5 Products I Love for the PT Girlies (and Guys)

Working long hours in the hospital, outpatient, subacute or even home health setting can be draining! Over the years, I have gravitated to a small handful of items that time and time again save the day and make a tangible difference in my work days. Here are 5 items that I can't work without* (Want to see these items in action? Check out our Reel): 

1. Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil

This is the product I reach for at night and even in the mornings to hydrate and wake up my under eyes. Applied at night, I wake looking much more refreshed than I likely am (lol) and a few extra dabs of this under the eyes in the morning reduces my getting ready time in the mornings. A little goes a long way and a singular standard size bottle can last several weeks at the very least. Well worth a small shortcut to looking like I didn't spend extra time checking my schedule or finishing up some outpatient documentation at night! 

2. Lawless Lip Balm

My chapped lips are the last thing I need my patients distracted by as I try to teach them new movements or provide practical patient education. While I have tried tons over the years, I absolutely love this Lawless Lip Balm. Pink Marshmellow goes on nearly clear (very slight light pink tint), and is perfect for use on the job; it comes in several shades that range from light pink to dark red (pictured in this 5 Products Reel is shade Posey, which I also use in the clinic - my goal is to collect them all!). I've been through at least 4 tubes of this balm in the span of several months, simply because I love them enough to overuse them, but used somewhat normally, these splurge lip balms will last you a while. 

3.  YETI 30 oz Travel Mug with handle

So we obviously know why it's important to stay hydrated on the job, but I'm a firm believer in that having the right water vessel can make or break your water intake goals for each day. In an era of Stanley tumblers, I have decided to stay the course with an original fan favorite brand (adventurous, I know): YETI. The 30 oz size here is not the size of an industrial trash can as we have seen from other brands, but is sizable and minimizes the number of trips to refill. The handle option on the 30 oz size is a necessity in my opinion due to its sheer size and weight when full, and fits in a cup holder without adversity. I've linked the Amazon site for ease, but know that Yeti.com offers free engraving on occasion, something I took advantage of last summer and still love! 

4. Trader Joe's Mints OR Simply Mints 

Post-lunch, dry needling neck or facial muscles, or performing minA to maxA +2 transfers are all examples of situations in which a mint becomes extremely handy when working in the therapy world. I reach for Trader Joe's Peppermints most often but Simply Mints are another great option - I do my best to stay organic or with as few "fake ingredients" as possible, which is why I enjoy these brands' transparency of ingredients and "cleanliness," as far as mints go.

5. Hand Lotion - Trader Joe's with Moroccan Argan Oil, Gold Bond Cream with Aloe, or Working Hands 

Washing our hands as often as we do leaves them constantly dry and even cracked in the worst situations. Leaving a tube of hand cream in the car, at the office and even in my work bag keeps me feeling my best and allows me to don/doff gloves and keep my clean hands moisturized all day long, including on commutes. 

Do you have a must-have work product to add to the list? Let us know below! 

*If you happen to order products through these links, I may receive a small commission