The holidays are almost here, which means it’s time to spoil your favorite people. If you know someone who works from home or owns their own business, whether it’s you, a friend, or an employee, there are plenty of gifts they’ll love that will make their work-life easier and more productive.
Before you start shopping online, remember to sign up for Ebates for cashback on qualifying purchases (I got $39 back on last year’s holiday shopping). I also recommend installing the Honey app to your web browser, so you can automatically browse for the best coupon codes before you check out.
Here are some of my top gift ideas for people who work from home. None of these are sponsored, but there are some affiliate links in this post.
Felix Gray Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Felix Gray glasses filter the blue light from your phone, computer, and TV screen without distorting your vision or screen appearance. Blue light causes digital eye strain which can lead to headaches, dry eyes, blurred vision, and sleep disruption. I’ve suffered from headaches caused by light sensitivity for as long as I can remember, and after having Lasik eye surgery, my eyes are even more sensitive to light. I knew I had to do something, so I (somewhat skeptically) bought a pair of Felix Gray glasses (Nash in artichoke) to see if they’d help.
When you first put them on you won’t notice much of anything at all – and that’s the point. But after a few months of wearing them, I’ve become acutely aware of how my eyes are feeling and when they’re strained from too much light. The best comparison I can make is when you start using a water filter and suddenly realize your tap water tastes like feet, even though you’ve been drinking it for years and never noticed anything wrong with it.
They start at $95, but you can also find some cheaper blue light glasses on Amazon (although I can’t vouch for their quality).
TheraCane
I first discovered the TheraCane at my husband’s climbing gym and we both use this thing on the regular. The arch goes over your shoulder and your hands work the handles to apply pressure where needed. It’s life-changing when you’ve spent hours hunched over a computer and your back is full of knots.
CBD Oil
I’ve been researching and writing about CBD oil for several years and its therapeutic potential continues to amaze me. CBD is exploding in popularity due to its anti-inflammatory, pain-relieving, mood-balancing effects, all of which are helpful for business owners who need to keep their shit together. Unfortunately, not all CBD brands are created equal. Between a lack of industry regulation and money-hungry serial entrepreneurs taking advantage of its popularity, there’s a lot of snake oil out there. Before buying any CBD product, be sure to read my guide to what you need to know before buying CBD oil.
I recommend any product by Highline Wellness. They have delicious gummies that contain turmeric and a body cream for topical relief and skin hydration.
French Press Coffee Maker & Electric Tea Kettle
If you’ve never used an electric tea kettle, get ready for your world to be rocked. It’s the handiest wedding gift I received (besides my husband, he can repair anything) and we both use it daily along with a french press coffee maker. Add a bag of some nice local coffee or loose leaf tea and you’ve got the perfect gift for anyone who requires caffeine for survival (so like, everyone).
Kitchen Safe
Working from home means snacks are always around the corner. So are your gaming controllers. And your Kindle. And a whole host of other distractions that will prevent you from getting anything done. Lock them away with a time-locking kitchen safe that keeps your distractions out of reach.
Wool Socks
Stay cozy and keep the heat bill down with some warm wool socks. I probably have a dozen pairs of these WigWam wool socks and I love them so much that I hang them to dry (who hang-dries their socks? Me).
Wool Cape Blanket
My Mom knows I wish I was a cat, so she bought me this wool cape for Christmas last year and I’m pretty sure I wore it all winter. It’s so warm and comfortable and prevents me from cranking the thermostat when I’m working from home.
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air is my work computer of choice and the lightest laptop I’ve ever used. Perfect for digital nomads who travel a lot and would rather not lug around a brick of a computer.
hardcover DEVICE Case
The first thing I bought after my MacBook was a hardcover case. I still use the one pictured above from 696designers on Etsy, and it’s held up miraculously. They have hundreds of gorgeous cases for every piece of technology, including phones and tablets.
Padded Laptop Pouch
OK, here’s some indisputable proof that I work from home: I purchased this padded laptop pouch as part of a View Your Deal promo while watching The View (what? I like watching Joy and Meghan fight). They have a variety of gorgeous, stylish bags that keep your gadgets safe without a bunch of extra bulk.
