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If You Dread Going To The Office, Here Are 33 Products To Make It More Pleasant

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · Pretty sure these squishy, squeezable Monkey Noodles toys are all you need to get through the workday. 1. A HappyLight sunlamp designed to (artificially) produce the benefits of sunlight — like a better mood and regulated circadian rhythm — even if you're basically inside 24/7 or manage to miss all six hours of daylight during the winter. Amazon Promising review:"I work from home at night. I never see the light of day during the winter. This light has been a joy to have and gives great light at my desk to work with with the benefit of mimicking sun exposure. It's very easy to use and to replace bulbs." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (clip the $10 off coupon on the product page for this price). 2. A set of floppy disk coasters so you can protect your desk from moisture and condensation in cute, old-school style. Throwback to the good old days when there was no such thing as having to check your email. *sighs nostalgically* Amazon Promising review:"These coasters are really cool in my book. They are fun to play with and the colors are fun as well. Definitely a cool gift for office folks and IT geeks." — Terry H Get a set of six from Amazon for $11.99. 3. A set of highly popular wireless Bluetooth earbuds if you want AirPods-like performance for just a fraction of the price. Reviewers say the sound quality is equally as impressive and the fit is super comfy, making them ideal for long work days. Amazon These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge). Promising review:"I work remotely and use these for all-day Zoom calls. I love the quality, comfortable fit, sound, and noise cancelling features. I will say the noise cancelling isn't 100% proof, but I'm not looking for that. I want to be able to hear around me in case someone in my house needs me." — Ali R. Get it from Amazon $18.99+ (available in two styles and six colors). 4. Plus a pair of Bluetooth-enabled noise-cancelling over-the-ear headphones because you want zero distractions while working. These will effectively block out all extraneous noise *and* send the message to your co-workers that you are not to be bothered right just don't get the hint when you're wearing earbuds. Promising review:"I recently found the need for over the ear noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones three days a week, four hours at a time. I needed them to be comfortable, possess strong noise cancelling capabilities, sound good and be of good quality without an exaggerated price. They sound great, are very comfortable for extended periods, pair easily with Apple products and the noise-cancelling capabilities are very good. The economical price makes these a tremendous value. I highly recommend l these even compared to the many models costing twice as much." — M. de La Torre Get it from Amazon for $43.55+ (available in four colors). 5. A mini inflatable tube guy ready to be your motivational coach and dancing cheerleader. Guarantee a few minutes of his silly swaying will boost your mood (and hopefully get you back on track with that work project). Promising review:"When I turn it on it always make everyone at the office laugh. We will take it and sit it on someone's desk when they are having a bad day and it always cheers them up." — dawn poythree Get it from Amazon for $8.58. 6. An expanding file folder with tabs so you can ~aesthetically~ organize all your important paperwork, which will no doubt maximize your productivity during the workday. Plus, you'll feel like a boss for being on top of everything. Amazon, Promising review:"I bought this folder to keep our family documents organized and in one place. There are just the right amount of tabs for our birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, car titles, will, etc. This folder is small enough that you can lock it in a home safe or safety deposit box. I let a couple of family members know where I keep this so that they can access it in case of an emergency. It is such a relief knowing that all these things are together and organized. I'm glad I bought this." — Katie Get it from Amazon for $5.78 (available in 13 colors). 7. A mini illuminated relaxation waterfall offering calm, soothing vibes, aka precisely what you need after a very stressful, very frustrating meeting with THAT boss or co-worker. Promising review:"Awesome addition to my workspace environment. I've tried several fountains so far. This one is awesome, the pump is quiet, as is the water, it simply provides a really nice environmental impact on my workspace. I run it up to eight hours in a day, use distilled water only and clean it periodically, and it's running just like new after several weeks. Not all of the fountains that I've tried work quite so well, I'm impressed and happy with this purchase." — Rod Get it from Amazon for $23.99. 