t have much of a budget and this one looked like one of the best in the cheaper range.

      1. Anita*

        also meant to say …we have had them for about 5 months and no complaints. I think it’s important to get a anti-fatigue mat of some sort too

      2. The Moops*

        Thank you, Anita! This looks really promising and I am glad to hear that five months in you still like it! I am seeing a lot of Varidesks in the thread as well but those are more pricey — though I do like that they have a risk-free 30-day tryout period.

    2. Sarah in Boston*

      I have the Kangaroo Elite and have two 24″ monitors mounted on it. I like it a lot but be aware it’s fully mechanical. If you can’t lean forward and lift (you pull up near the back of the keyboard tray/desk part to raise it), this one is not for you. I had a few days when my back problems were really bad that I had to get to get a coworker to lift it for me. Link is in my name.

      1. The Moops*

        Thanks, Sarah! Looks like I would need the hybrid Kangaroo because one of my monitors is a laptop. I love that it’s made in USA!

  261. Anita*

    1) Water cooler with instant hot water (hot tea all day!)
    2) Space heater
    3) adjustable standing desk top
    4) my own office
    5) plants

    very grateful. doesn’t quite make up for a difficult boss, but it helps.

  262. Sarah in Boston*

    My Evoluent “vertical” mouse. It was a little tricky to get used to but after that? Wrist-saving. I bought a cheapie version for home because I love this thing so much. It’s a much more neutral wrist position that your standard mouse position. And it comes in multiple sizes because people actually have different size hands! The one I have is linked in my name.

    1. Newlywed*

      I got a vertical mouse and I wish I’d known about them before I got carpal tunnel…now I’m just using it to make sure my ct doesn’t get worse!

    2. Nacho*

      I have an Anker verticle mouse. I’m not sure if it’s actually better for my wrist or not, but it looks cool and only cost $15, so I’m happy.

  263. FreezerBeer*

    I have a whose entrance is pointed directly at the entrance to the cube farm. After my request for a “shower door” was turned down, i bought a tension rod and a sheer curtain and hung it in my cubicle doorway. It’s excellent, keeps me from looking up every time someone walks into the room, and gives me privacy if I have to blow my nose or whatever. Also keeps tall people out! Not really, they knock my curtain down. I also love my varidesk and two humongous monitors.

  264. Newlywed*

    my adjustable standing desk. everyone in the company has them. it’s a fantastic investment in our health…I use my apple watch (also a company gift) to remind me to stand up once an hour and work for ten minutes. great for posture!

  265. SEEKING TRAINING*

    I have a door. Okay, I have a office. ie 12×7 yep. Looks like a small closet. But it has a door and I have no intention of moving to larger offices.
    Plants for breathing.
    Our copier, has a braider instead of stapler….love it!!!
    Dual monitors are the best, desk fan and powerstrip on desktop as opposed to under the desk.

      1. Zahra*

        So you don’t have to crawl under the desk to unplug something. Especially if it’s something you unplug more or less often.

      2. SEEKING TRAINING*

        I am in charge of IT so many pc’s come and go on my side desk. Having the outlet strip up on the desk is amazing. Privacy walls are great until they are sitting smack dab against the wall with 1-1/2 half away from the outlet. I am laying on the floor under a desk trying to stick my arm up between the wall and the privacy panel holding the cable in my fingers with a hope I can plug it in. Just to add anxiety to the frustration, a few years ago we found a baby snake in our office. OR I can get some help to move the entire desk and side board and whatever else out 3 inches. Then I spend more time than necessary discussing in my head why they put wall outlets where they do.

  266. willow*

    I have a stationary bike that is super quiet and fits under my desk when it is raised, so I can pedal away whenever I want. It’s especially nice for use during conference calls that I take on my cell with my earbuds.

  267. Ion*

    A gyroball wrist exerciser. They’re often used by pitchers, competitive shooters, and weightlifters to strengthen their hands, wrists, and forearms. It’s helped me prevent my carpal tunnel from returning. I like to fiddle with something when I’m thinking, and it’s been a nice quiet alternative to things like clicking a pen or drumming my fingers. It takes a few tries to get the hang of it, but once you do you can do it without thinking about it.

