25 indispensable desk accessories we use to stay focused and comfortable at work

I often end up running around to unexpected meetings and chats in the morning, and sometimes I'm forced to leave my coffee behind — or I just don't have time to drink it immediately. This insulated mug keeps it hot for hours, so even if a meeting runs long or I get so focused on something that I forget to drink it, it always seems to stay nice and steamy. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

I swear by the BetterBack for helping me to maintain good posture at my desk and relieving both upper and lower back pain throughout the day. I have a few slipped discs in my spine, so I deal with pretty chronic discomfort. This is the only tool (not counting stretching and acupuncture) that has ever helped mitigate my pain, which helps me focus on my work instead of on my back. You can read my full review of the BetterBack here if you're interested. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

It’s an incredibly cheap source of peace of mind. I put a small cover over the camera on my laptop. If Mark Zuckerberg is covering his, the least I can do is cover mine. — Breton Fischetti, vice president of commerce

One excellent way to stay warm when your office is freezing is to drink lots of tea. I prefer this stainless steel flask to a regular mug because it keeps my drinks hot for hours. It’s not the easiest to clean, but you can buy a water bottle brush for it for less than $10 on Amazon. — Ellen Hoffman, senior Insider Picks editor

A heating pad is another excellent way to stay warm in a freezing office. This is the one I use; I prop it up so that it’s sandwiched between my lower back and my desk chair. It has six heat settings and automatically turns off after two hours of use. I don’t care if I look crazy to my coworkers… at least I’m always nice and toasty. — Ellen Hoffman, senior Insider Picks editor

Bluetooth keyboards have become incredibly common, but very few of them are sleek, lightweight, and full-sized like this one from Satechi. I find it easy to type on, and I use the number pad significantly more than I anticipated. — Brandt Ranj, associate editor

My desk used to be littered with charging cables, but Mophie’s wireless charging pad ended that madness. Instead of plugging my phone in every day, I put it on the stand when I get into work, and grab it whenever I get up from my desk. Wireless charging still isn’t as fast as wired charging, but Mophie’s pad is quick enough that I don’t notice a huge difference. — Brandt Ranj, associate editor

This is a good compromise for me as someone who learns better by writing things down, but doesn't want to waste the paper or give up digitized notes. When you write on the Everlast notebook pages with an accompanying pen, you can later erase your writing with a damp cloth and reuse the same page over and over again. You can also digitize your handwritten notes using an app. I personally love it because it feels just like writing on paper, but reduces waste and the storage of tons of old notebooks. We also included it in our Buying Guide to the best smart notebooks you can buy. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

I asked for a Purple Seat Cushion for Christmas after editing Jessica Klein’s review of hers a few months earlier, and it’s amazing what an instant and marked improvement it’s made! Besides improving my posture while seated, it has made sitting down all day for my desk job significantly more comfortable. — Ellen Hoffman, senior Insider Picks editor

In line with my reasoning for getting a wireless charger, I ditched my no-name optical mouse for the Logitech MX Master 2S wireless mouse. It features rechargeable batteries that last up to 70 days on a single charge, a two-speed wheel scroll for precise or fast scrolling, and an ergonomic design that makes using it all day a lot more comfortable. You can even pair it to up to three computers at once for fluid control between multiple devices. I like this mouse so much, I've brought it with me for days where I know I'll be working from home. — Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter

I actually use this as a desk pad instead of a mouse pad. It adds style and personality to my desk while also keeping my keyboard and planner from slipping around. — Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks Buying Guides editor

I love the sleek look of this mousepad, but more importantly, I love that it's huge. When I'm trying to screenshot something, drag an image around, or move between my two monitors, it accommodates my sweeping motions. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

