The other day I published a fun guest post over on Lifehack.org that has 50 of my favourite productive Christmas gifts to give to friends (with a few gimmicky gifts thrown in the list for fun).
Here are my top 10 favourites from that list! The full article is definitely worth a skim if you have the time–you’re sure to find at least one gift idea on the list that you or a friend would like.
10. White noise generator $55
White noise has been proven to help you focus better. Similar to Coffitivity, the long-named Marpac Dohm-DS Dual Speed Sound Conditioner produces a comfortable background sound that will help you be much more productive.
9. Variable temperature tea kettle $56
Did you know that different types of tea needs to be brewed at different temperatures? For example, green tea needs to be brewed at a lower temperature so it doesn’t taste bitter. This fancy kettle heats water to different temperatures depending on what tea your brewing! If you’re buying a gift for more of a coffee aficionado, I highly recommend the Aeropress coffee press ($26). They’ll never go back.
8. Paper notifications $10
These are so fun. All day you receive notifications on your phone, but now you can put them on anything! A fun way to leave a note for someone.
7. 8000 mAh Dual Port Battery Pack and Charger $36
You won’t find a USB charger for cheaper. This USB charger is the perfect gift for your friend who is always on the go, and always in need of more juice. It features two USB ports perfect for charging a phone, tablet, or anything else on the go. It will recharge your smartphone about four times.
6. Wake up light $90
Alarm clocks are jarring, but this wake up light will wake you up naturally and slowly. It’s been scientifically shown to make waking up more pleasant, and includes two natural wake-up sounds.
5. Meditation cushion $45
It might sound strange that sitting on a cushion and doing absolutely nothing will make you more productive, but trust me, it will. I recommend a zafu (meditation cushion) made from buckwheat, like the one linked above. I own this particular zafu, and highly recommend it.
4. ‘Getting Things Done’ book $10
In my opinion, if there’s one book that will make you more productive, it’s Getting Things Done by David Allen. If you want to give the gift of productivity this year, I can’t imagine a better book or gift.
3. WeMo Insight power switch $60
It doesn’t look like much, but this item is my personal favorite out of all of the items on the list. This wifi-enabled power switch connects to a wifi network, allowing you to remotely turn devices on and off, and read how much energy a device is using in real time. You can even set up notifications, like for when your laundry is finished.
2. Field Notes Expedition 3-Pack $10
This might just be the most rugged notebook out there. The Field Notes Expedition 3-pack are waterproof, tear proof, and even resistant to fire and acid. You know, for all those times you dump acid on your notebooks.
1. CableDrop cordlets $10
These things are genius, and I love them. After you mount a CableDrop to your desk, wall, or other flat surface, you can store your cables without having to worry about them falling to the floor every time you untether.
