Office Survival Kit

OFFICE TOTE
Back in my 9-to-5 office days, one tote bag filled properly and stashed in a drawer in the office saved my ass on countless occasions. Pack an office survival kit and you’ll pretty much always have everything you need. (However, if you can avoid working in an office at all, all the better).

Keep in mind that to stock this entire bag, I didn’t purchase anything specifically for it—it consists entirely of things from around my house, including the bag itself, which was free with my subscription to Domino magazine (RIP) and lived mostly unused, along with countless other free totes, on my “reusable shopping bags” hook. I bet that you can put most of this stuff together tonight and have it ready to bring with you to work tomorrow morning.

Feel free to customize this list for your particular work-related needs, but whether you think you’ll need this stuff or not, take my word for it—it can’t hurt to have it handy.

1. Tote Bag: Comes in handy for getting everything to the office, containing all these items so your office stays at least semi-organized, on its own in case your purse strap breaks on the way in to work, or for a quick getaway with all your personal items the day you finally tell them they can take this job and shove it.
2. Spare Cell Phone Charger: Do not underestimate the importance of having a spare charger at work. Even if, unlike my (former) shitty Razr, your phone holds charge pretty well, nothing’s worse than heading out to meet friends for some after work boozing only to discover that your phone’s dead and you don’t have anyone’s numbers anywhere else and everyone’s already out having a great time and wondering where you are.
3. Hand-Sanitizer: Because germs are crawling everywhere and you can’t run to the restroom every time you shake hands with someone.
4. Umbrella: Even if you regularly carry one with you, it never hurts to have an extra.
5. Deodorant: Have you ever gotten to the office and realized you forgot to put deodorant on after your shower? Well, one day you will and you’ll be very happy you have this on hand.
6. Dressy Shoes: Depending on your job or office dress code, the definition of “dressy shoes” could vary significantly, but you get the idea.
7. Flip-flops: You’ll need something comfy to wear home when your “dressy shoes” shred your heels.
8. Makeup Sack: Read on for tips on stuffing your makeup sack.
9. Lady Supplies: Tampons, pads, pantiliners—it can’t hurt to have all varieties on hand for yourself and you’ll earn brownie-points with the other females in the office.
10. Shirt: Something that won’t wrinkle easily and can go with most outfits will work in a pinch if you ever get a stain, tear, or lose a button. I have a fashionable but not too formal black, long-sleeved, jersey knit top with fabric rosebud appliqués that has always served me well in a pinch.
11. Pants: Like with the shirt, something that doesn’t easily wrinkle, is neutral in color, but is not anything your closet will miss should do. Tan cords have always worked for me.
12. Mirror: Check your teeth for poppy seeds before the big meeting or use to peer around cubicle corners to see if the coast is clear.
13. Framed Photos of Loved Ones: A glance in their direction can alleviate anxiety on the most stressful of days. A collage frame can hold several photos but keeps them contained.
14. Tights: Pick a neutral color that will go with any outfit; there’s nothing worse than getting a snag and not having a back-up pair when it’s time for a bare-legs-aren’t-appropriate kind of meeting.
15. Socks: Because spending all day in wet socks really sucks.

MAKEUP SACK
The idea here is to have everything you need to “do your face” at the office for those days you need to cut a step out of your morning routine, forget about an important meeting on a day you decided to go for the “natural look,” or in case you need a touch-up for a late meeting or a post-work date.

Do not go out and buy a bag full of new products to keep at the office—you’ll never use them quickly enough. Instead, replace your foundation, blush, powder, lipstick, or concealer before they’re completely empty and use the 80% depleted products for your office makeup stash. Free samples—like the ones you get at Sephora with your rewards card—can also be good for stocking an office makeup bag, but make sure everything’s something you actually like to wear that flatters you.

1. Make-up Bag: Use anything that closes to keep everything contained—a quart-sized Ziplock could even do the trick.
2. Hair-ties: Depending on your length or style, a headband or bobby-pins might be more appropriate, but the idea is to have something that can tame the wildest of tresses on the worst bad hair day.
3. Comb or Brush: I’m a big fan of my switchblade comb—small, compact, and a little bad ass—but you can use whatever floats your boat.
4. Tweezers: They don’t have to be top of the line—they just have to do the job in a pinch.
5. Eyeshadows: This palate of colors is good because there’s a variety for any occasion. I got this in a holiday gift box that was sent to me by a vendor—not something I would buy for myself or use at home, but perfect for the Office Survival Kit.
6. Brushes: A mini travel set should work for application of everything here.
7. Mascara: This isn’t my regular brand, but it’s good mascara and it was also from the holiday gift box, so it was free. Can’t beat that.
8. Lipgloss: A nice, “respectable” color, although not my absolute favorite, so I don’t mind not having it at home or in my purse.
9. Lipstick: Ditto.
10. Blush: I am a big fan of blush and this is one I nearly used up at home and added to the mix here when I replaced it.
11. Powder: Ditto.
12. Foundation: Ditto.
13. Concealer: I don’t normally use concealer, but I figure it can’t hurt to have some at the office.
14. Perfume: I bought this sweet Marc Jacobs Daisy perfume solid ring and loved the scent so much I bought a whole bottle of Daisy, so the solid got added to the office mix. Samples from department stores work well too—they’re small and they’re free!
15. Toothbrush: Sometimes a girl just needs to clean her mouth.
16. Toothpaste: Free sample from the dentist’s office—perfect size for this little sack.
17. Floss: Ditto.
18. Lotion: Offices tend to be over air-conditioned or over heated, both of which dry out your hands and legs.

There are a few items I haven’t included here because you should have them in your purse at all times and the assumption is that you’ll have your purse at work, but feel free to add them either way:

1. Safety pins
2. Pills for headaches, cramps, and heartburn
3. Breath mints/gum
4. Nail file
5. Band-aids

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Tagged as: 9-to-5, always be prepared, makeup