WFH gift guide

I always struggle to make a Christmas list for myself. I’m an adult with adult money. When I really want or need something, I typically just…buy it or save up for it. At Christmastime, my wishlist items tend to fall into one of these categories:

• Nice hobby/art supplies that I haven’t bought myself because I “have enough” hobby supplies (but do I???)

• Kitchen gadgets and gear because why is a nice stainless steel skillet so expensive?

• Upgraded versions or replacements of something I already have and love. (My ripped and stained slippers have seen better days.)

• Miscellaneous gadgets that seem cool but aren’t essential (WaterPik flosser, robot vacuum, mini photo printer, label maker, etc.)

I don’t want to give or receive random crap for Christmas, and I’m guessing you don’t either. Here’s my short list of gift ideas for people who work from home. Add them to your list, or add them to your cart! (If you’re self-employed, many of these could be considered business expenses for tax purposes! Treat yo self!)

1. A vertical mouse 🖱️ 

My first mouse as a WFH freelancer was an affordable and adorable little Logitech Pebble. Adorable? Yes. Ergonomic? No. I started having a lot of pain in my mouse hand, which really freaked me out. I’ve since upgraded to a Logitech Lift vertical mouse, and it is noticeably more comfortable. My fears about early onset carpal tunnel have been assuaged.

2. Nice slippers/socks 🧦 

If I have an ergonomic mouse for my delicate hands, I obviously need orthopedic slippers for my delicate feet! No but really, my rotating roster of plantar fasciitis, turf toe, and sesamoiditis means I do not mess around with flimsy footwear anymore. I’ve owned several very cozy and very sturdy pairs of Vionic slippers, and these Birkenstocks are on my list this year. I also love these colorblock House Socks, like are you kidding me??? 

3. Nice headphones 🎧️ 

I’m aware that “nice” is subjective, and headphones are a category where you can spend anywhere from $50 to $500+ on “nice” ones. Last year, I replaced my old (dead) Sony noise cancelling headphones with new Sony noise canceling headphones. They were a splurge, but I use them every day. 

4. Vintage/thrifted/local/original art 🖼️ 

If you don’t have art hanging in your WFH space, what are you doing? Hit up a few thrift stores or your local holiday craft fair and buy some art! If you have crafty or artsy people in your life, commission art from them! 

5. A fidget toy 🧊 

Before I had some fidget toys, I spent video calls clicking my pens and twirling my headphone cord. Now, I’m almost always squishing my Needoh Nice Cube. Is it the best $6 I’ve ever spent? Possibly. I recommend checking out your local teacher supplies store for a nice selection of fidgets to try and buy.

6. A fun lamp 💡 

Speaking of the best money I’ve ever spent, I cannot recommend this combo enough: IKEA FADO table lamp + smart lightbulb. Make it a warm glowing orb for work time, then set it to a slow rainbow gradient for evening. Make it Christmas colors! The options are endless!

7. A good book 📖 

Gifting books can be tricky. I’ve definitely made the mistake of assuming someone would enjoy a book as a gift when they are not actually very into reading. I’ve also felt weird about receiving books because I feel sort of pressured to read them and report back to the gift giver. However, I have to round out this list with a book rec because one of my favorite books, Four Thousand Weeks, is currently on sale for $6.39 at Book Outlet (one of my favorite places to buy books). The author’s newest book, Meditations for Mortals, is also on sale. Buy it for someone you know will enjoy it (maybe yourself?)!

Just FYI: This will be the last regular edition of Wishful Working for a while. I’m taking next week off (Happy Thanksgiving!) and will be back in December with a few casual, chatty travelogue issues. I’m flying to NYC (for the first time!), sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to the UK, and then spending a few weeks traveling around the UK. I’m calling this limited series Bon Voyage.

Regular issues of Wishful Working will resume sometime in January, after a bit of a revamp. 👀

See you later,

Kara

Kara Detwiller is a writer and creative based in small-town Saskatchewan. She specializes in long-form content writing for enterprise SaaS, cybersecurity, and manufacturing clients. She is also working on her first novel, among other creative pursuits. To connect, reply to this email or find Kara on LinkedIn. To support her work on Wishful Working, share this email with someone or buy her a “coffee.”

Why Wishful Working? I write this newsletter because I want to see more people enjoy a life not centered around work. For some, the path to freedom and flexibility is through self-employment, but we also need to challenge cultural norms and champion healthier working conditions and work/life balance for all types of workers.