42 Gifts That Made Us Happier at the Office

Some mornings call for brewing a whole pot of coffee, while others just require a cup to get you started. This coffee maker can do both. The front is reserved for single-serve brewing (hot or iced), while the bigger pot in back can make 12 cups of drip coffee. It’s programmable too. Tester and writer Brittany Scanniello, RD, likes its versatility. “It was easy to set up and brews quickly,” she says. And with a 60-ounce reservoir, you won’t need to constantly refill it.

For a top-notch coffee and espresso maker that produces coffee that feels fancy (hello, foam on top), Nespresso has it. “Wow,” says tester Raki Swanson. “This product makes the best single-serve coffee.” A variety of really great coffee flavors, plus seasonal and limited-edition selections, means that your morning or afternoon brew — or even evening, as there are decaf capsules — remains exciting. Easy cleanup allows you to drop the aluminum capsules in a bag (or right into your recycling bin, depending on where you live).

This high-quality mug is worth its price, says editorial director Simone Scully. “Each mug has a cute illustration or pattern, and gold handles give it an elevated look. I could easily buy several and replace all my other mugs,” she says. Scully went for the book theme, but there are a number of other designs, such as cats, dogs, flowers, and seasonal prints. One downside is that they’re hand-wash only and not microwave safe, so they’ll have to stay out of the office dishwasher.

This gift set of 10 teas, a steeping cup with a lid, and a tray is absolutely beautiful. The teas are organic green tea and herbal blends in pyramid sachets. The bundles can go right into the cup, which has a hole in the lid for the string to poke out. After steeping with hot water, place the sachet on the tray — no dripping tea bag puddles here. Editor Olivia Campbell calls these teas “delicious,” and I absolutely agree. The set makes tea time a special midday break. Plus, the mug, lid, and tray are dishwasher safe. You can also heat the water in the cup in the microwave — perfect for the office.

There’s something really wonderful about an electric kettle: You don’t need a stove to boil water for tea or cocoa. That’s great for an office kitchen, but it’s equally stellar for a home office. As chic as this kettle is, its features are even better: seven-cup capacity, quick boiling, automatic shutoff, and an adjustable temperature gauge (because different teas take different temps). “We drink a lot of tea at my house, and we’ve used it every single day since we got it,” says writer SaVanna Shoemaker, RDN.

Slippers that you can also wear outside for a quick midday walk to the mailbox? That’s right. Plus, they have a 100 percent wool upper and a natural rubber sole. “I love that these are made from natural materials,” says Bonaccorso, who appreciates their Scandinavian aesthetic. Although they’re wool, they don’t itch, so you can slip them on bare feet. Besides, it’s not like anyone on Zoom can see your feet anyway.

The large, three-wick beeswax candle gets its scent from pure essential oils. Scully loves the mild but relaxing Midnight Jasmine scent, calling it “very floral and natural.” It is advertised as having a 90-hour slow-burning time, which Scully says is realistic based on her home test. Another plus: The company lab tests its products and shares its results on its website to show that the products emit low emissions and soot. The heavy-duty glass jar can be refilled (using the Eco Candle Making Kit) or reused.

These compression socks gently squeeze feet, ankles, and legs to support healthy circulation, which is helpful if you spend your days with your feet parked under your desk or if you travel a lot. Wellow socks are equal in comfort and style. “These compression socks are great, they come in a wide variety of sizes and colors, including wide calf, and they make a great gift for men and women,” says writer Tori Martinet, RD. “I love that they have different heights and fabric weights, and are easy on and off.” These socks come in single pairs, bundles, or design-your-own bundles.

Your coworker who’s friends with everyone will love this gift basket with snack foods because it’ll attract colleagues to them. Packed with both sweet and savory snacks like chocolate and caramel popcorn, sesame sticks, three-seed crackers, and pepper and onion relish, the basket sits in a cute crate with a chalkboard on the front. Flavor is paramount, though. Most of the snacks taste pretty good, confirms editor Ashley Ziegler. As a gift, it looks nice, has quality products, and is easy to send, she says.

Thrive Market is an online retailer for discounted groceries, personal care products, and home goods. Give a Thrive Market gift card and you can contribute to (or cover) the cost of an annual membership to get someone started with the grocery delivery service. (If they’re already a member, you can give a credit.) As for the food, you won’t find artificial flavors, antibiotics, and parabens. “I was impressed by Thrive Market’s huge assortment of healthy specialty products and its commitment to clean ingredients,” says Brittany Vargas in her Everyday Health review. “You’d certainly be hard-pressed to find this selection of pantry goods, organic meat, and wild-caught seafood alongside nontoxic toiletry and home items anywhere else.”

Don’t worry that you’re buying a pack of 10 beef sticks as a gift — these aren’t just any beef sticks. They’re really tasty and make for a perfect midday snack at your desk. “I really like this flavor profile. You can taste the mushroom and garlic,” says tester Mary Sauer. They’re sugar- and gluten-free, keto-friendly, and paleo, so they’ll work with a variety of eating plans. Each stick is 100 calories and has 8 grams of protein and 1 gram of carbs. One caveat: The packages can be hard to open, so this may not be a good choice for someone who has arthritis or dexterity challenges.

From typing to paperwork, your hands get handed a lot at the office, so a luxury cream packed with the hydrators shea butter and glycerin is a welcome gift. Ziegler says, “This applies very easily and absorbs in under a minute,” so it won’t leave a greasy film that gunks up a keyboard. Ziegler appreciates that it doesn’t have a strong scent (a bonus for fellow coworkers), and she says, “with regular application, it keeps skin looking healthy,” which was one of the reasons it is on our anti-aging skin-care list.

Sure, this multipurpose balm can be used on your face or even on your lips, but it’s perfect for hydrating hands that have been working all day. The silky texture of the balm melts into oil once it touches the natural heat of your skin. The unscented, organic, vegan balm is made from pressed nilotica nuts grown in northern Uganda. Marisa Olsen, our tester who’s been a loyal user of this product for eight years, calls it “one of those natural skin miracle workers,” since it’s an ace at relieving dryness.

Scully has had these blue light-filtering glasses since the initial COVID-19 lockdowns. Five years later, they’re still going strong: “Honestly, I still love them,” she says, calling them “pretty and functional.” As she explains, wearing them reduces her tendency to stare and squint at her screen (and the resulting eye strain that comes from not taking breaks from the screen) and seems to lessen her migraine attacks. These glasses can be outfitted with nonprescription, prescription, or reading lenses. In addition to filtering blue light, they also offer 100 percent UVA/UVB protection.

These small dumbbells have a clever curved (and ergonomic) design. “They’re cute and easy to grip,” says mental health writer Julia Childs Heyl, MSW. When stashed in a corner of an office or in a desk drawer, you hardly know they’re there. Each weight is 2.2 pounds, and they come in eight colors, from Chocolate Brown to Raspberry Pink. While Heyl would prefer a heavier option, she notes that these are ideal for Pilates moves.

If your loved one works from home or has their own office, a walking pad is a good way for them to get more movement throughout the day. Taking calls or brainstorming as they get their steps in to reach 10K a day — easy. With a smaller footprint than a regular treadmill, a walking pad is more convenient to keep around. Writer Sadie Crouch loves how easy the setup is (less than 15 minutes) and that it folds. “I also like the sleek screen and that I can use the phone holder so I can watch videos while walking,” she says. This is definitely a splurge gift, but for someone you’re close to, it could be very well used.