  268. Nacho*

    Standing desk, like a serious one, where the whole desk raises and lowers. I can sit on the floor if I feel like spreading out, or I can stand and do some light exercise while working if things are slow. Only time I actually have time to work out.

  269. ggg*

    Someone who was horrible on many levels eventually left the company, but without his toaster oven. I loved that thing, until it burnt up one day.

  270. Ramona Flowers*

    I bought a notebook with sausage dogs on the other day. Not only does it make me happy, the person sitting next to me said they like seeing it too.

  271. MommyMD*

    Our own offices albeit small but with a window. Large HD monitors. A laptop. Desks that are height adjustable up to standing height. Nice artwork and clean peaceful surroundings. As many office supplies as we want. Ergonomic chairs. My company cares. Nice outdoor shaded benches to eat. Exercise equipment.

  273. A Bug!*

    A pretty little one, but the day someone gave me a little puck of Sortkwik was… well, maybe not life-changing, but it was a memorable change in this paper-pusher’s daily life. It’s surprisingly satisfying to be able to grip sheets easily with my fingertips without having to think about licking them, and without using one of those weird rubber thimble things.

  274. Mad Baggins*

    Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but OldJob had small racks/trays shaped like a bracket turned on its side: [
    We put the monitor on top, and slid the laptop right underneath. Was a great way to save space and bring the monitor up to eye level. I’m really missing it now.

  275. Other Duties as Assigned*

    Best thing ever from four jobs back: the company supplied the soda machine in the break room. They went with a regular supplier for the snack machine and the coffee/hot chocolate machine (the kind with the poker hand paper cups). However, the owners went their own way for the soda machine. They went to the local Coca-Cola bottler which had used machines for sale. They bought one and then polled the staff about what to fill it with. As a result we could have Coke, Diet Pepsi, Dr.Pepper, 7-Up, Caffeine-free Diet Coke, Mountain Dew, etc. : a variety of soda companies available from the same machine. That’s something I’d never seen before: you either got a Coke machine with Coke products or a Pepsi machine with Pepsi ones. The facilities staff was changed with keeping it filled and watching for soda sales at area stores. The best thing was they only charged us 35 cents when regular vending firms wanted 75. They still made money and we lowly hourly workers all appreciated the savings. Also, when your favorite variety ran out, you just called facilities and they’d refill it right away…much better than waiting for the weekly visit from the vending company. Nice!

  276. Lisa*

    Dual monitors. Once you try them, you’ll never be able to go back. When I came back from mat leave I had a new manager (and was missing one monitor) – they didnt want to get it for me despite my *business case* (even if it saved me 5 minutes a day there was a cost savings in my time after a few months). I finally asked if they would let me purchase it out of pocket (through IT) and they relented and ordered me one.

    People that have never had it don’t think it’s a big deal, people who do have it think it should be standard for everyone because it just makes you so much more productive. I would say some days (especially when working with/comparing information in multiple documents) it saves me about an hour over the course of the day. I’m sure it wouldn’t apply for some jobs (i.e…. if you write all day and don’t need to research…?) but really, it’s well worth it.

  277. No more nonesense*

    A large magnetized whiteboard (6×4 feet) and one ton of magnets. I don’t really write on the board. I hang all of my papers there. It is like having a vertical desk surface – I keep all my papers for current projects (and sone things for inspiration) there.

    A white board marker holder that I stuck magnets on so that my markers stay neat and on the board if I do want to write.

    Also, my. own. office. My job requires talking to people and dealing with some difficult situations and I like it, but am an introvert. Just knowing I can have a few minutes alone if I need it gives me so much peace of mind.

  278. Boss Cheetah*

    Subscriptions to Teamwork Projects and Hootsuite. Project management and social media management are sooooo much easier!

  279. OfficeWench*

    My company allowed me to sign up for a program with our bank that leases a check scanner to us so that I can scan the daily deposit instead of doing a daily deposit run. I love it! No more trudging out in bad weather, it saves a lot of time and you have the actual customer checks in case you need to refer to them. There are some instances where I do have to take a deposit in but it’s maybe once or twice a month rather than everyday.