8. A Bentgo stackable lunch container for anyone who's trying to save money by packing lunch for the office. This leakproof container has separate compartments for salad, fixings, and dressing or whatever kind of "Girl Dinner" charcuterie-esque lunch you put together. Amazon Promising review:"I absolutely love these salad containers. My fiancé and I have big appetites, but try to eat healthy. These containers fit a ton of salad greens and all sizes of toppings — nuts, beans, cheese, fruits, meats, pasta, etc. They make packing lunch easy. Just throw in some greens, a protein, a dressing, and toppings that make salad fun for you! We use ours several times per week and they make it to both our jobs without spilling or leaking. I walk and ride public transit, so mine gets tossed around a bit. Several of my friends and coworkers have bought them after seeing mine!" — izzo Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in eight colors). 9. An adorably encouraging daily planner designed to help you stay on top of things, both in and out of the office. Use it to jot down your top priorities, write to-do lists, note appointment dates, meal plan, and even record workouts and other accomplishments. Who needs a personal assistant when this exists? Not you. Each planner comes with 50 tear-off sheets the size of a standard piece of paper. Bliss Collections is a family-owned, Wisconsin-based business established in 2012 that specializes in stationery, planners and pads, and drinkware. Promising review:"These daily planning sheets keep this mama on TRACK! I started out printing daily planning and schedule sheets from a free download on my computer. Then I realized why not just buy some already printed so I save my ink at home. I found these and love how the day, schedule, tasks, and health habits are organized. I've already reordered once and will continue to use these." — Shannon Hoglund Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in four sizes and various styles). 10. A quirky flexible flower vase that allows you to bend and twist its various limbs to create all kinds of funky-but-adorable designs. Even if nothing else gets you excited to go in to work, this little bud just might. Promising review: "An affable, squishy, bendy, happy little vase! The consensus on my social media page is that everyone should have one of these. I finally got a chance to try it out with some daffodils, and really, it's hard not to smile when you see them." — Susy Lundy Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three colors). 11. An affordable sunrise alarm clock so you won't feel like you're waking up in the middle of the night (ugh, why is still dark out at 7 a.m. this time of year? 🙄). This awakens you gently with a gradually brightening warm light, just like the rising sun. This can be programmed with seven different light settings, seven different calming "wake up" noises, and to start gradually lighting up at 30, 20, or 10 minutes before you wake. Promising review:"I got this recommendation from TikTok and it really has helped especially with Oregon winters where the sun is not out by the time the alarm rings. It has several peaceful alarm settings and even has night music to put you to sleep. The sunrise with the alarm piano is what I play to wake me up every morning and it is a way better way than to wake up to an annoying phone alarm." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $38.98+ (available in three colors). 12. A six-outlet wall charger featuring six outlets *and* two USB fast-charging ports because you've got several devices and can't risk them dying at inopportune say, during your Teams meeting or an important phone call with a client. Promising review:"Need something simple so I could plug in all the electronics at my desk. This is much nicer than just a standard power strip since it doesn't add any more cords to the chaos. Plugs are angled enough that they don't get in the way of you have several things plugged in. For reference I usually have my laptop charger, monitor, Google Home mini, lamp, and phone charger plugged in at any given point in time. Night-light is a nice addition." — Samantha Get it from Amazon for $17.97 (available in three colors and two styles). 13. A cold brew coffee maker to whip up cold, strong, and delicious coffee all on your own. Just stick your favorite ground coffee in the filter, screw on the lid, and let it ~brew~ overnight. Come morning, you'll have four cups of cold brew ready to enjoy at the office (just make sure you label it because folks might assume it's "for-the-office" coffee). Takeya is a small business that specializes in water bottles and pitchers. Promising review: "I purchased this to make cold brew coffee at the office. My coworkers and I were going to the local siren at least 3–4 times a week for our afternoon pick me up. It was starting to become a serious drain financially. We all chipped in to get this pitcher and take turns buying beans. Get them ground for a French press, or super coarse, and you'll have a pretty good replica. The instructions for making cold brew are pretty easy. We've seriously cut down our caffeine expenditures by 50%–75%. Now if we could figure out a way to order out less :)." — DT Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two sizes and two colors). 