I don’t know about you, but seeing the back-to-school section at the store towards the end of summer leaves me feeling nostalgic for the days of stocking up on school supplies. Although I am past the years of back-to-school shopping out of necessity, I still find myself wandering through the aisles filled with untouched notebooks and yet to be filled pencil boxes. Maybe it’s the tradition, the feeling of a fresh start, or just consumerism at its finest; whatever the reason, through these wanderings I have found that areas of my shopping list as an adult correlate with items found in the back-to-school section. No, that box of perfectly sharpened crayons no longer makes the cut; instead my list is filled with the following (far more practical) items.

1. Planner

I know, I know… You most likely already have an app on your phone for appointments, meetings, lunch plans, etc. However, if you are old school like me, having a physical planner is a necessity. Not only does the act of physically writing plans down embed them in my memory, but I don’t need to make sure my phone is charged to use it!

2. Desk Organization

Having a clean and organized desk isn’t limited to grade school students. As a professional, your work area reflects your organizational skills to coworkers and clients alike. Skip the plastic pencil box in favor of more stylish and professional options to organize both the top and the inside of your workspace. It doesn’t need to be Pinterest worthy; however, it should be free of clutter, easy to access the items you need, and make sense to you.

3. Electronics

If you can’t wait for Cyber Monday to snag a new laptop at a good price, check out the back to school sales for good deals on electronics! Laptopmag.com even quoted analyst Stephen Baker from NPD Group as saying, “There is a best time to buy notebooks, and it is exactly when you think it is, between the last week in July and the first three weeks in August, when the back-to-school merchandising frenzy is in full force.”

4. New Bag

Although you will want to steer clear of the backpacks in the back-to-school section, consider buying yourself a new bag to carry to and from work, meetings, interviews, etc. With the briefcase no longer being the professional standard, the possibilities are endless. Find a bag that is professional and fits your specific needs. For example, consider your commute. If you walk or bike to work, you will want to find options that are conducive to an active commute. Similarly, consider what you are toting in your bag. If you are bringing a laptop and paperwork home most nights, make sure that the bag you choose can accommodate those items.

5. Health/Wellness Supplies

Kleenex tissues and hand wipes always managed to appear on my school supply lists and remain on my list of items to stock up on to this day. With fall approaching, colds and other ailments will start to reappear, and back-to-school season is the perfect time to purchase those items at a discount!

The next time you are passing by the back-to-school section of the store, pause and consider what items located in those aisles could be used in your professional life. After all, students aren’t the only ones who can take advantage of the deals this time of year!