The shift to remote work changed everything. Those of us who work from our pajamas get to enjoy a quicker commute and the ability to address family responsibilities during the day. Not to mention, we have less of a need for an elaborate professional wardrobe. But let’s face it, a remote job has its share of needs and challenges, from the endless Zoom calls to the too-quiet, isolating afternoons. A workspace that increases productivity, comfort items for a bad day, and inspiring or mood-lifting goodies all make a difference. If you have someone who works from home on your gift list this holiday season, here are the perfect gift ideas to make their remote work day a tad brighter.

_{Prices are accurate as of November 22, 2024. Subject to change.}

Brass Monkey Part-Time Adult Planner

Whether a calendar app isn’t cutting it or your giftee wants one less tech item, this vintage-inspired Part-Time Adult Daily Planner by Brass Monkey adds fun to organizing their day. Its hardcover binding is durable and it’s small enough for packing into a purse or bag when they want to work from a coffee shop instead of the couch. Each day of the year has its own space, showcasing a dedicated holiday (like National Roller Coaster Day), space to write down meetings or appointments, and room at the bottom for brief reflections or notes.

Joy Laforme Everblooming Everyday Pen Set

If you give a remote worker a planner, they’ll want a pen set, too. Even if they aren’t a planner person, there are still people out there who handwrite notes! This set includes three black-ink ballpoint pens, each with a unique floral design and a gold cap. Most of all, it reflects the work of a real-life artist who has a flair for whimsical, joyful art. Not to mention, your giftee’s desk deserves to be pretty, even if it’s for themselves and their home office cat. 

Verilux HappyLight Duo Desk Lamp

While avoiding the garish overhead lights in most corporate buildings is nice, no one likes a dark home office. Help your remote working friend or family member brighten up their shadowy workspace with this Verilux HappyLight Duo. It has three temperatures and seven brightness levels, with the white light casting a generous glow of up to 10,000 lux. That’s about as bright as natural daylight and can help them through the long winter days and early nights. It can even charge electronics thanks to its USB port — one less thing to plug into a wall outlet. 

The Bean Organic Coffee Company Pumpkin Spice

No matter how comforting it is to work from home, just about everyone appreciates a morning coffee fix. The Bean Organic Coffee Company is a small business known for using certified organic coffee beans and has numerous specialty flavors if your giftee isn’t a pumpkin spice fan. It’ll give them an aromatic and flavorful caffeinated experience, with a better-smelling kitchen than the coffee shop down the street. Anything to make that meeting-that-could-have-been-an-email easier.

BrüMate Pour Over Travel Coffee Mug

Just because a home office gives someone access to their personal coffee maker, it doesn’t mean they want to start it up every time they want a quick cup. The BrüMate Pour Over brews 20 ounces of coffee through its compact pour-over cup and custom filters. All they’ll need to do is add water, and it goes right into the insulated tumbler that keeps it warm for up to six hours. No complicated machinery or lengthy waits for them to get their morning fix.

Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook

Not everyone wants to use old-fashioned notebooks and pens for meeting notes or work-day reflections. This 60-page Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook jumps your work-from-home giftee into the future. Using the included erasable Pilot Frixion pen, they can write notes, calendar entries, and lists, and then upload it onto the Rocketbook app before erasing the page and reusing it. Rocketbook can be synced with any cloud storage service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox. It makes the perfect high-tech gift for those who want fewer paper products in their life.

Olive & Cocoa Milano Charging Station

The Milano Charging Station blends high-tech with a sleek design that will look good in any home office. Made with a vegan leather surface, it charges any compatible wireless device, from phones to headphones to tablets. It measures only 6.5 by 8.5 inches, so it won’t take up too much space (because who has that room on their desk for oversized, clunky items?). Lucky for you, it also comes wrapped in paper and ribbon, so there’s one less item on your shopping list.

Oceanfoam Wave Ball Rollers

Stressful days happen whether or not you’re in an office. That’s why stress relief gifts like the Wave Ball Rollers come in handy. These balls function like a massage tool, targeting the parts of the body where your work-from-home giftee carries stress, like the back, shoulders, or forehead. They can even run their feet over them during a too-long meeting without anyone seeing their relaxation method. These rollers come in a pack of three, and you can choose from five colors to best suit your loved ones’ overall vibe (or home office decor).

VIVO Electric Standing Desk

It’s hard to resist the couch or bed when working from home. If your friend or loved one has been lamenting about the need to stand more often, they’ll love getting the VIVO Electric Standing Desk. It’s available in several color options and height maximums to suit their style and height the best. The actual desk space offered is great too, giving them plenty of room for their computer, mouse, and keyboard with enough space left over for their coffee cup and other trinkets.

Aroma Retail Scent Machine 101

There’s little worse than that stale air smell, but it can happen when you live and work in the same location (especially during winter months when the windows stay tightly sealed). The Scent Machine 101 can transform their home office into anything from a candy shop to a bookstore to a vineyard. The built-in scatter fan evenly distributes the scent across 2,000 square feet, which is likely way more space than they have. You can purchase their first scent and they can buy additional oils separately to customize the aroma they want all year long.

Ullu Soapstone Eyeglass Holder

Whether your giftee uses blue-light glasses to block the computer screen’s glare or needs reading glasses, this Ullu Soapstone Eyeglass Holder makes a charming addition to their desk. The wise owl hangs onto their glasses, keeping them safe and secure from scratches. You’ll also personally appreciate supporting a brand that works with artisans around the world through fair-trading relationships.

Jesse Itzler The Big A## Calendar

Maybe the small Brass Monkey planner just isn’t enough for your giftee, who can never find something large enough for their needs. In that case, they’ll love Jesse Itzler’s Big A## Calendar, which lets them see their entire year on one wall-sized page. Talk about being able to see the forest for the trees! It’s great for those who need to plan, whether they want to remember their dental appointment six months away, that yearly company meeting they need to prepare for mentally, or an infrequent bill that tends to catch them by surprise.

Quiet Mind Original Weighted Pillow

If your giftee doesn’t have a home office cat or dog to comfort them on a bad day, the next best thing is the Quiet Mind Weighted Pillow. Ranging from six to 15 pounds depending on the size, it’s not so heavy that they’ll feel like the burden of the world is on their lap. Instead, squeezing this feels like a comfortable hug, and letting it rest on their lap relieves stress and calms their mind. It’s also comfortable for sitting on or resting their head if they need a moment of meditation.

You’re One Tough Cookie & Puzzle Package

Nothing says I care about you like gifting a box of cookies. With the Spoonful of Comfort You’re One Tough Cookie & Puzzle Package, you can give cookies and a puzzle for when they need a break. Choose between one or two dozen to brighten their day — go for two dozen if you plan to stop by their home office for a treat.

Skullcandy Crusher Evo Over-Ear Wireless Headphones

Sometimes, the only way to get into the zone at work is to listen to some tunes. Your giftee will love the 40 hours of playtime from the Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Headphones, and they can also go old school and plug in with the included audio cable so they’ll never be without their favorite song or podcast. Best of all, if they’re the type that loses things far too easily, they can find their headphones thanks to the built-in Tile technology.

Sea To Me Weighted Throw Blanket

Whether they are burdened by the chill of winter or the anxiety resulting from a bad day, a weighted blanket can offer much-needed comfort. The 9-pound Sea to Me blanket is so soft that it feels like running your hands across cool sand — it’s like a blanket version of a desk Zen garden. Really, it’s the softest blanket I’ve ever owned. Nine pounds is a good weight too. They get a little extra comfort without feeling too burdened by it.

Feature Image Credit: Dacharlie/ iStock