"The desk essentials a woman keeps on hand during her workday are truly a window into her soul. If you take a peek at the mess that is my desk, you might find a rotation of three different lip balms because chapped lips are the bane of my existence, four Pilot G2 10 pens because I absolutely refuse to write with anything else, and one mini diffuser because I’m vain and want to look glowy AF during my Zoom meetings.
While we all have our own desk quirks, there are some tried-and-true desk essentials that successful women swear by—and we’re not gatekeeping. We polled our team and the results are in—here are 7 items every successful woman has on her desk:
1. CBD to boost mood and focus
If there’s one common denominator that adorns the desk of our entire team, it’s some form of CBD. Using CBD regularly can help you achieve a more balanced endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating a number of bodily systems and functions, such as memory, mood, immune response, temperature regulation, and more. Finding a CBD routine that works for you can help improve stress, mood, and energy levels, lead to more restful sleep, and relieve soreness or discomfort. TL;DR: It’ll be sure to solve at least one of your workday woes.
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2. A notebook for keeping track of thoughts and jotting down your next big idea
Having a go-to notebook on hand is a must for the dreamers and doers alike. Whether you are a list person (guilty as charged), like to do brain dumps to calm a hectic mind, find yourself needing to jot down your next big idea, or need to take notes during back-to-back meetings, having a notebook is the solution for getting thoughts and ideas out of your mind and into the physical world.
3. An “emotional support” water bottle to stay hydrated
If there’s one thing on our desk that’s as comforting as it is functional, it’s our go-to emotional support water bottle. Scientifically speaking, drinking water is 10 times more fun when it’s housed in a cute bottle—bonus points if it has a straw and keeps your water cool all day.
There's a reason our editors can't stop talking about this Stanley tumbler. This thing is oversized yet still fits in a cup holder, keeps drinks ice cold for hours on end, and comes in colors that make our junior graphic designer swoon.
I hold this Owala water bottle in the highest regard for many reasons but my favorites being that 1) it has a handle which makes on-the-go hydration a breeze and 2) it has an unexposed straw on the inside that makes sipping both satisfying AND sanitary.
4. Blue light-blocking glasses to reduce eye strain and end-of-day headaches
If you work in front of a computer for multiple hours a day, you already know the struggle. From our take-a-break TikTok scrolls to taking a peek at the morning news to hopping into eight hours of work in front of a laptop and beyond, our eyes are exposed to a ton of blue light and, after a while, it can take a toll on our eye health. Wearing blue light-blocking glasses can help promote better sleep, decrease eye strain, and reduce headache occurrence, which makes this accessory an absolute necessity for the working woman.
5. A daily meditation or affirmation book to set the tone of the day
There’s no worse way to start your day than waking up at 8:29 a.m., making a beeline for your computer for your 8:30 a.m. sign-on, and being bombarded by 1,543 unread Slack messages consisting of follow-up questions, new projects, and STAT tasks that send you into a tizzy. A lot of our team members swear by starting their day off on the right foot by getting up just a few minutes earlier to engage in a morning meditation or mantra. Having some sort of tool with prompts on hand is the perfect way to set the tone of your day and is one of our favorite things to keep easily accessible during our busiest days.
If you're looking for a low-hassle way to get into adding intention to your morning, this book (and its 366 meditations) will help you to streamline finding your center.
These mindful affirmation cards serve as a weekly dose of self-love, self-care, and mindfulness. Put a new card on display each week and watch the magic happen.
6. A desk lipgloss or oil to swipe on before meetings
If there’s one thing our beauty editor swears by, it’s keeping a desk lipgloss or lipstick on hand to throw on before Zoom meetings. A red lip or a glossy finish is the perfect way to elevate your look and leave you glowing, even if you’re wearing pajama bottoms and haven’t washed your hair in a few days (been there, done that). It’s the perfect low-maintenance confidence boost, and it’s going to be your new go-to desk essential.
7. Something that reminds you of your “why”
Every successful woman lacks motivation and inspiration every now and then, and if there’s one tried-and-true way to rediscover your passion when you’re in a slump, it’s remembering why you started in the first place. As cheesy as it sounds, having some sort of physical symbol of why you started and why you do what you do can help you take that step back to gain some perspective. Whether it’s being reminded by a postcard, a photograph of someone who inspires you, or the first dollar you ever made, having some sort of cue can serve as a light on even the most hectic of days.