What Are The Best Office Supplies For Productivity?
By Drew Galvin on May 4, 2023
More than 80% of employees claim they’re more passionate and excited about their job when they feel appreciated by their employers.
It’s no secret that happy employees are more productive, but how can you keep your employees happy? Sometimes the small things – employee gifts, personalized supplies, or branded merchandise – can make a big difference in how appreciated your employees feel.
We’re breaking down the best office supplies for productivity, so your employees can feel more connected and valued as team members.
Work Desk Essentials For Your Employees
Let’s start with where most of your work gets done: your desk. Having a clean and organized desk allows your employees to focus on their work with minimal distractions. Consider investing in some desk essentials for your employees to lay the groundwork for a productive work environment.
Branded office supplies can create a warm, inviting environment for your employees. They are some of the best office supplies for productivity because they make your employees feel more appreciated and part of your team.
1) Seat Cushions
Did you know that lower back pain is the most common cause of work-related disability in employees under the age of 45?
Seat cushions improve posture, making sitting at a desk more comfortable. They can also provide lumbar support to reduce strain on the lower back.
2) Ergonomic Mice And Mouse Pads
Ergonomic computer mice and mouse pads can reduce the risk of developing repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) like carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle strain, and wrist scarring. Their primary function is to reduce repetition and minimize forces.
Ergonomic mice have also been shown to reduce work fatigue. Having a comfortable desk setup that reduces muscle strain helps maximize your employees’ productivity.
3) Standing Desks
Research suggests standing desks can increase productivity in your employees as well. Standing desks have been shown to reduce mental fatigue, stimulate thinking, and boost overall productivity.
Standing desks also improve your health. They’ve been shown to lower the risk of obesity and heart disease, and reduce blood sugar levels and back pain.
Even if an employee is unable to stand for an extended period of time, encourage him or her to alternate between sitting and standing in thirty-minute intervals. Even standing for just an hour or two every day, in place of sitting at a desk, has been linked to improved health indicators.
Desk Organization Ideas
Organization and productivity go hand in hand. Here are some handy desk essentials to help keep your employees organized.
1) Try Transparent Sticky Notes
For those who haven’t heard, transparent sticky notes are better than regular sticky notes in that your employees can place them anywhere without covering up anything. They help your employees to maximize desk space by allowing them to read any text behind the sticky notes.
By layering information on top of other notes or documents, you get more out of every square inch of desk space.
They basically provide notes at a glance with a cleaner design to declutter layers of information your employees have stacked on top of each other.
2) Use A Day Planner
Day planners keep your employees on track with deadlines. They can write reminders, manage multiple tasks at once, and visualize their workweek at a glance by keeping a day planner agenda.
Using a day planner or calendar is a crucial part of any productive desk setup. For more traditional/analog users, investing in a good physical planner is a must. Your employees can also use a digital calendar if they’re more tech-savvy, or even a combination of the two.
3) Invest In A Smart Notebook
If you’re willing to spend a little more on your employees, invest in smart notebooks over regular notebooks. These notebooks don’t waste paper because they rely on digitized notes using an app.
What are the benefits? Your employees will feel like they are writing in a regular notebook, and they will be saving paper as well as avoiding the storage and clutter of old notebooks.
4) Consider Shelf And Drawer Organizers
Marie Kondo says “the objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.” In other words, tidying your workspace makes living in it a happier experience.
Encourage your employees to organize office supplies in desk compartments, organizational trays, and bins to reduce clutter and make their workspace feel more breathable. An organized, easy-to-clean workspace reduces stress and improves productivity.
Best Home Office Setup For Productivity
Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a dramatic change to the work model. More employees are working either entirely remotely or are working a hybrid model of part-time remote and part-time in-office. In fact, a 2023 survey found that 74% of U.S. companies are currently using, or are planning to implement, a permanent hybrid work model.
Remote positions, and the use of home offices, provide new flexibility. However, with that flexibility comes a new set of challenges.
You want your employees to feel connected to their team members, not excluded or distanced. To help your team members feel connected, and to elevate job satisfaction and productivity levels, consider providing some tools to help your team.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
Noise-canceling headphones are an excellent gift for your employees to minimize outside noise and distractions.
Remote or hybrid work can come with a variety of at-home distractions (kids, pets, neighbors, you name it). You want your remote employees to be able to block out the background noise so they can focus on their work.
Don’t forget about your in-office employees too. Busy offices can be filled with distractions, so noise-canceling headphones can be a great solution for employees working in the office or at home.
The Benefits Of Plants
Encourage your employees to add plants or some greenery to their home offices to boost productivity. While some may not consider this to be an office essential, looking at plants throughout the day has been shown to reduce stress levels, sharpen focus, and improve productivity.
Anything from a little succulent to even a fake plant for less botanically inclined people can provide a little green space exposure throughout your employees’ day to decrease stress.
Little Reminders Of The Office
Reminders of the office can make for some of the best desk accessories. Branded pens, coffee mugs, insulated water bottles, or apparel can make for wonderful employee gifts.
These branded items can instill a sense of belonging and community within your team members, whether or not they are in the office every day.
Safeguard by Innovative can guide you to find the perfect custom gifts for your employees. With over one-hundred thousand products offered and custom kitting services available, we tailor new hire kits and anniversary appreciation gifts to your budget and brand.
