29 Products That’ll Help Make Office Life A Little Less Annoying
Because sometimes home office life is just as annoying as real office life.
BuzzFeed Staff
BuzzFeed Staff
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A document clip so you can stop looking down every time you need to reference that "Excel for Dummies" guide you printed out. Or maybe that's just me.
It holds up to 30 sheets of paper and can swing back and forth.
Promising review: "This lightweight arm holds at least 20 pages without falling out. I use this to prioritize things I need to get done and it keeps me from losing paper in piles. I have neck issues because I am constantly looking down and this keeps my head up and makes data entry easier because it's right next to the screen. It also pivots so I can adjust the angle." —Life Is Short
Get it from Amazon for $10.73.
2. An essential oil stick with peppermint, spearmint, and lavender to soothe the headache caused by your chatty co-worker... or your roommate.
Read our review of the Migrastil headache relief stick!
Promising review: "I have had tension and migraine headaches for around 20 years. I have tried everything. OTC medication, prescription medication, pain injections, chiropractor etc... This topical oil has given me relief for nearly six weeks now. I have only had two to three headaches in that time, and they were mild. I ordered more already so I have some in my car and at home, and I bought some for two of my friends who suffer from chronic migraines. I would recommend this product to anyone with migraines. It is phenomenal." —Mary D.
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
3. A mini Crock-Pot that will keep your lunch warm all day long, because it's time to start loving yourself and stop eating room temperature chili.
It has a 20-ounce capacity, a dishwasher-safe removable container, and a spill-proof lid.
Promising review: "Love this food warmer. I use it for lunch and dinner at work every day. I meal prep by freezing big batches of food in small freezer-bags and place them inside of coffee mugs so the food is in a shape that will fit in the Crock-Pot. I let the food cook from frozen for about two hours and it comes out perfectly." —Karen w.
Get it from Amazon for $25.67+ (available in five colors).
4. A memory foam seat cushion and lumbar pillow because that cheap office chair you bought at the start of the pandemic isn't comfortable and you deserve better.
The cover is removable and washable.
Promising review: "I am now using my memory foam seat cushion with the lumbar pillow, they perfectly complete each other and transformed my old office chair into a premium orthopedic chair sold in ergonomic furniture stores. The lumbar pillow supports my posture and the seat cushion relieves sitting pain. I don't think I can ever go back to sitting long hours without these two. Planning on getting a second set for my dad as a Father's Day gift." —Mario
Get them from Amazon: the lumbar pillow for $22.05 and the seat cushion for $25.45.
5. Motivational stress balls you can squeeze when you get yet another passive aggressive e-mail from your co-worker. Just do as the all-knowing stress ball says: focus, listen, and breathe.
6. A quiet little desk fan for those moments when you need to cool off. Or if you just need to get your Mariah Carey on and have a hair-blowing-in-the-wind moment.
7. A mousepad with gel support because your wrist deserves to be pampered and supported for all the pointless e-mails it has to help you scroll through.
Promising review: "This mouse pad is like Gandalf the White! It has alleviated a lot of my wrist pain and I find myself resting my hand on it even when I'm not using my mouth. It has straightened out the alignment of my hand and I'm no longer lowering my wrist while working with my mouse. I can absolutely tell the difference if I'm on my normal mouse pad at home; it's good (Gandalf the Grey) but it ain't great. I need to buy another one for my home office and for my mom. If you're hesitating, don't. Buy it and your wrist will thank you." —R. Quigley
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in 53 designs).
8. A pack of mint-flavored energy gum that has just as much caffeine as half a cup of coffee, which is just the right amount for that 3 p.m. slump.
Read our review of NeuroGum (#2 on the list)!
Promising review: "I normally drink a cup of coffee before I work out in the morning, but found NeuroGum to be a quicker and cheaper alternative. It tastes pretty good, and the caffeine kicks in super fast. I'll definitely be stocking up on this gum from here on out to get me going in the morning." —Dan Scime
Get nine six-packs from Amazon for $21 (available in two flavors and two size options).
9. A pair of noise-isolating headphones that will help you drown out your co-workers... even if your co-workers at the moment are just your noisy neighbors.
Promising review: "I waited over a month to write this review because I thought no way could these headphones actually be this good for the price. But I use them all day everyday and I have never been more impressed with headphones under $50... I have sensitive ears with headphones and am super picky but these are so comfortable I can sleep in them." —Whitney O'Neil
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in eight colors).