Plant delivery company Leon & George told me this tropical plant is “near indestructible” and it was completely right. For the past half year, I’ve quite honestly neglected this plant. I water it whenever I feel like it or happen to remember, but it’s still looking great and it brings me a lot of joy. The incorporation of greenery has made my desk set-up feel less sterile, and it couldn’t be easier to take care of. The process of ordering from Leon & George was also painless. You can browse plants by size, benefit, and light needed, and your order arrives to your door fresh and carefully packaged. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter

My ideal workspace is neat and clutter-free, so I like to keep the amount of things on my desk to a minimum. In doing so, I've gotten rid of wires wherever possible. The iOttie iON Wireless Plus is my solution to doing away with my normal iPhone cable. It looks great, doesn't take up much space, and charges my iPhone a lot faster than the standard power adapter and cable. — Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter

I always drink coffee before work, but when I’m in the office I prefer to drink tea. This is the best loose-leaf tea infuser I’ve found (and I’ve tried several). It’s perfect for the office because it fits any size mug and comes with a dish so I can take the infuser out of the tea and leave it on my desk without causing a mess. It’s also really easy to clean. — Lauren Lyons Cole, executive producer

I don't need prescription eyeglasses, but I wear a pair of blue light glasses when I work long days and later at night to avoid messing with my circadian rhythm since that's the kind of thing that can ruin a week (and my energy) by Wednesday morning. They're also just a welcome break from direct exposure to my devices sometimes. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

I’m one of those people who works best when tons of apps are open at once, so I need a wide-open space to work with. BenQ’s 28-inch 4K monitor is physically large enough that I can easily read text or make out details in small pictures, and high resolution enough that they all look sharp. — Brandt Ranj, associate editor

I’m the kind of person who makes tea and forgets about it until it has become iced tea. Having a smart mug that keeps itself warm with a heating pad is life-changing. My Ember mug — which I named “Hot Stuff” as a joke and a reference to an album by The Killers — keeps my tea warm hours after I’ve made it. — Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks Buying Guides editor

I’m obsessed with Post-It notes and cats, so this cat-shaped Post-It note dispenser is one of my favorite desk decorations. It holds my Post-Its perfectly and it looks cute on my desk. It’s also weighted so it’s hard to knock over, and if a real cat happened to walk on my desk, they’d struggle to knock it off. — Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks Buying Guides editor

It's not just that this mouse is wireless and thus de-clutters my space, it's also that it's ergonomic. It's never glitched out on me and it always does what I need it to do — it's that simple. — Sally Kaplan, Insider Picks editor

I use this water bottle everywhere I go. It keeps my tea hot for hours, my cold brew cold for over 24 hours (with ice cubes intact), and has a conveniently durable build and no-drip or drop design for the gym. It's pretty cheap for a stainless steel water bottle, and the clip at the top means I can attach it to backpacks or duffel bags with clip-on straps for easy carrying. — Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter

Between my Post-Its, Trello board, and this weekly desk planner, I make to-do lists for my to-do lists. I love this planner for its simple weekly layout, lack of dates that ensure it lasts longer than a year, and its adorable designs. As you flip through the weeks, you get cute cacti, airplanes, flowers, and other fun designs. It doesn’t take up much desk space, either. I have mine right above my keyboard so I can refer to it all day, every day. — Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks Buying Guides editor

We’ve established that I love making notes and lists, right? Oh, and that I love cats. These Pusheen Memo Sheets keep my desk cute and remind me of all the things I need to do. — Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks Buying Guides editor

Succulents are the perfect desk plant: They almost never need water, they don’t care if they miss sun, and they’re small. This little planter is specifically made for Valentine’s Day gifting, but it looks great on a desk. — Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks Buying Guides editor

Courant is a new startup that takes care of your functional needs (like charging your phone) while maintaining style and sophistication. Its sleek, Qi-certified wireless charger is made from high-grade aluminum and features a braided nylon cord and pebble-grain Italian leather top, making it the most luxe charging option your money can get. If you want to make your desk look as stylish as you do, this tech accessory will impress both you and your coworkers. — Connie Chen, Insider Picks reporter