14. A user-friendly hexagonal productivity timer since it just might help you be more productive during the day. It has six present countdown times, any of which you can start simply by flipping the timer on its side. There's even a "mute" mode if you don't want to disturb your coworkers. Promising review:"Love love love this product. Simple design, works great. I time myself during writing sessions so I'm not sitting in long stretches. This little timer is perfectly shaped and has several pre-programmed time options. Highly recommend." — Mimi Foster Get it from Amazon for $41.99 (available in three colors). 15. A set of erasable pens so you can add some bright and bold COLOR to your work life, even if a mistake or two is probably inevitable. Bonus: these are compatible with the reusable Rocketbook notebook! Promising review:"These pens are freaking fantastic! For someone who can't spell to save her life, it helps that I can have the look and feel of a pen with the ability to correct my mistakes, without having to cross stuff out and have the whole thing look messy. They're super cute colors too!!" — Daniel Macaluso Get a set of seven from Amazon for $13.19+ (available with fine or extra fine tips). 16. A memory foam seat cushion because your backside needs some extra special support to make it through an entire day of sitting at your desk. Many reviewers say it significantly reduces back pain. Promising review:"A few weeks into working from home five days a week I started having a lot of hip/leg/back pain. In the early afternoons my lower back would start cramping. I did some research and bought this pillow and it immediately helped! What really drove me to write this review was that yesterday, unknowingly, I worked all day sitting on my chair without my cushion. I had removed it to use as a spare chair at my dinner table and forgot to put it back. At the end of the day hip was aching and I realized why! Today it's back on my chair and I'm already feeling better." — Lorene Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in five colors). 17. A pair of compression gloves that can help alleviate joint pain from arthritis, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel, any of which could be the reason your hands and wrists absolutely ache when you type on the computer. ComfyBrace is a small business that specializes in pain-relieving compression products. Promising review: "This glove (I wore only right side) worked very well for the post-surgery nerve pain. After the surgery, I had the nerve pain on my right index finger and could not focus during work. The combination of this glove and small hand warmers helped me feel less pain for six weeks. It dries quickly after washing, too. I strongly recommend this product." — TJ Get a pair from Amazon for $9.97 (available in four sizes). 18. A Petcube pet monitoring camera since the hardest part of going to the office is having to leave your precious furbabies home alone. This has a wide angle and night vision, so you can always see what they're up to, but better yet, the two-way audio lets you talk to them from afar, too. They have one with a built-in treat dispenser if you want more remotely-controlled fun! Amazon Petcube is a California-based small business established in 2012 that specializes in interactive HD pet camera products. It's also app enabled and can send you instant notifications, sync with Amazon Alexa, and even access a vet on demand if you notice any weird behaviors. Promising review:"Unbeatable for the money. I needed a way to keep an eye on a new 4-month-old puppy who keeps digging holes in my yard. I didn't expect a lot for $39 but I was pleasantly surprised. The video is quick to get started and very clear, zoom is quick, and the night vision actually works. I haven't used any of the other features yet but these alone make this a great value! Far exceeding what I expected." — Rick Grisham Get it from Amazon for $31.99 (Get the treats-dispensing Petcube Bites 2 for $79.99). 19. A handy under-the-desk headphone mount and USB charger so you can store your headphones out of the way and declutter all the charging cords scattered about your desk. Promising review:"Simple straightforward product. Easy to mount and run wires to a power source. Works awesome under my standing desk and adds additional USB support for my gear." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in two styles). 20. Plus an under-the-desk phone holder because even just a quick glance at your phone somehow turns into endless scrolling on like a moth flying into the light; you can't help it. The only solution is to keep your phone out-of-sight and therefore out-of-mind. Beyond 3D Creations / Etsy Beyond 3D Creations is an Massachusetts-based Etsy shop established in 2020 that specializes in 3D-printed desk accessories. Promising review:"This is definitely a hit! Now I'm so used to reaching my phone from this holder without looking down at my desk, and my screentime has decreased a lot during day time. This really helps in terms of being more efficient so that I can finish my work early and get more me time back at the end of the day. Highly recommend it if you want to be less distracted while working!" — Shelby Cedrone Get it from Beyond 3D Creations on Etsy for $11.88+ (available in six colors, custom sizing available). 