The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our day-to-day lives in unprecedented ways. Many companies have adopted remote work for their employees as they prioritize health and safety. Let’s face it: working from home can be quite a challenge, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. The home environment isn’t exactly an ideal workspace, but you can make it one with a few adjustments.
One of the biggest challenges of working from home is losing those face-to-face interactions. Most people enjoy the social aspect of working in an office, and working from home may hurt their work relationships. There’s no better way to keep in touch with your favorite co-workers than sending them a gift every once in a while to commemorate important milestones and achievements.
Here are five great gift ideas for your favorite remote co-worker.
Flowers and Indoor Plants
There’s something universally appealing about blooming flowers and indoor succulents. From unique fragrances to unmatched aesthetic allure, these gift choices are ideal for almost anyone. Whether your colleague is celebrating an important milestone or going through a difficult time, a flower gift is a thoughtful way of spreading some cheer.
With the increase of online gifting platforms, it has become easier to find the perfect floral gifts for your co-workers. Most of these websites facilitate delivery, which means you can gift your colleague from the comfort of your home. Turn your colleague’s remote workspace into a lovely expanse with indoor flowers and succulents to sweeten their workdays.
Noise Cancellation Headphones
There are a plethora of distractions when working from home. If you have kids running around the house, the noise can be unbearable and interfere with your productivity. If you know a colleague who works under such conditions, getting them noise cancellation headphones is a great gift that they will surely appreciate.
Working from home involves frequent virtual meetings. With such headphones, you can minimize any outside interference and improve your productivity. You can also use the headphones outside of work: listening to music or watching videos. Whether it’s to work or unwind in peace, noise cancellation headphones make an excellent gift choice for remote workmates.
Food or Shopping Gift Cards
Who doesn’t like the thought of buying anything they want without spending a single cent? Gift cards are fantastic gift choices for both remote and office workers. These vouchers come in various designs and almost every business offers them now. Depending on your co-worker’s interests, you should choose something they would appreciate most.
There are plenty of online restaurants and food-related websites for food enthusiasts where you can get such cards. If they love shopping, many online platforms also provide e-cards that can be sent by email or even through text. As an added advantage, these gift cards are remotely usable, so they won’t even have to leave their home to buy whatever they want.
Online Entertainment Platform Subscriptions
Working from home can become quite hectic, primarily due to the reduced flow of communication. More often than not, you may need to unwind after a long day of work. Perhaps binge-watching may be your thing. With an increased number of media services available online, getting your work colleague their favorite subscription service is priceless.
Online streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu constantly release great TV shows. There is an increasing craze for premium access to these shows, mainly due to the lockdown. Who wouldn’t want access to millions of shows without having to download them? As an added advantage, these platforms have plenty of entertainment for the entire family.
Fitness Tracker
Working from home can mean moving and exercising less. Not every worker has a home office from where they can work, and many are working from their beds or couches. As such, there is an increased risk of adding extra calories and losing out on opportunities for fitness. Luckily, there are numerous fitness tracking subscriptions you can give them to help them remain in shape.
Fitness trackers can come in the form of internet-based wellness programs or gadgets such as smartwatches and trackers. Depending on your budget and your colleague’s preferences, you can choose to either get the devices or pay for their subscriptions. Whichever route you choose, a fitness tracker is a unique and memorable gift for a colleague.
Keep in Touch With Your Remote Coworker
The main goal of gifting your co-workers, both remote and in-office, is to cheer them up and strengthen your bond. It’s crucial to know their preferences to avoid spending money on mediocre gifts for which they have no use. More than anything, show your co-worker that you are there for them. Maintain regular communication with them during these challenging times: you may never know if they need a listening ear.