It's our cheap pick for the best over-ear Bluetooth headphones on BuzzFeed Reviews!
10. A cascading wall organizer to keep up with all of those important documents you have scattered all over your desk right now.
Each pocket each holds up to 25 sheets.
Promising review: "This thing was a fantastic find. I have a decent-sized desk but have a lot of papers to reference frequently. I’ve tried all kinds of ways to organize them so I don’t have to flip through every single one to find the one I’m looking for, but nothing worked. I bought this and hung it on the wall next to my monitors, and now I can see everything I need at a glance! It has made my work flow so much more efficient and it also added some color to my wall! I’ve recommended it to everyone in my office." —Lauren_Schuby
Get it from Amazon for $12.23+ (available in three colors and two-pack options).
11. A set of feather pens that give you all the ~aesthetic~ of an old-school quill without the hassle of having to dip it in ink every 10 seconds.
Promising review: "I purchased these pens to give my co-workers for Valentine’s Day. I wasn’t expecting much because of the price and thought they would be more of a novelty item. However, they are very decent pens. Writes very smoothly, but the ink flow isn’t so much that it bleeds through paper. It will smear if touched immediately, but dries within four to five seconds. I know most people aren’t looking to buy these because they want a decent pen, but it will probably help people to know that they are decent pens." —KCinOK
Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $8.99.
12. Or a pen with a gorgeous crown on top so you can let everyone know who the queen of the office is. You might just be inspired to write your office's own version of Lady Whistledown's Society Papers.
TheFinePrintPaperie is a Black-owned, woman-owned Etsy shop based in California.
Get it from TheFinePrintPaperie on Etsy for $4.49 (available in seven colors).
13. OR a shimmery gold pen with a fluffy pom-pom on top that will make you want to grab your best plaid skirt and channel your inner Cher Horowitz.
TheFinePrintPaperie is a Black-owned, woman-owned Etsy shop based in California.
Get it from TheFinePrintPaperie on Etsy for $3.49 (available in three colors).
14. A ceramic mug warmer, because tea should always be served piping hot and life is way too short for room temperature coffee.
Promising review: "I'm a very slow tea/coffee drinker, so having this mini hot plate is amazing. I can have hot tea until the last sip! Life-changing. I use it every day. I'm using it as I write this review. I drink more tea because I know it won't get cold and sad. My roommates all want one now." —PDT
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
15. A pair of computer glasses that are designed to minimize eye strain caused by blue light emitted from digital screens and fluorescent lighting. So basically, you can say goodbye to mid-afternoon headaches ruining your workflow.
Promising review: "These glasses are great. They look sharp, and they're not tinted so much that they alter color perception. I work in an office setting and after just one day of wearing these glasses, I noticed an improvement in my eye health. My eyes no longer hurt, water, itch, or feel bleached out after staring at a computer screen for hours on end. Highly recommended!" —Ariele Monzo
Get them from Amazon for $17.99.
16. An adjustable stand so your phone is always visible and at the right angle for any unexpected FaceTime calls.
Read our full review of this phone stand (#4 on the list)!
Here's an excerpt: "It has a sleek but pretty, not-too-pink champagne-y rose gold body, an adjustable stand (so you can position it to your height perfectly), and a hole in the back you can snake a cord through for easy charging. The ledge is wide enough to fit a fairly substantial case without worry, and it's a game-changer that I can just look at the screen to unlock my phone. Magic! Now I can keep those group text updates truly ~at a glance~ — without interrupting my flow until I take a break later." —Maitland Quitmeyer
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in seven colors).
17. A privacy filter for your monitor so your boss can't see that you've spent the last hour scrolling through BuzzFeed Shopping lists.
Promising review: "The anti-glare helps a lot as my workplace has very bright lights. It was very easy to install and it protects my privacy from my nosy colleagues. All in all, completely worth buying." —Jeanette Luu
Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in a variety of sizes).
18. A doodle pad that's perfect for scribbling down all of those brilliant ideas that spontaneously come to you... or for fooling your boss into thinking you're taking notes when you're really just doodling your latest masterpiece.
CopperandBrassPaper is a Black-owned, woman-owned Etsy shop based in Georgia.
Get it from CopperandBrassPaper on Etsy on $16.
19. Peel-and-stick cable clips that will keep your chargers in reach and stop you from panicking when that low battery warning pops up on your laptop.
