Part of celebrating the holidays is the dreaded coworker Secret Santa. Depending on the name you draw, you may get someone you know very well, or you may turn up a colleague you don't know very well, and just because you spend at least 8 hours a day at the office doesn't mean you know everyone there well enough to buy them a gift. Here are a few Lifehacker suggestions for your office Secret Santa so you give a gift that's useful, saves them time and energy, and most importantly doesn't suck.
As with most office Secret Santas and gift exchanges, there's a cap on how much you should spend on the items you plan to give your coworkers. For our purposes, nothing in our roundup will exceed $20.
Whitey Notes ($0.99/$3.99/$9.99/$19.99)
We mentioned the Whitey Notes a while ago as a great way to jot down notes on notepads or sticky notes that can be easily erased and rewritten over and over again with a simple whiteboard marker. The Whitey Notes make a great gift for a colleague who needs some space to make notes, and while the simple post-it notes are less than a dollar, the larger notepads will set you back about $3.99. If your coworker has some wall space in their cubicle or office, you can pick up a 1 ft x 1.5ft adhesive Whitey Board for $9.99, and a larger 2 ft x 3 ft version for $19.99, more than enough space to give them room to jot down their upcoming tasks or organize their thoughts and ideas. If you really like your coworker and the two of you have long brainstorming sessions (or just play Pictionary at the office) then pick up their whiteboard paint, which lets you turn a whole wall into a writing and drawing space.
IngenuiTEA Teapot ($19)
We've discussed what caffeine actually does to you, and how to even wake up without it, but if your favorite colleague is trying to kick the habit but can't seem to manage it, maybe a shift from coffee to tea is in order. The IngenuiTEA Teapot is the perfect gift for tea lovers and for anyone interested in drinking a cup of tea that didn't start life a s a tea bag. You'll need to pick up some loose leaf tea to brew in the IngenuiTEA, but using it is simple: add the loose leaf tea to the pot, add hot water, let the tea steep, and them place the IngenuiTEA on top of your mug. Gravity does the rest, and the tea drains from the bottom into your mug, giving you a perfectly brewed cup every time.
Your Magnet ($7)
Cable management is a problem we all struggle with, especially if you have a laptop with a half-dozen cords and cables sprouting from the side of your laptop. The Your Magnet on the other hand, is a simple cable management solution that attaches to the back of your laptop or desk with suction cups and routes the cables through one place. We've highlighted it before, and it's available in five different colors to match your coworker's style. At it's price, one or two in a gift bag to a coworker gives them the gift of an organized, tidy workspace and gives you the gift of a cleaner desk to look at when you stop by their desk.
Bonsai Tree ($20)
One of the best ways to brighten up an otherwise dull office or cubicle is to add a few plants, and thankfully there are some plants that will survive virtually any environment, whether your office is bright, dimly lit, close or far away from the window. Thankfully, a bonsai tree, or a slightly more expensive Jade bonsai, will survive most office environments as long as you keep it well watered. This particular bonsai is just over $20 on Amazon, but you can find them in multiple price ranges depending on your office gift exchange's budget. Alternatively, you can pick up a much more common Lucky Bamboo for a bit less money, around $14. A little greenery to brighten up an otherwise dreary office desk will make any workday a little better.
TiltPod ($15)
The previously mentioned Tiltpod is a fantastic way to set up your point-and-shoot camera or miniature camcorder to record a shot on any surface. The Tiltpod itself is incredibly small, and can be carried in a spare pocket in your backpack or camera bag. When you're ready to use it, just screw the magnetic screw into the base of the camera, and set it where you want your shot. If you have a coworker that's a photo fan, it's a great gift that lets them get out from behind the camera every once in a while.
Tapehoooks ($13)
If you work in a cubicle, even the kind with the short walls, the best way to organize is to make use of your vertical space as well as your desk area. Instead of watching your colleagues hang their keys, access cards, or other personal effects on their cubicle walls with push-pins or thumbtacks, why not offer them something a bit more decorative and interesting this holiday season? We've mentioned the tapehooks before, but they're still great, wall-safe options for home and office that stick strong and are sturdy enough to carry pens, pencils, keys, and other light jewelry like access cards and badges on lanyards, but come off easily if you want to remove or reposition them. Plus, they come in a variety of colors to match your coworker's style.
