As a mobile worker, it’s always a bit of go, go, go. When you have an office, you’re able to stock some of the more essential items. These are items you wouldn’t normally think about, but when you need them, it’s always great to have them handy.
For women, many of the items listed below are readily found in their purse. That said, we hope we’ve uncovered a couple of items that will make your life on the go that much easier.
- Nail Trimmer: How many times have you looked at your hands before a meeting and realized your nails are a tad too long? Okay, so maybe not that often, but considering the ONE time you wish you had addressed this grooming issue prior to your meeting is one too many times. A small fingernail trimmer is often more than enough.
- Pain Reliever: Headaches, eye strain, sore muscles or a sore back can all be enough to throw you off your game. Considering tucking away a packet of aspirin, Tylenol, or whatever pain reliever works for you.
- Toothbrush/Toothpaste/Floss: A small travel toothbrush and toothpaste are perfect items to have on hand. Especially when you’ve just downed a garlic filled lasagna for lunch and will be heading into a meeting with a new client. You might also consider tossing in some dental floss as well to make sure that sneaky piece of spinach salad doesn’t ruin your next job interview.
- Stain Remover: Whether it’s a Tide Stick or Shout Wipe & Go or some variation thereof, these are perfect items to make sure you have on hand. It’s inevitable that just before an important meeting you’ll spill a little coffee on that new white blouse/shirt/jacket/pants. So, be prepared.
- Anti-Bacterial Wipe: When working in a coffee shop or co-working space, you never know who sat there before you. And rarely are these spaces wiped down. Considering you’re working for yourself these days, you can’t afford to get sick. Having an anti-bacterial/disinfectant wipe on hand will minimize your chances of catching the cold that someone else decided to bring in with them.
- Snack Bar: When you’re working for yourself, time is of the essence and let’s face it – sometimes, we forget to eat. To make sure you’re maximizing your productivity you have to be sure you’re feeding your body as well as your mind. Keeping a snack bar on hand will keep your hunger at bay and keep you forging ahead.
- Lint Roller: Nothing worse than waiting in the lobby before a big meeting when you look down to find that your pants are covered in cat fur/dog fur/lint/glitter (parents will get this). Making sure you have a small lint roller on hand will alleviate this issue. They’re inexpensive and easy to tuck away.
- Power Bank: You raced out of the house to make your 9:30 train to your favorite co-working space and wanted to make a few calls on the way. But your phone is at 2% and you forgot a charger. But if you remembered to pack along a power bank, this will never be an issue. Caution: Remember to charge your power bank!
- Mirror: If you have a purse, most likely a mirror can be found somewhere inside. But most mobile workers forget this essential item. Even in this era of bed head and ill-fitting clothing, you still want to look your best. By packing a small compact mirror, you can be the first to judge your looks before someone else does.
- Money: Okay, seems like a silly reminder. But how many times have you found yourself in front of an old parking meter that doesn’t take a credit card? You ever forget/lose your wallet? Try sticking a $20, a handful of quarters and a spare credit card in your briefcase. It’ll potentially be a lifesaver for that one day you find yourself without funds at the ready.
Some of the above items might seem obvious, but it’s usually the obvious things that we tend to overlook. What are your top ten items? Add a few to the comments below as we would love to hear from you!
