Over the last few years with the pandemic and all of the changes that came with it, many of our careers have shifted to full-time working from home. The introverted homebody in me loves working from home and now that I’ve been doing it for a while, I feel like I have a good idea of what is really helpful to have and what isn’t. For example, nice smelling candles are great but do they help me focus better? No, they don’t. Here are five very practical gifts that have enhanced my work experience for the work from home mom in your life.
An Insulated Water Bottle
Hydration is key. I find if I don’t have easily accessible water on my desk I go way too long without drinking. So I always have a water bottle nearby. This Stanley water bottle is the one that I have now, I really like it because it also fits in my car’s cup holder. Yes, this is one of the bottles you can’t stop seeing on Instagram. Another one of my favorites is Hydroflask. I had my last Hydroflask for about five years and took it everywhere with me. There are so many different bottles on the market, find the right size for you (I like at least 32 oz) and make sure it is insulated so the water stays at your preferred temperature.
A Wall Calendar
I can’t tell you the number of times someone has asked me about a date during a meeting and I either had to grab my phone to see what next Thursday’s date was or click around to open up my email. After I added a calendar on my wall I realized how many times I glance at it throughout the day! The Essential Calendar is a Mom Hour favorite (and that’s an affiliate link) where you can see the quarter at a glance. I have also linked a whiteboard monthly version for those who prefer to only see one month at a time. I keep big appointments here (anything that would interfere with work hours) so I have everything visible that I need to consider when scheduling meetings and appointments.
A Set Of Head Phones
There are so many uses for headphones or earbuds when you’re working from home. I like to use them for calls without video so I can move around. If your kids are also home enter *noise canceling* magic so you can focus. There are so many different types from earbuds to over-the-ear and a range of price points available. I personally like Apple Airpods because they work with all my devices and fit my ears well. But some people prefer over-the-ear style or bud type. Here are some highly rated over-the-ear headphones at a lower price point, and some highly rated earbuds as well.
A Pair Of Slippers
What’s the point of working from home if you’re not comfortable? I love the feeling of cozy slippers on a cold morning and bonus, I can wear them all day because I’m not walking around an office! These Bombas Gripper Slippers are the ones that I use and they’re my favorite, they aren’t a traditional soled type, but more of a sock/slipper. If you’re into the more traditional slipper, our very own Sarah Powers is basically a J. Crew slipper influencer and swears by these and they’re almost always running a great sale on them.
A Gift Card For Lunch
One of my favorite things about working from home is that I can make myself lunch or snacks in the comfort of my own kitchen. No packing or planning required. But sometimes I’m in back to back meetings all day, we’re low on groceries, or nothing sounds good and a nice little lunch delivery really does the trick to get me through a long day. A gift card for a favorite local lunch spot or a delivery service is a great gift that will likely save the day for your person in the near future.
I love a practical gift. It might not be super trendy or flashy (see insulated water bottle) but the practical gifts are the ones that I think really can make an impact on a loved one’s day to day life. Hopefully this list of five practical gifts for the work from home mom in your life helps spark some inspiration during this gift-giving season!
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