ResQMe ($10)
The ResQMe, available at Amazon for less than 10 bucks, is one of our favorite gifts for people with loved ones who are of driving age, or for colleagues you know have long commutes every day to and from the office. Give the gift of safety. The ResQMe is a combination windshield hammer and seat belt cutter that can attach to your keychain so you never forget it or leave it behind at home when you head out for the office. Best of all, it's an affordable gift you can give to anyone in your office that will mean a lot to them and their families.
Whiskey Stones ($20)
If your colleague likes a fine whiskey now and again, or if you're even lucky enough to share a finger or two at work now and again, a set of Whiskey Stones may be a great gift to your colleagues. We've mentioned them before and how great they are for chilling your whiskey a bit without diluting it with ice. Just pop them in your freezer for a while and then add them to your glass before pouring a drink. Plus, at their price point, they make an excellent gift.
Apple Cores ($1.99/$2.99/$4.99)
If you're considering giving your colleague the gift of cable management and organization, Apple Cores can coil up any slack cable attached to your headphones, your mouse or keyboard, your phone's charging cable, or any other cable you may have a little too much slack on. They're available in small, medium, and large, and they're affordable enough that you can mix and match depending on the amount of clutter your colleague has on their desk, or how many peripherals they own.
Stoppy Door Stop ($8)
The Stoppy door stop is made by the same folks who are behind the Hang and Level picture hanging tool, and while you might not think of a door stop as a gift, this little comma-shaped door stop works to hold open doors of all shapes, sizes, and thicknesses. You can nestle the Stoppy under the bottom of the door where a traditional door stop would go, but you can also park it in between the door body and the frame to keep it open. When I last spoke to the inventor of the Stoppy, she noted that some people even use it as a stress ball, since it's squishable rubber outer shape is reinforced with molded steel to make sure it keeps its shape.
Hang and Level ($14)
We mentioned the Hang and Level not too long ago, but if you have a colleague that's recently moved house or is a fan of home decorating, this is the gift for them, and it doesn't cost very much to give. Alternatively, if you have a colleague that's just moved into a new office, the Hang and Level can help them decorate their new office.
Tipping Teacup ($20)
If you prefer to have your tea in individual servings as opposed to mugs full at a time, the Tipping Teacup is a $20 gift that's perfect for people who are beginners to the world of tea but aren't ready for an addition to their kitchen that's designed for loose tea brewing. The Tipping Teacup fits neatly anywhere, standing by for anytime you'd like to try a cup of freshly brewed tea, and it makes for a perfect gift for anyone interested in getting into tea.
AGloves ($18)
Almost everyone has a smartphone these days, but with the holidays here and the cold weather upon us, it's difficult to use those smartphones when you're outdoors waiting for a train, walking home from the office, or just out enjoying the winter weather. Give your colleague a pair of AGloves: they're well within most office gift exchange budgets, and we've mentioned them before as a great way to get some use out of your smartphone without freezing your fingers off in the process.
KOR Delta BPA-Free Water Bottle ($13)
We've discussed several times how important it is to stay hydrated, but why not give your colleagues a good looking way to do it at the office. This 750 ml water bottle comes in an array of colors (some of which go over our $20 price cap, so be careful), is affordable enough to give as a gift, and looks good on your colleagues desk. Plus, it's easy to pop the top and refill or clean. If you know someone at work who's trying to make a healthy change in their lives, help them get started with one of these.
Airzooka Air Gun ($13):
If your ofifce is the fun and informal type, the type with a flair for a little office warfare and fun, the Airzooka Air Gun is a perfect gift for a colleague that you know is up for a good time and a little destressing in between projects and long bouts of work. Just make sure you also get one for yourself, in case they come after you first.
These are just a few options that will make your colleague's day when they open them, and keep you well within the budget for your office's gift exchange. Do you have any of the items above? Planning on adding them to your own wishlist? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
peter marshall peter marshall zombie boy zombie boy harvard yale julia child the descendants
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.