Yep, it’s Friday and time to think about how we made it through this work week. Here are some things that any desk jockey should have in their survival kit to make the week bearable and make you glide gracefully into Friday afternoon!
Coffee
This delicious, addictive beverage gets me moving and shaking every morning. Warm, yummie and caffeinated, it’ll keep you comforted and alert for the day ahead. And it’ll get you through the whole week. If you are averse to drinking coffee, try green tea. It has the same effect but apparently not as bad for you. Not that I think coffee is bad. I’m just quoting the ‘experts’.
Music
Yay, I love listening to music while I’m working. Some people don’t like the distraction, but I simply love it. Use the media players on your computer or listen to your favourite mp3 player. My iPod and I are seldom parted. This way, I can listen to music I like and party like it’s 19.99.
Earphones / headphones
Essential when you’re playing music (see above). And especially necessary if you work in an open-plan office. Open plans can be extremely noisy with people talking and phones ringing, so to keep your sanity, play some tunes through earphones. Makes the world a better place, for sure. Tip: keep an extra set in your desk drawer, just in case you leave your’s at home or it stops working.
Chocolates or sweeties
These are great for that 3PM slump. I don’t know about you, but I have a hectic sweet craving around mid-afternoon. I’m not sure whether it’s boredom or a genuine sugar low. It’s handy to keep something sweet in your desk drawer, but don’t get tempted and eat everything at once. Which can happen if you’re feeling stressed.
Decent internet
This a must for any desk-jockey. You don’t really need email – that’s for work stuff and you’ll get by without it. Bad or no internet on the other hand, can really ruin any working week. How else are you going to connect with your social media peeps on Twitter and Facebook? Not to mention that funny, must-see clip on YouTube. Make sure you hang out with the I.T. guy so he/she can hook you up [note: 'guy' here is not gender-specific]. Don’t overdo surfing or browsing though. You still need to look and act fairly respectable cos you’re at work.
Fab stationery
There will be times when you need to look productive. Having great stationery will really help you do this. For example, get some fun pens. A while back, I had those glitter pens in multi-colours and spent meetings making colourful mindmaps. It impressed my co-workers, got work done and it was fun to play with colours. Post-it notes are another fun way to get creative with stationery. Also highly fashionable, colourful paper clips and highlighters can make your day!
Nice chair
As a desk jockey, you’re probably spending most of your day in a chair in front a computer. So it’s kinda important to make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible. Try to get the best seat in the house, so to speak. Something that completely supports your body so that you’re not slumping. Some of those office chairs may look comfortable, but can actually be nightmarishly destructive to your posture. Make sure that your’s is decent.
A smile
This is that magic little tool in your survival kit that will get you through even the worst week. Man, when those deadlines are looming and you really don’t know which way to turn, whip out that smile. Even if you’re just smiling to yourself. You’ll feel better, if nothing else. Remember: the goal is to get to Friday afternoon, gracefully!
What’s in your survival kit?
