according to WFHResearch40% of American employees work remotely at least one day a week. This means that the chances of knowing someone who could benefit from a boost to their business from home setup are high.
While working from home has its pros and cons, such as being able to drink coffee in your pajama bottoms but having to resist the ever-present gravity of your bed, TechCrunch Brand Marketer (Who works from home), I do a lot of daily tasks, and unfortunately, naps are never one of them. However, through trial and error, recommendations, and lots of Amazon returns, I’ve found the best work from home equipment for staying focused and productive.
Here are six work-from-home essentials you can gift to the remote workers in your life.
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Wireless noise canceling headphones
Price: $249 on Amazon
One of the major downsides of working from home are distractions. If your gift recipient lives in a city or has a roommate (like I do), I highly recommend wireless noise-canceling headphones. I use my AirPods for meetings and watching Instagram reels (For research, of course) and the moments when I need to focus 100% on the task at hand.
For details of all new features at Apple AirPods Pro 2 headphonesRead Brian Heater’s full review here.
POUT Ergonomic laptop stand
Price: $69 on Amazon
Sitting for more than eight hours a day can wreak havoc on your body, and although standing desks are an option, they can be expensive. Instead, I opted for a comfortable laptop stand, and my neck thanks me every day.
There are laptop stand options for every price point, but my favorite alternative to a standing desk is POUT – Eyes 3 Lift – Ergonomic Laptop Stand.
The Eyes 3 Lift has 11 arm positions from 0-180 degrees and four height positions: compact, sitting, standing, and standing eye level. They are designed to help relieve neck, shoulder and back pain while working. The POUT Laptop Stand weighs just four pounds, but can hold up to 22 pounds and folds down for portability, making it a great gift for remote workers whether they’re working from home, a coffee shop, or the beach.
Deluxe selfie ring light
Price: $50 on Amazon
While not every remote worker needs photography Tik Tok Like I do, a ring light can be a great addition to anyone’s WFH setup. After all, what could be worse than having bad lighting on a Zoom call? Although it may be a little dramatic, a ring light is an easy way to help any remote worker look more professional on camera.
I suggest adding a little light into the life of a remote worker (literally). Luxury Selfie ring light. The tripod is height-adjustable up to 60 inches and is paired with a 10.5-inch LED light that has three color modes and 10 brightness levels, making it easily customizable to suit anyone’s WFH preferences.
This ring light also makes a perfect gift for any TikToker, YouTuber, or videographer in your life. The LUXSURE ring light comes with a Bluetooth remote, two phone holders with adjustable degree ranges, a camera mount option and a detachable tripod stick.
Elo 64 oz water bottle
Price: $15 on Amazon
To make sure I stayed hydrated while working, I bought a 64-ounce water “jug.” Elo. It’s one of the best WFH purchases I’ve made and my top recommendation for anyone looking for a gift this holiday season, even if it’s not a very “fun” gift.
Ello water jug It has a convenient side handle for drinking, a large top handle for carrying, and time markings on the side to make sure you stay hydrated. But what convinced me to buy the water jug was that it was BPA-free, had a leak-proof lid, and most importantly, was dishwasher safe.
Ello water jug Available in eight colors on Amazon for $15This makes a great gift for a buyer on a budget.
Wireless mouse
Price: $70 on Amazon
This is a slightly more serious gift since mouse and keyboard preferences can vary from person to person, but a wireless mouse is probably the most important item for working from home, making it one of the best gifts. I suggest gifting an ergonomic mouse, e.g Logitech ergonomic vertical elevation mouse.
The Logitech mouse is available in different sizes, small and large, and in two styles, for right and left hands. Not only does this mouse elevate your wrist to relieve wrist pressure and realign your arm and upper body for better posture, but it also has four customizable buttons, scroll modes of varying speed and precision, and can connect to up to three devices, allowing users to work across Multiple devices at once.
The Logitech ergonomic vertical mouse is available for small to medium hands on Amazon For $70For medium and large hands, Logitech MX is available on Amazon for $100.
Canva Pro subscription
Price: $120 in Canva
Canvas, an online graphic design platform, is the first site I open in the morning when I log in and the last thing I close every day when I log out. It’s helped me take TechCrunch’s social media presence to the next level.
Whether someone works in social media, graphic design, or simply needs to create beautiful presentations, a Canva Pro subscription is a great gift option (and much cheaper than other creative software suites).
With a range of “magical” AI-powered tools, Canva is the perfect platform for any creative worker working from home.
To get the best value for your money, I recommend the available Canva Pro annual subscription Exclusively on Canvas For $119.99.
Bonus gift idea
I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t go out on a limb to make sure the remote worker in your life stays up to date on the latest tech news by having them follow TechCrunch’s social channels. It’s a free gift that keeps on giving – and who doesn’t love freebies?
See you in the comment sections!
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