We all know that stuff happens at work that has you saying “Dang, I wish I had a…” Time to remember the Girl Scout/Guide motto of “Be Prepared” (or “Always Ready” for my francophone and hispanophone friends) and make a sanity kit for your desk. This kit can be made small enough to fit in a toolbox or backpack for field work and travels well for road warriors. The list is not all-inclusive, it’s just the contents of my personal sanity kit, and may not completely meet your needs.
1. Discreet bag. You know you have plenty of freebie makeup bags (Clinique, Ulta, VS, you know what I’m talking about). Find an opaque one that will hold a fair amount of toiletries and “stuff”, whatever you need to save your sanity at work. Mine is from Sally Beauty, ca. 2011.
2. Monthly supplies. No explanation needed.
3. Monthly meds (ibuprofen, midol). This also goes without saying. Don’t forget to share.
4. Hair brush & comb, hair ties, clippy barrettes, bobby pins. I keep the comb and brush together with a hair tie, and then keep all of the hair stuff contained in a small makeup bag/coin purse.
5. Dry shampoo. If you’re in a plant or in the field, you’re going to sweat. Use a transparent dry shampoo to refresh your hair before heading to the big meeting or out to after-work events.
6. Deodorant. Same as above – have some on hand to reapply after your sweat session.
7. Toothbrush and toothpaste – because breath mints aren’t going to cut it against that wasabi and tuna you had for lunch.
8. Mouthwash – because the pickled ginger doesn’t cut it either.
9. Breath mints – because you shared that sushi tray with a colleague. Very handy during Lent.
10. Bandages and ointment – for non-OSHA injuries, and because the admin actually counts the bandaids in the first aid kit.
11. Blister prevention. When you’re on your feet for 16 hours during a shutdown, it doesn’t matter if your steel toes fit perfectly; your feet are going to swell and you’re going to get blisters and rips. Keep some of your favorite blister prevention on hand. A lot of people swear by moleskin. I use pre-wrap and athletic tape, because they stick better and won’t move.
12. Baby powder or athlete’s foot powder. Again, for long days in steel toes, use powder to save your feet from funk.
13. Makeup removal wipes – If you have controlled environments, you’re likely not to be allowed to wear makeup. Keep makeup removal wipes handy for cleaning up before heading to the clean room. Also useful to clean sweaty foreheads in the field.
14. Nail polish removal wipes – like makeup removal wipes, have these around to strip the remnants of the weekend’s manicure before heading into production.
15. Nail clippers/file – inevitably, the field causes dirty and/or split nails. This is for safety, not vanity.
16. Cold prevention – with fall weather and pumpkin spice also comes the creeping crud. I keep a stash of cold preventatives (read: airborne, emergen-c) to stave it off, as soon as someone starts sneezing.
17. Hand sanitizer – a MUST during cold and flu season.
18. Throat drops – when the creeping crud comes for you, it starts with a sore throat, am I right? Be prepared with a stash of your favorite analgesic drops. (I swear by Fisherman’s Friend. All natural, throat numbing, sinus clearing goodness.)
19. Cold meds – Face it, we all succumb to the crud eventually, as “it’s going around”. Keep your favorite cold meds at the ready, and a box of tissues on your desk.
20. Allergy meds – be prepared for the pollening of spring and the molding of fall with your favorite allergy meds on hand. Ragweed is no match for you!
21. Antacids – engineering = stress, stress = heartburn, heartburn = ouch. Also a necessity for the company chili cook-off.
22. AAA batteries – nothing like your mouse or keyboard dying in the middle of a project to make you appreciate having spare batteries on hand.
23. Sewing kit – popped a button? No problems. True story: I once sewed a coworker’s button back on his shirt in the middle of the day. Be the sartorial superhero.
24. Safety pins – ever-useful multi-purpose fashion savers.
25. Spare badge reel – ever notice HR is conveniently out of them on the day yours breaks?
There you have it, the stash I keep in my desk that keeps me prepared and professional. Got any other ideas to add to the list? Leave them in the comments section!