Promising review: "These things work great! I have them spread out through my office to my home. At my desk, they keep the cables that I need to stay on the desk there and they are practically invisible. Definitely recommend these if you are looking to get your cables a little more organized!" —Pierce Gainey
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $5.99.
20. A mini desk vacuum that will gladly suck up any Dorito crumbs or Cheeto dust you leave behind after a snack break.
It runs on two AA batteries and is slightly larger than an average computer mouse.
Promising review: "I keep it on my office desk to help clean off crumbs and dust. It's no louder than a hairdryer and has decent suction; sucks up crumbs and dust without any problem. I have also used it on my craft table to suck up glitter and other small paper scraps and again, it worked seamlessly. Great little gadget to have on hand in several situations. Might just get another." —D. Phillips
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors).
21. A helpful water bottle that gives you time-marked goals so you can stay hydrated and drink a full 64 ounces a day.
Promising review: "Timer bottles help me with hydration more than anything else I've tried. With two jobs and a very busy lifestyle in general, it's easy to not drink enough water. I have had a few fun bottles but they always get to looking grody or the designs rub off. So far these are holding up better than anything else I've bought, AND they were the best value I found. If they ever add in another set in other colors I'll definitely buy it." —Rhianna Walker
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $12.99.
22. A random yet wonderful screaming goat figurine you can press any time you need to let out some pent-up frustration.
It even comes with an illustrated pocket guide of fun facts and trivia about goats!
Promising review: "Absolutely hysterical! Got this for my desk at work and whenever frustrated, just touch it and it makes me laugh! Couple other girls at work also ordered to join in the fun! Makes life at work a bit lighter!" —Stacie P.
Get it from Amazon for $7.25.
23. A personal heater so you stay warm and toasty in the office without having to wear approximately eight layers AND a blanket. And a beanie. And gloves.
Promising review: "This little heater is perfect if you need a little extra warmth at your desk. It's practically silent, which is a huge plus for hiding heaters that are against company rules. So long as you keep it within a few feet, you'll get plenty of heat to take the chill off a cold office. It will not heat up your whole cube or office, so you won't hear complaints from those weirdos who are hot all the time. And so what? Who wants to share their precious heat with those jerks anyway? Since it's low wattage, there's less of a chance of blowing out a block of breakers in your crappily wired office building. Stay toasty, my friends!" —FancyFeet
Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in four colors).
24. A pack of daily planning sheets with space to plan all of your morning, afternoon, and evening tasks — and there's still room to make random notes to yourself on the side. It's basically the ultimate Post-it.
Promising review: "I have to say these are neat and handy. Especially if you are a busy person/parent. I like the post-it (sticky) feature. You can plan your day, add extra notes, and stick it anywhere. Good for on the go or easily fits in bags or purses." —CountryGirl34
Get it from Target for $8.99.
25. No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work — a funny guide to navigating your emotions at work in a healthy, productive way.
Most of us are taught to leave our emotions at the door when you come to the office (or sign on from home), but authors Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy say that suppressing your feelings at work might be doing more harm than good. This guide lays out the do's and don'ts of emotions in the workplace — and there are even some funny illustrations that will be far too relatable for anyone who's ever stepped foot in an office.
Get it from Amazon for $18.62 or Bookshop for $24.84 (originally $27).
26. A mini cool mist humidifier you can place right on your desk to keep your nose and skin feeling moisturized and comfortable when it's time to crank up the heat.
27. A set of note cards and envelopes to remind you that "good things are coming" and inspire you to keep the positive vibes flowing — even when you're sitting through a meeting that definitely could have been an e-mail.
Promising review: "I love this notecard and envelope set! The cards are a luxurious weight and the card and envelope colors are super bright." —Kathryn Latham
Effiespaper is a Black-owned, woman-owned Etsy shop based in New York.
Get it from effiespaper on Etsy for $18.
28. And a giant monthly planner with helpful stickers so you can color code all of your tasks and add some sense of order to the chaos that is your to-do list.
Promising review: "The Noted calendar is such a fun little desk calendar. It is a nice neutral gray color that does not clash with other items on the desk. The little dots it comes with make it easy to highlight important things/events on the calendar. And being a perpetual calendar means it is good indefinitely. If I have to skip a month, I can easily use it next month instead!" —kgoode
Get it from Target for $8.99.
Monday mood:
Reviews here have been edited for length and/or clarity.