11 Best Gifts for Every Type of Coworker | Shaoxing Chocolate Chip Group Co.,Ltd

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By Sarah Grossbart

You know their go-to lunch orders by heart, and yet it can feel challenging to pick out the perfect present for your office mates. It's harder still to choose something for the team member who's more colleague than cohort. To help you cross this off your to-do list—and help them score something a bit more elevated than your standard Starbucks gift card—we asked a handful of pros to brainstorm their best suggestions.

$20 at Hay

$50 Save $30

$48 at DWR

$80 Save $32

File this desk organizer under luxuries they likely wouldn't purchase for themselves, but will immediately find useful. We get used to the same old, same old; it's why "people endlessly hang onto good-enough cracked coffee mugs and finicky chargers," says Sam Maglio, consumer psychologist and associate professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough. So while the top drawer of the standard-issue metal filing cabinet works fine, this powder-coated steel set is a sleek enhancement when it comes to organizing their odds and ends. Available in myriad combinations of hues and stackable shapes from $30 to $110, the pieces add a pop of fun to any desk, and, notes Maglio, can help your colleague "approach work afresh."

$37 at Amazon

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$50 at Walmart

A pen isn't the most surprising choice for a gift, but Maglio says the refillable rollerball he received from his brother eight years ago was such a hit that he tossed all his disposable BICs and hasn't looked back. The pen has a heft "that gives writing an air of importance, even for mundane paperwork," he says, admitting he "never would have mentally allocated so much for a pen" on his own. It's a fit for any co-worker, he notes, because "a gift like this elevates the everyday."

$20 at Amazon

$20 at The Container Store

They might already have a stack of company-issued pads, but there's something to be said for owning "a nice, quality journal," says San Antonio-based etiquette expert Diane Gottsman, founder of the Protocol School of Texas coaching service and author of "Modern Etiquette for a Better Life." A leather or decorative one feels like a little luxury, she says, and if you choose one that fits in a tote, "it will be used over and over again." Among her favorites are hand-painted versions by former illustrator Anna Bond, including this softcover spiral with gold-foil accents.

$59 at Business & Pleasure

$79 at Amazon

Anyone who brown-bags it at work will appreciate this upgrade: an oversize tote filled with lunch from a local gourmet deli, suggests Gottsman. Business & Pleasure's 13-liter cooler option, made of cotton and recycled PVC, is both stylish and versatile, says Elisabeth Jones-Hennessy, the founder and CEO of GiftMeChic. "I love that it has both handles and an arm strap, giving it more portability options than most cooler bags."

$33 at Amazon

Here's a fix for those Sunday Scaries: a beautiful tin with 12 sachets of stress-busting organic tea. Jones-Hennessy is a fan of the brand's adaptogen-infused, non-caffeinated blends, particularly the basil-, ginger- and orange peel-laced Sweet Clarity that, the company says, boosts energy and relieves stress. Her top pick, Night of Nights, is "sweet with subtle floral undertones of camomile, linden blossom, passionflower and jujube seed," she says. "It feels like a warm hug before bed."

$50 at Luminaid

This portable party starter can certainly elevate your next office bash, but where the phone-size, Bluetooth-compatible device truly shines is at outdoor events and beach parties, where it can keep the music going for up to 18 hours in direct sunlight, says Miami-based innovation and technology expert Steve Greenberg, host of the YouTube gadget game show "What the Heck Is That?" It's waterproof and it floats, and Greenberg also appreciates the brand's stated mission of providing solar lights and phone chargers to those in need of them in more than 100 countries, he says. "So you’re giving a gift that's not only fun to but is also something that's good for the world."

$50 at Amazon

Products that keep drinks at the precise perfect temperature are great, but how about one that fights another food foe: melting ice cream? "This set of two bowls—crafted from food-grade stainless steel and a layer of copper plating—provides a solution, keeping eats hot or cold up to 200% longer than your standard dish. (Office ice cream party, anyone?) "It comes with a plastic lid with a great gasket on it that really seals," Greenberg describes. "It makes a big difference."

$78 at Modern Terrarium Bar

A corner office with floor-to-ceiling windows would be nice, but even "microdoses of the outdoors boost mood," says Maglio. "Simply looking at a picture of nature replenishes the ability to concentrate." Which is why he thinks this succulent-filled, gold-plated terrarium deserves a spot on your colleague's desk. "Bonus points for the DIY aspect," he adds of the kit, which comes with plants, sand, stones and assorted flora your co-worker can enjoy assembling.

$26 at Homesick

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They’ll enjoy decompressing from a day of meetings and office dynamics with this natural soy wax blend from the cult-favorite Homesick brand, makers of location-inspired and occasion-driven candles. This one's mix of green tea leaf, Valencia orange and naturally calming blue lavender delivers up to 80 hours of soothing scents in a sleek, minimalist vessel.

$32 at Anthropologie

$36 at Lulu and Georgia

Even people without a green thumb can enjoy a bit of monstera or pothos on their desk with this innovative gift, which removes the guesswork out of plant care. Available in three neutral glazes including Apricot (shown), the planter has a subirrigation system in the bottom reservoir that lets the plant's roots drink up water as needed, mimicking the way it's absorbed in nature. Your co-worker gets a visual cue—the empty reservoir—for when it's time to refill so there's zero risk of overwatering.

$18 at Fly by Jing

$25 Save $7

A surefire way to spice up sad office lunches, chef Jing Gao's trio of toppings is inspired by flavors found in the restaurants of her native Chengdu. Opt for the shorty spice set with 2-ounce jars of savory Sichuan chili crisp, tangy Zhong sauce and a pretty potent Mala spice mix, each of which is portable enough that, to borrow loosely from Beyoncé, they actually can have hot sauce in their bag.