For those looking to improve their quality of work, home office, or just the relationship to work of the people you love, here’s a collection of recommendations. Hope it brings more focus to 2022.

See descriptions below

Subscriptions

Freedom ($77.40 for Forever Access)
Our friends at Freedom have figured out one of the best tools and plugins to improve your focus and relationship with technology. Get unlimited lifetime access to block sites, apps, and track your tech usage.

Caveday ($100)
A bit of self promo. But in case you didn’t know, we offer 3-month membership gift cards (as well as 1-month or 1-year) so you can give your loved ones the gift of focus and invite them to join you in a Cave!

Brain.fm - ($50/ year)
If you need some music to get into flow, check out our friends at Brain.fm. They have music composed by AI to stimulate focus. Instrumental, rhythmic, melodic beats to find flow.

Physical Products

4. Tony's Chocolonely Dark Chocolate ($6)
For a quick gift, these chocolates are sustainably sourced and so delicious. Don’t forget that a little dark chocolate has some researched effects to improve memory.

5. Ohto Ballpoint Pen ($12 for 5)
These crafted pens are made from the hexagonal wood of old pencils. They’re carved out and the ink cartriges and brass ends create a uniquely hand-made feeling pen.

6. Weekly planner notepad, Boy Girl Party ($14)
Sure there are tons and tons of notebooks and planners out there. This one comes specially designed by Cavedweller Susie Ghahremani. Check out her other fun notepads and gifts on her site too!

7. Caveday coin ($20)
At our first Caveday ever, we made coasters that would indicate when you were INSIDE the cave and when you were OUTSIDE. We’ve upgraded a bit to solid metal challenge coins. These beauties are a great desktop habit builder. Flip them over with every sprint.

8. Bluetooth Keyboard ($20)
Our necks have to slightly bend down to look at our laptops if we use the built-in keyboard. Give your neck a bit of a rest with a more ergonomic setup. Bluetooth keyboard, laptop stand (see below) and an external mouse of your choice. Your body and brain will thank you.

9. Do It For Yourself Workbook ($22)
Cavedweller Kara Cutruzulla has made a really fun and motivating workbook for developing creative ideas and extracting a creative practice. Every page looks and feels different and the tools in here are so helpful for the aspiring or even established creative person in your life.

10. Smartwool Trekking Socks ($25)
A classic holiday gift: socks. But this is inspired by Van Neistat’s gift-giving advice. No one is going to buy $25 socks for themselves. But what a treat to receive them and have these warm trekking socks keep you warm all winter.

11. USB Ring Light ($26)
One thing you can do to up your Zoom game is a ring light. It makes your face pop and your camera seem better. For less than $30, this one is the one to get. Comes with a phone holder, 3 different light temps, and 10 brightnesses.

12. The Doodle Challenge Game ($40)
Stay sharp and warm up those creative brains with this little game. Great for parties or even to play on your own as an energizing break.

13. Wireless Charger, Native Union Drop ($50)
Keep your phone out of reach and out of sight, but charging. This high-speed charger pad is a beautiful tabletop accessory that will also have your phone charging just by laying it on top. Check for compatibility.

14. Slope Personal desktop whiteboard ($59)
For quick notes, an ever-changing to-do list, or even a mental capture as your brain starts to wander or get distracted. Stay more focused with this desktop whiteboard that also can be used as a laptop stand.

15. Oxford Pennant "You'll Think of Something" ($60)
If you’re just looking for some office decorations, Oxford Pennant has some great banners, framed art, and more that will make you smile and love your home office.

16. Ugmonk Analog starter ($89)
The most beautiful to-do list we’ve ever seen. Analog is a daily and weekly system of setting your tasks and staying focused. Subscribe for regular refills and use the desktop holder to keep your old or unused to-do cards.

17. Ember mug ($130)
If you find yourself getting up every 10 minutes to reheat your coffee or top it off, this is for you. Ember is a smart mug that keeps your drink at the same, perfect temperature that you can adjust.

18. Grovemade walnut laptop riser ($150)
One of many desk-beautifying products that Grovemade sells. This is a gorgeous handmade piece that will elevate your laptop to eye level and elevate your desk look.

19. Sonos Roam ($179)
Sonos makes some of the best-sounding speakers on the market now. The Roam is great if you have a smaller house or apartment and still want quality music. Or, even better, take your music on the go.

Books

20. 3 book set for colleagues from The School of Life ($25)
The School of Life is one of our favorite resources for thinking smarter about how we engage at work. These three books are perfect gifts for coworkers and includes “How to Get On with Your Coworkers”, “The Emotionally Intelligent Office” and “How to Think More Effectively”.

21. Rest, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang ($15)
An insightful read about why taking breaks, intentionally resting, and sleep improve the way they work. Lots of discussion on creativity, energy management and mental performance.

22. The Practice, Seth Godin ($17)
In true Seth Godin fashion, this book will inspire you to work harder and smarter, in such succinctly explained concepts. Ultimately it’s about building a creative practice to show up every day and ship regularly.

23. A World Without Email, Cal Newport ($20)
We’re big fans of Cal Newport, as you could imagine. His latest book delves into how we are distracted by email, messaging, and technology, and what can be done about it.

24. Good Talk, Daniel Stillman ($24)
This book is about conversation design and how we’re all a product of our conversations. Having better conversations means having better relationships and work. On top of being a great book, it was also written in a Cave! Well, probably lots.

25. The Art of Community, Charles Vogl ($18)
Reading this book was so affirming about the work we’re doing at Caveday. Not only aligns with how we’ve built our community, but also inspiring about where it could go. Great for anyone passionate about community building.

26. The Ugly Cry, Danielle Henderson ($27)
This memoir goes into deep truths and vulnerable storytelling. Abandoned by her parents, she tells her life story of growing up weird, Black, and raised by her grandparents upstate NYC.

27. The Wreckage of My Presence, Casey Wilson ($22)
We are huge fans of Casey Wilson. She’s hilarious and smart. Her book is full of personal stories, laugh out loud essays and emotional reflections. Also, written in the Cave!

28. Big Dreams Daily Joys, Elise Blaha Cripe ($18)
A creativity guide and process for thinking through ideas that will help any creative bring thoughts and inspiration to life.

Happy holidays!

Stay focused (and healthy) out there,
The Caveday Cofounders
Molly Sonsteng, Jeremy Redleaf, Jake Kahana

Caveday is a company aimed at improving your relationship to work. We offer facilitated focus sessions for our members 7 days a week and work with companies of all sizes to help integrate focus into their work culture.

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