How to create a better office environment with furniture, supplies, and products

With Thanksgiving coming up fast our thoughts turn to how much we have to be thankful for; family, friends, a nice job, a cozy home and of course office supplies.

When I think about my own office and my supplies I use I realize that there are some I’m more thankful for than others – as in could not live without thankful. Barring biggies such as my actual computer and my own brain there are many little office supplies that make my world better each day, such as…

1. High Speed Internet: Maybe you don’t consider this an office supply but to me it’s almost everything. If I could only keep one and one only office supply that I actually pay for it would be my high speed. Remember back when dial up was king. Egad. Hours wasted.

2. Sharpies!: I use Sharpies for everything. They’re always smooth, make great lists on graph paper, and last a good long while. Now they come in vibrant colors – score. Double bonus they make great doodle tools when you’re stuck in long boring meetings. Not that I’d ever doodle during a meeting ;)

3. File Cabinets: Who is the genius who came up with this? Such a great idea. Drawers with dividers that can be customized in a million various ways. Genius, sheer genius.

4. The basic calculator: The good old basic calculator. Even one from the dollar store can make everyday management of client billing easier and balancing the budget a snap. For a fairly low cost you can get calculators that perform advanced functions and honestly what office manages without one. The calculator is a key supply in most office environments.

5. My laptop bag: I love my laptop bag. LOVE it. I have the Kensington Terrain Notebook Messenger Bag. I love how it looks and works. With my bag I become super mobile girl. My computer stays safe and dry and all my pda, phone, and pens have special pockets. My bag may be better to me than the computer itself.

6. Durable index tabs: These are great. I use them all the time. Unlike your basic sticky they can be used over and over. They never shred or rip and they come in various colors which makes coding stuff I use often easy as pie.

7. Three hole punch: Most offices use these and I love mine. Some offices have those super hole punches or the punch incorporated into the printer or copy machine but I like my basic one. With it I can organize custom folders of information, business plans, calendars refills, and so much more.

What office supplies are you most thankful for?