21. A convertible standing desk riser if you don't necessarily want to invest in a sit/stand desk but still want the flexibility to change up your work position. It's a great way to get the blood flowing, which just might lead to new ideas and innvotion! Tech Orbits is a small business that specializes in desk converters and office accessories. Promising review: "I've been looking at these for months and finally decided to buy one. Super happy with my purchase. I didn't want to replace my entire work desk so I opted for this. The entire unit slides up and down easily. Plenty of room around the monitor for speakers, pens, notes, even a fan. easily assembly. Not too heavy. I've really enjoyed being able to stand at my desk. I've been struggling with lower back pain and standing more seems to be helping. I find myself wanting to stand more often than I thought." — halaly Get it from Amazon for $119.99+ (available in four colors and four styles). 22. And an investment-worthy standing desk anti-fatigue mat for anyone who *does* decide to work on their feet. This one is specifically designed for #officelife with an ergonomic, cushioned terrain that adjusts to subtle shifts in foot placement and helps encourage small movements to stetch and massage the feet throughout the day. Amazon ErgoDriven is a US-based small business specializing in workplace ergonomics. Promising review:"Really nice mat, helps with leg and back fatigue. I stand up 50 percent of the time at my desk and I can feel the difference in the two weeks I've had this product. It seems to have the right balance of comfort and support. It is a little pricey compared to other brands, but it is very solidly made and it appears it will last a long time. Worth the extra money, in my opinion." — Jeff Get it from Amazon for $99+ (available in three colors). Psst — you can check out a mini version for more compact spaces for $69 on Amazon! 23. A Stojo collapsible travel cup that's ~practically perfect in every way~...well, at least for the office worker. It keeps drinks insulated and warm but can also be reheated in the microwave should your coffee get cold after an unneccessarily long meeting. Check out a TikTok of the Stojo collapsible cup in action. Stojo is a small business that specializes in dishwasher-, microwave-safe storage and travel products with the goal of eliminating single-use plastics. Promising review:"I take my lunch to work and during midday I like to use the Keurig to brew a cup of coffee. The 12-ounce Stojo cup I purchased is very practical. It is thick and durable. The plastic collar enables you to hold the cup without squeezing it or burning your hands on the hot walls of the cup. There is enough volume in the cup to allow for the 12-ounce brew plus ample creamer. It's not a stainless vacuum cup, but it does hold its temperature better than your typical gas station or coffee shop cup. Plus you have the advantage of being able to reheat your drink in the microwave which you can't do with a stainless cup. — ViciousCycle Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in four sizes/styles and 28 colors). 24. A dimmable sad duck nightlight to give you a good chuckle (or perhaps a ~quackle~) when you're feeling a bit overwhelmed at work yourself — at least you're doing better than this lil' bud! Amazon Promising review:"I got this lil' guy to illuminate my desk when our office started getting dark around 4 PM. I have gotten SO many compliments on him. People love the fact that he's squishy, and that his little legs are floppy. And, of course, how can you beat the thousand-yard-stare of this little duck who has clearly given up on everything? The battery life is so-so, but luckily the USB-C port is the same as my laptop charger, so I can just charge it on my desk during the day, and turn it on in the afternoon/evening. He's a squishy, depressed duck. What's not to love?" — Caitlyn Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in three styles). 25. A pair of blue light–blocking glasses if your eyes start to feel a bit 😵‍💫 by the end of the day. These work to help alleviate eye strain and even headaches caused by staring at screens constantly (and sadly, it's not just your computer screen creating issues but also your phone, tablet, and TV screens). Promising review:"I am not sure why everyone doesn't own blue light reducing glasses. These should be as essential as toilet paper. I spend my life on my laptop, phone, tablet (don't judge, I'm a student) and these have been a lifesaver. I can start writing a paper at 8 a.m. and stare at my screen until 8 p.m., getting nothing done but social media research, and my eyes aren't tired AT ALL!" — Valery Get a pack of two from Amazon for $15.98 (available in eight color sets). 26. A set of Monkey Noodles because it turns out toys aren't just fun for kids but also for stressed-out adult office workers! You can stretch, pull, twirl, whirl, wrap, and squeeze these silly sensory toys to your heart's delight and hopefully work out any frustration or anxiety in the process. Promising review:"This is my absolute favorite fidget! I'm an adult with autism and ADHD. I carry one around with me everywhere I go. It definitely assists me in staying calm/still while I'm at work. I've recommended it to several friends!" — KaelynnVP Get a set of five from Amazon for $12.99. 