Loose tea tastes better than the powdery stuff that comes in pre-filled bags, but convenience often trumps taste when you’re on the run or at the office. Blomus’ tea stick takes the hassle out of making a proper cuppa. The spring-loaded, stainless-steel gadget is easy to fill and clean, and the many tiny holes make for perfect steeping.

$20.15 at Cooking.com.

I’m pretty organized and yet at the end of each workday I find my desk littered with dozens of Post It notes, on which I’ve written things I need to remember, calls I need to make, and notes I need to write. This paper mousepad is a much more efficient way to keep track of all of that information.

$11 at KnockKnock.biz

This book should be required reading for anyone who works in an office, whether that office is across town or across the kitchen. In her new book, One Year to an Organized Work Life, Regina Leeds, a professional organizer and the founder of Get Organized! by Regina, offers up a practical, step-by-step system to help you streamline your workspace and free up your time. Weekly and monthly guides help you set realistic and achievable goals and, using her unique “Zen organizing” approach, Leeds keeps the tasks from becoming overwhelming.

$16.95 at Amazon.

These dazzling little boxes are just the right size for holding paper clips, push pins, earrings, or the zillions of other tiny things that get lost on your desk or dresser.  

$10 for a set of three at Pier 1 Imports. 

We all know the importance of backing up our hard drives, and yet we all come up with the same excuses for why we don’t do it — it takes too long, it’s too complicated, I keep forgetting to pencil it in. Now, there’s no excuse: The Clickfree Automatic Backup HD801 automatically finds and saves copies of 400 kinds of files, from documents to photos to music to videos, on its 160GB hard drive. All you have to do is plug the PDA-size device it in to your PC’s USB port; it works with Windows Visa, Windows XP, and Windows 2000. Have more than one PC? You can back all of them (up to 10 computers) on the same Clickfree system. To restore your data (or transfer it to another computer), plug it in again and click “Restore.” That’s it!

$119.99 at GoClickFree.com.

Alert your co-workers about how you feel today with this set of four mugs, each displaying a different mood (e.g. Fairly cranky, which is about how I feel right now.)

$38 for 4 mugs at UncommonGoods.com .

Tired of being startled by co-workers or family members? Caught one too many times Twittering when you should be working? Some people never remember to knock. Reclaim your office privacy with this rearview computer mirror. The C.H.I.M.P. mirror is stylishly curvy and subtly sized, yet very affordably priced. It comes in classic black or sleek white (“iCHIMP”). The C.H.I.M.P. attaches snugly to an upper corner of your computer monitor with Velcro, allowing for quick and easy removal. The 3-inch convex mirror allows you to spot whoever is coming up behind you. Voila! No more unexpected guests.

$9.99 at ThinkGeek.com.

I love having a small bunch of fresh flowers on my desk but I’m horrible at remembering to buy them regularly. This lotus bamboo in a small glass vase is beautiful and comes with your choice of ebony or reddish brown stones. Perfect for your desk at home or office.

$21 for small $27 for large at basicgreenbox.com.

If you’re tired of your knees getting hot from your laptop, check out this great Lap Desk, with a soft cushion on the bottom and a gloss plastic top, with a cup holder for your favorite drink.

Now you can be a master multi-tasker as you work and watch TV at the same time. $28 at SatinBox .

Check out our favorite fun office supplies to cheer up your work or home workspace!