This past year has been a whirlwind for most, from still dealing with a global pandemic to managing new schedules and trying to maintain a work-life balance. With this in mind, the 2021 holiday season is a time to show your loved ones you care with gifts that help support their well-being. And, mental health awareness is at an all-time high this year, leading many people to focus their holiday gifts on self-care and feeling good. However, we don’t all have tons of extra funds laying around, so we’ve also got handmade and personalized ways you can show your love — from giving the gift of time to trying your hand at DIY, there’s a gift in here for everyone on your list.
Creative and Caring Gifts for the Holidays
Try your hand at one of these homemade gift ideas:
- Body scrub or bath salts
- Aprons or coasters with kids’ handprints
- Personalized coupon books
- Hot chocolate or baking ingredient kits
- Hand-painted coffee mugs
- An “outing” day with your loved one
Here are some ideas to give the gift of well-being to your loved ones this holiday season:
- Weighted blanket: More than just a cozy addition to your bed or sofa, weighted blankets actually have some mental health-related benefits. Using a weighted blanket may reduce anxiety, relieve stress, and improve sleep. Try the Luxome Integrated Cover Weighted Blanket in a soothing color, like aqua and grey.
- Journals: Whether you gift a blank journal or one with wellbeing-related prompts, a cute space for your loved one to write down their thoughts and feelings can show that you care about their mental health.
- Therapy: With the recent rise in popularity of app- and video-based therapy, giving a gift card to start — or continue — talk therapy sessions has never been easier. Therapy could be an invaluable gift to a loved one struggling with their mental health — just be sure that they are open to the idea first before springing it on them.
- Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy can relieve stress, boost mood, and add a grounding ritual to a daily self-care practice. Try gifting fragranced candles or a visually appealing essential oil diffuser with a set of calming oils.
- Coloring books: Not just for kids anymore, coloring books are now marketed towards adults, too — and with good reason, as mindfully coloring in pretty patterns is a great way to relieve stress and keep both your hands and thoughts preoccupied.
Here are some ways you can give back the gift of time:
- Give a gift certificate for housecleaning services — or offer to do it yourself!
- Gift a grocery delivery or meal-delivery service for a week to relieve someone of their cooking duties
- Offer to run errands for someone with physical limitations or too much on their plate
- Take over carpool duty or childcare for a close friend or family member
- Give your own time by spending the day or weekend with an elderly loved one — or with someone you don’t know, like volunteering at a soup kitchen, hospital, or nursing home.
No matter which gift-giving route you choose to take this year, know that your family and friends will appreciate the thought and intention behind it — even if it didn’t cost you a dime.