  281. Blue_eyes*

    Blue painters tape. My office is obsessed with it, and now I am too. It’s so handy because it comes off cleanly but adheres pretty firmly. I use it to tape up envelopes with paychecks on my white board, secure important things to my desk so they don’t get knocked off accidentally, hang signs on walls, etc.

    I’m also in charge of ordering office supplies so I can get whatever kind of pens, post its, k cups, etc, that I want.

    Other than that, I love my label maker (the kind with tape, not for making address labels) and laminator. I used to be a teacher so having my own laminator is really living the dream. (Technically it’s not “my” laminator, it’s for everyone, but it’s in my office and I’m usually the only one to use it).

    Oh, and having a bathroom pretty much to myself. There is a single occupant bathroom just around the corner from my office and other people don’t use it very often.

  282. MCL*

    I bus commute quite a bit, and my walk to/from the bus in winter sometimes sucks due to icy sidewalks. I love Yaktracks for a surer step. (Inspired by the snow commute question on Friday.)

    2. Jiya*

      I don’t associate mine with work in particular, but yes, Yaktrax are lifesavers if you live someplace where people are…varied in their shoveling and plowing habits.

  283. Wanna-Alp*

    A plushie chlamydia.

    I have a loud cough, plus a co-worker who is sensitive to such noises (even at the far end of the office). I cough into the mouth of the plushie, and it’s a cough suppressor!

    Why chlamydia, you ask? It had to be something that would repel people picking it up and touching it. I’m sure they don’t want my germs.

  286. clow*

    wireless ergonomic mouse
    noise cancelling headphones
    a little heater because its freaking cold in this office

  287. Business Cat*

    My game-changers were getting an office with a window, having 3 lamps instead of using the overhead flourescent lights, and ***3 monitors***. The monitors make my work so much easier since I spend a lot of time on data entry and proofreading documents. Having three documents open at a time rather than two has made processing contracts much more thorough and efficient. One of my lamps was bought specifically for this job when I first started–it’s a cool translucent origami-style lampshade design with a purple bulb, and a year later I still get compliments on it and on my overall office style. I have made it very cozy and homey since I tend to be stressed out at work more often than not.

  288. PugLife*

    The biggest one for me was a planner that WORKED.

    I tried pre-printed planners of all sorts (worked, more or less); I tried bullet journaling (failed); I tried just remembering things (terrible plan); I tried online calendars/trackers/to-do-lists (not as satisfying as paper).

    I realized that, while USING a planner is vital in having it help, you also need a planner that works for you & fits into your life & the projects that you’re working on. I settled on a half-letter ringbound notebook – Staples calls it ARC; Martha Stewart has a line of them; Office Max & Depot each have their own store brand; and you can buy generic supplies online. I like that it’s a notebook-notebook (not a binder) but I can move pages around and use tab dividers as needed.

    I have a lot of long-term projects that each have multiple deadlines and are all at different stages, so I needed a place to track project-by-project as well as monthly & daily tasks. Currently, I have monthly calendars at the very front, then a tab for Current Projects. Each project has its own page, and I can put project to-dos there and track that status. Then, there’s a tab for day-to-day, where I use to-do lists for general tasks and lined paper to make notes and break those tasks down.

    This has been a LIFESAVER in keeping me organized!

    1. zapateria la bailarina*

      this sounds amazing, i need to try this out. i always have grand plans of ~getting organized~ but suck on the follow-through because i haven’t found a great system for me. this sounds promising!

  289. Cacwgrl*

    We are big on Vari-desks and monitor arms with multiple monitors here, very specific ergonomic chairs and do the whole water pool thing that’s managed in each building. Environmental says the water is “within acceptable levels” but we only pay maybe $5/person/month fo unlimited water that’s fresh off the hill. Safety finally agreed to allowing space heaters since our building is old and centrally controlled.

    On our wishlist? Nugget or crushed ice maker with a capacity to support our building of 15 – HUGE ice consumers and the smaller ones don’t produce enough and we haven’t cleared the space or sold everyone on the larger capacity ones. Also, I would LOVE a treadmill desk. We have them in other buildings but they’re not available here yet.