Kindle Paperwhite
My Kindle is the closest thing I have to a child. It goes with me everywhere, and I freak out when I accidentally drop it in the bathtub (that’s what it’s like to raise kids, right?). The Paperwhite is the best e-reader because there’s no screen glare, so you can read on a sunny day or in a pitch-black room with no issues.
Power Bank
You never know how useful it is to have a power bank until you need one. When you’re constantly on the go and unsure of when you’ll be able to charge your device, this guy is a lifeline.
Mini Desk Heater
Just blow all the hot air directly into my face, please. It’s cold in here.
Oil Diffuser/Humidifier
I have an oil diffuser on my desk that doubles as a mini humidifier during the cold winter months. My favorite oil to diffuse is thieves oil – a combination of lemon, clove, cinnamon, rosemary, and eucalyptus that’s said to fight germs and promote immunity. Most importantly, it looks and smells pretty.
Thumb Scrapers
I don’t know why but I stumbled upon these thumb scrapers on Amazon and they seem like the handiest things ever. We probably all need a set of these.
SUBSCRIPTION gift ideas
Grammarly – Grammarly is a writing assistant app that checks your messages, articles, blog posts, social media posts, and other forms of content for errors. The paid version also has a plagiarism checker to keep your ass covered when writing about well-documented topics. I use it before publishing anything; even though I’m a professional writer, it’s still saved me from publishing some wonky words.
Quickbooks Self-Employed – This is my favorite accounting software. I’ve tried several other versions but this is by-far the most intuitive and automated. Quickbooks syncs with all your bank accounts and credit cards, categories your business vs. personal expenses, sends invoices and accepts payments, calculates your quarterly taxes, and more. There’s no better gift than a low-maintenance tax season.
Canva Pro – Canva is a simplified graphic design website that’s probably saved my business loads of time and money. I use it to create everything – printables for my Etsy shop, my print-on-demand product designs, blog graphics, social media graphics, and so much more. It’s invaluable for any professional who needs graphic designs but lacks the skills for Adobe or the funds to outsource.
Meal Delivery Service – Make sure the entrepreneur in your life is eating vegetables with a meal or snack subscription box. My favorites are Hello Fresh for full meals and Nature Box for healthy and delicious snacks.
Skillshare – Skillshare is an online learning community where you can take courses that teach you how to do anything. Business owners are always learning and evolving, so give the gift of education.
Gift Card Recommendations
Moo.Com – Moo is wonderful for printing high-quality business cards and other printed materials that every business owner needs at some point.
Local Coffee Shop Gift Cards – encourage someone to get out of the house once in a while.
Museum gift card/membership – Museums are a great place to relax, stimulate your brain, and in some cases, veg out on your laptop (if they have an area for this). When I lived downtown, I would stroll through the Detroit Institute of Arts before sitting down to work at their cafe.
Massage Gift Card – For when the TheraCane just isn’t cutting it, give someone the gift of a full body massage and/or spa experience. Trust me – we all need it.
Coworking Space – Working at home is great, but sometimes it helps to get out of the house, and some people just aren’t designed to be productive at home. Coworking spaces are the perfect solution for an office space that you can use whenever you need a change of scenery. They’re popping up all around the country as more people enter the self-employment and gig economy. The Wing is a popular women’s coworking space that’s slowly making its way into new cities, but there are plenty of smaller, less expensive options out there as well. If you live in or near a large metro area, Google “coworking space + your city” to see what’s available.
Conference Tickets – Conferences are a great opportunity to get out of the house, network, and learn new things about your industry. I’ve been to conferences for content writing, for social media marketing, for the local cannabis industry, among others. Conferences can get pricey, so I’m sure someone would appreciate a ticket to a conference they’d like to attend as a gift.
AirBnb – Perfect for digital nomads who travel a lot and prefer to stay in random people’s homes.
Visa Gift Card – Just give us money.
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