27. Plus the "Ono Roller," which is an adult-geared fidget toy meant to stimulate focus and reduce anxiety through its smooth, quiet rolling. Reviewers say its super durable and love how satisfying it feels! Amazon, Ono is a small business specializing in compact, work-friendly fidgets for focus and stress relief. Promising review: "I have had ADHD since I was a small child, and this is the only thing I've ever found that helps me focus. It's quiet, durable, and keeps my mind occupied so I can focus (ADHD people will understand what I mean by that). A bit pricey, but worth every penny in my opinion!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in 10 colors and various sizes, including a junior size for kids and people with smaller hands). 28. A teeny-tiny portable cactus humidifier that's not only adorable as desktop decor but also keeps the air moist and hydrating. Plus, it connects via USB so you can easily plug it in directly to your computer or a nearby phone charger! Amazon Promising review:"I LOVE these little humidifiers! I bought my first one to use at my desk at work, because the air is so dry in the building, and it has been a godsend. Not only does it help keep my sinuses happier, but it looks great too. I bought a second one for my nightstand that I use while I sleep at night, and they both work perfectly." — Selene Schneider Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 29. A low-impact under-the-desk elliptical to help you get your steps in as you answer a bajillion emails. Multi-tasking, we love to see it. It also comes with a digital display that tracks time, speed, and distance, as well as eight different modes of resistance, so you can tailor it exactly to your needs. Promising review:"No assembly required! Took right out of the box and put it under my desk. Spend long hours on the computer and suffer from hip and leg pain. Use the exerciser on and off all day especially first thing in the morning to loosen up joints. Felt the different in just a couple of days. Just what I needed." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $96.99+ (available in five styles). 30. A clever rearview desk mirror so you're never caught offguard by a *surprise* visit from your boss. Of course, it also works as a regular mirror too so you can make sure you look your best when the office cutie walks by. Promising review:"I have a home office, and when I'm working from home, I like to have the TV on for background noise. Every now and then I'll hear something that I'll want to see, and now I don't need to stop working to turn my chair around and see — just put this on the shelf that holds my monitor, and now I can just glance over and keep working. It clips on easily, adjusts easily (my cat will come up and rub against it putting it out of whack)." — Robin M. Padon Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three styles). 31. An adjustable foam footrest since it's a simple and affordable way to improve hip, leg, and lower back pain often caused from sitting at a desk. Plus! It flips over to act as a rocking footrest, which is a real gift for super fidgety folks. Amazon Promising review:"Perfect foot rest, soft and comfortable. I work 10-hour days in my home office and this keeps me in my chair and on the job. Prior to purchasing this foot rest I experienced foot discomfort while sitting at my desk. It has been eliminated." — Katie Vento Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in five colors and two styles). 32. A transparent monitor attachment you can attach all your sticky notes to, which will help clear up the clutter on your workspace *and* keep your notes directly in eyesight. Amazon Each of the attachments has a sticky film that's strong enough to adhere it to your monitor, but easy enough to remove that it won't damage it. Promising review:"I have 568 stickies on any given day, and this is exactly what I needed to keep myself organized. They came packaged nicely, had no cracks or scratches, and were easy to adhere to. The adhesive is awesome. It's not going anywhere!!! I recommend this to anyone like me who needs a cool place for their notes. You will be the envy of your coworkers!" — Avid Dancer Get it from Amazon for $5.97. 33. A sophisticated laptop tote bag because clunky backpacks are out and stylish, spacious totes are in. And like any good purse, it fits way more than it rightfully should: laptop, phone, charger, wallet, book, small water bottle, keys, and all those other-random-things-you-have-to-bring-with-you. Promising review: "It's much more spacious than it looks. It's very sleek and stylish. I use it as my work bag and I find that it looks professional and has enough space for all of my stuff. I carry a laptop, pencil case, two books, makeup bag, water bottle, wallet, lotion, phone and laptop charger, and other small miscellaneous objects. Still plenty of space. And when you see carry it, it doesn't feel bulky or cumbersome. The bag does sag a bit after use. But has held up to wear and tear. I would recommend." — Su Get it from Amazon for $34.86 (available in nine styles). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.