  290. zapateria la bailarina*

    definitely a second or even a third monitor. i have a second monitor and i wish i could get another. it’s so much easier when you have to cross-reference multiple documents or need to have several things open at once.

  291. Rivakonneva*

    I’ve had fun reading this thread. Some of what people use would never be provided by my employer (public university) but these things are nice:

    Aeron chair
    Allowed to decorate my cube a bit and customize my computer settings
    Two monitors – one for email and one for working. This way I see messages from my boss and her boss ASAP.
    Small space heater
    Personal first aid kit (I keep advil, allergy meds, bandaids, tums and pepto-bismol on hand)
    Casual dress Fridays
    Cheap pens and pencils, but plenty of them
    Generous with leave during a family crisis

    What I wish I could have is simple: good TP, good Kleenex, less expensive health insurance and skilled IT support. The first two are feasible but the last two would take direct intervention from Heaven itself. Oh well. :)

  292. MJ*

    A fan. My job has me up and moving in the midst of several other people who are stationary all day. They keep it pretty warm because they’re not moving around much, but I’m moving a lot and I need to cool off!

  293. The Luidaeg*

    My new favorite thing isn’t an office supply, but every time I look at, it makes me smile — it’s a little block I got on Etsy that says “Some people need a high five. In the head. With a chair.” When it’s been that kind of a day, I can look at that and it just makes me feel better.
    I also love the pens I buy for myself, along with my red Office Space stapler (which I bought, and have carried to 2 jobs now).

  295. Been There, Done That*

    A small desk lamp! We had cubes with those lamps under the shelves, but they didn’t illuminate my whole work area. The lamp fit behind my monitor and made a world of difference. Also, organizer baskets that hang over the tops of the partitions and let you tier the baskets. I was working on several publications at the time, and a basket for each publication/phase of production was very helpful. When I shopped the office supplies catalog, I was amazed at all the space-stingy gizmos and organizers available for cubes (I need to get out more!).

  297. Mr. Bob Dobalina*

    This is a great question, and there have already been a lot of good suggestions, some of which I am seconding/endorsing in my own list below. Happily, I already have most of this.

    1. Two monitors. Repeat, two monitors! Noticeable increase in work efficiency and speed with two monitors.
    2. Conventional computer set-up even if one has a laptop: docking station, wireless standard full-size keyboard, wireless mouse, two large monitors, etc.
    3. Printer and scanner within a 7 second walk from my desk.
    4. For all cubicles – 3 high walls and a locker.
    5. A sufficiently sized desk with surface space. (I currently have a small desk with perhaps 2 square feet of free surface space unoccupied by computer equipment. Terrible.)
    6. A convenient place for employees to hang their coats… Coat closets on every floor.
    7. Ice machine
    8. Water cooler with hot and cold water
    9. Quality coffee and tea, with condiments
    10. Microwave and toaster
    11. Cleaning supplies for my desk and computer equipment: spray or wipes, paper towels, canned air, etc.
    12. A real desk telephone. (Not a fussy headset plugged into my laptop.)
    13. Free pain reliever drugs. (So nice to have ibuprofen available at work when you really need it!)
    14. Basic disposable dishes, napkins (paper cups, paper plates, plastic forks/spoons)
    15. Free feminine products in ladies restroom. Someone else mentioned that–really good idea.
    16. USB ports and outlets on desk, instead of underneath. (No one wants to crawl under their desk to plug something in.)
    17. Corporate gifts that are useful or nice or fun, and not too weird. A laptop bag, an insulated beverage container, fleece jacket, etc. An example of what not to do: A prior employer actually gave employees bath robes with the company name embroidered on them. LOL. I still don’t know what to make of that. We joked that the next gift would be a matching toilet seat cover.

  298. Dean J*

    Second monitor, laptop stand, and a riser under the main monitor and second monitor.

    Decent quality ($100-200) noise cancelling headphones or earbuds.

    Somewhere to hang a wet coat.

  299. Michelle Price*

    A sit stand desk, so that I can sit. I am 5’2 and could never touch the floor with my feet before with a standard desk. Now with the new desk, I can lower it down and finally sit properly.

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