A new job starts Monday and you have nothing ready

5 things, already decided.
Work down the list. Tick off what you own. Every option opens on Amazon, where the current price and the real delivery date live — we never print a price here.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Every product link on this page is a paid link.

1. 01 of 05
   I already have this

   A bag that opens flat

   A bag you have to dig through is a bag you look disorganised out of. One that opens flat lets you find a laptop and a notebook without unpacking on someone's desk.

   What to check before you choose. Check there is a padded laptop sleeve sized to your actual machine, and that it will sit under a desk or in an overhead without being wrestled.

   Volher Laptop Backpack,Business Travel Anti Theft Slim College Backpack | Water Resistant DurabCheck price on Amazon paid linkLenovo Laptop Backpack B215 for Computers Up to 15.6-Inch – Multi Compartment Water Repellant BCheck price on Amazon paid linkMAXTOP Deep Storage Laptop Backpack Business Anti-theft Backpacks[Water Resistant] College CompCheck price on Amazon paid link

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2. 02 of 05
   I already have this

   A notebook you will actually carry

   Week one is a firehose of names, systems and passwords. Typing notes in a meeting reads as distraction to some people; a notebook never does.

   What to check before you choose. A hard cover survives a bag. Check the paper size against your bag - a full A4 pad is the one people stop carrying by week two.

   SUIN Hardcover-Journal-Notebooks, A5 Lined Journals Notebook for Writing 200 Pages, 8.2 x 5.5 iCheck price on Amazon paid linkSUIN Lined Journal Notebook, Leather Hardcover Journal for Work, School, Travel, 100 GSM Paper,Check price on Amazon paid linkRETTACY Dotted Journal Notebook, 192 Pages, A5 Medium Size (5.7'' x 8.3'') | Leather Hardcover,Check price on Amazon paid link

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3. 03 of 05
   I already have this

   A lunch container that does not leak

   Buying lunch every day in week one is expensive and it also means you leave the building at the exact hour people talk to each other.

   What to check before you choose. Check the lid seals with a clip rather than only friction, and that it is safe in a microwave if there is one.

   Ziliny 4 Pcs Silicone Bento Box Reusable Lunch Container Smooth Leak Proof Lunch Box Rectangle Check price on Amazon paid linkBento Box Adult Lunch Box, Containers for Adults Men Women with 4 Compartments, Lunchable Food Check price on Amazon paid linkCaperci Classic Bento Box Adult Lunch Box for Older Kids - Leakpoof 47 oz 3-Compartment ContainCheck price on Amazon paid link

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4. 04 of 05
   I already have this

   A basic desk setup - stand or riser

   A laptop on a desk puts your neck down for eight hours. Raising the screen to eye level is the cheapest ergonomic fix there is.

   What to check before you choose. Check the height range against your own sitting eye level, and that it is stable rather than folding flat under a hand.

   Urmust Adjustable Laptop Stand for Desk, 10-15.6“ Laptop Riser, Black | Sturdy Aluminum FoldablCheck price on Amazon paid linkUrmust 360° Rotating Laptop Stand for Desk, 10-15.6“ Laptop Riser, Silver | Sturdy Aluminum FolCheck price on Amazon paid linkNulaxy Ergonomic Adjustable Laptop Stand for Desk, Dual Foldable Computer Riser with Advanced HCheck price on Amazon paid link

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5. 05 of 05
   I already have this

   A refillable water bottle for a desk

   Small, but it is the thing that stops the four o'clock headache in a new building where you do not yet know where anything is.

   What to check before you choose. A bottle that fits under a standard tap and a standard cupholder. Check the lid does not need two hands.

   ENCOOL Leakproof Insulated Water Bottle with Straw Dual-Sip Water Bottle Bag-Safe Design for WoCheck price on Amazon paid link24 oz Insulated Water Bottle for Sports: Meoky Stainless Steel Water Bottle with 2-in-1 Straw aCheck price on Amazon paid linkHydro Flask Water Bottle - Insulated Stainless Steel - Wide Straw Lid, Non Spill, Leakproof in Check price on Amazon paid link

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Every option above is a real product listing on Amazon, chosen by research, not by testing. We do not own these products and we have not tried them. Prices and delivery dates live on Amazon and change constantly, so we do not print them here.