Six Must-Have Items in Your Work Bag

It doesn’t matter whether we are fresh graduates entering the workforce, adults with a stable job position, or a student doing an internship. We’d need to have a work bag that contains all of the pertinent items, regardless of our chosen fields. Below are six important items that I believe we need in our work bag. As my job position doesn’t require me to officially own a handbag, I’m using my backpack to masquerade as one.

Wallet/Purse


Credit to MalayMail for the image

In the world that we are living in, it’s more than tempting to carry your credit or debit cards instead of cash. As what HerCampus has elaborated, ‘When you have a wallet full of plastic it can be easy to forget that it’s never a bad idea to have some paper in there too.’ Not carrying cash is a grave concept as it goes without saying that you’d be stranded without any money on you. It’s necessary to keep a reasonable amount of cash for any emergencies or purchases that only accept cash.

Water Bottle


Credits to Shoppee for the image

Everyone should adopt the habit of bringing a tumbler or a water bottle filled with water to work. LifeHack.org emphasizes that it is ‘incredibly easy to avoid drinking enough water when we’re focused on getting work done or too busy to grab a glass of water. Many of us turn to tea or coffee to stay alert during the day.’ What this means is that once you’re on the go, you tend to focus more on completing your errands and less on hydrating yourself. If all of your concentration is on the tasks at hand, you might instead rely on artificial sources such as caffeine and sports drinks to remain awake at your table. This is not a good option as it could lead to other problems like dry throat among others. You’ll need pure water to flush out the excess toxins brought on by a stressful day in the office.

Drinking copious amounts of water would help to reduce stress-related headache. HealthyYouVending.com goes on to explain that the lack of adequate water ‘can lead to headaches, decreased memory and can even reduce job productivity. By the time we feel thirsty, it’s already too late.’ To prevent this from occurring, having a tumbler within reach helps a lot. All workplaces come with a pantry and a water dispenser, so there’s no way of claiming forgetfulness.

Notebook and a pen

This is another must-have item for a wide array of reasons.reasons. One of which is the ability to write down any important information or task that your boss relates to you. Not only that; it also enables you to record minutes of your discussion with either colleagues or clients for future references. It doesn’t matter if the notebook and pen is from a high-end brand or your neighborhood bookstore. What’s most important is its durability and whether it serves its purpose well for a long time or not.

All of us are busy in our own ways, so it’s unlikely that we’re able to remember the details of every discussion or what our superiors have asked us to do. By taking notes of it, it’d give us more time to complete everything that is asked of us instead of worrying that we’ll forget about this or that.

Lip Balm


Yes, I own two lip balm chapsticks - one's imported from the States and bought in Malaysia while the other's certified organic from Adelaide.

If you suffer from chapped lips like myself, you’d know that we can’t live without a stick or lip balm (or two) in our work bag. I keep two sticks so that I can alternate between the flavors and keep a backup in the event that I’ve finished using one stick. Not only is it convenient as it is a small item, but it comes in handy when you need to moisten your lips or freshen up on the way to work. It’ll create a terrible impression if you greet your colleagues in the morning with chapped lips.

Sanitary Products

I’m sure us females would understand this predicament. We need to keep a handy pile of tampons or period pads, depending on which type you use, in the event that Aunty Flo makes an unannounced visit. It would be a mess when she arrives without notice as you don’t have any access to your sanitary products or a fresh set of clothing to change into. Furthermore, you’ll fear that your colleagues or members of the public would be able to see the stain of blood on your parents when the likelihood is low. At least with a bunch in your work bag, you have the peace of mind to deal with other matters.

Plasters/Band-Aid

Depending on the place you’re living in, this item is either known as a plaster or a Band-Aid. This is also another must-have in my work bag because of the prior mishaps I’ve had in the office. I’ve accidentally injured myself after I stepped on a stapler bullet on the carpeted floor. I’ve cut my finger while opening a glass bottle of soy bean milk for lunch. Plasters will come in handy because you never know if and when you need it. At least the plaster will keep the wound covered and clean from the environmental bacteria and stop the bleeding.

I hope that the above tips would give you a rough idea on the items that should go into your work bag. It all depends on your individual style and needs.