Let’s be honest, this past year (or year-plus) has been… a lot. You’re stressed. Your friends and family are stressed. We’re all just trying to sneak in some moments of self-care ― and hoping, at this point, that it can consist of more than just reaching for a chocolate bar.
So this holiday season might not be the year to buy people fancy, flashy gifts or complicated gadgets that come with extensive how-to guides. This might be the year to gift those near and dear to you things that will help them to kick back and take a much-needed breather.
But what do you buy those friends and family members who are overworked, overwhelmed and just over it in general? We rounded up a few helpful ideas below.
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A calming weighted blanket
Get the Waowoo Weighted Blanket from Amazon for $39.99.
A puzzle that turns into wall art
Many people feel a sense of accomplishment when they finish a puzzle, and Jiggy offers a way for that feeling to carry on indefinitely: Its completed puzzles become art that can be framed and displayed. Each Jiggy puzzle also comes with puzzle glue and a tool to help spread it. The best part? A portion of the proceeds from each sale benefits the artist of the puzzle’s image directly.
Get an 800-piece Jiggy Puzzle for $49.
An easy-to-learn musical instrument
With just four strings (made of nylon, not steel) and simple chord shapes, the ukulele is one of the easiest instruments to learn — even for someone with no musical experience. (It’s also less expensive than a guitar.) This kit comes with everything needed to get you started: a ukulele, a carrying case, a music booklet and instructional CD/DVDs.
Get the Hal Leonard Play Today Ukulele Complete Kit from Guitar Center for $33.98.
An arts and crafts subscription box
A more gentle wake-up call than coffee
Get a MUDWTR Ritual Starter Kit for $40.
A countertop aquarium
Some evidence suggests that looking at an aquarium can help a person’s blood pressure and heart rate. And picking out tropical fish at a local store is a fun experience for all ages. Bonus: Aquariums are way easier to care for than a cat or dog, so it’s perfect for those who have been wanting a pet but have very little time to care for one.
Get the Aqueon Fish NeoGlow LED Aquarium Starter Kit for $114.99.
A laughter-inducing board game
Telestrations is made for ages 8 and above. It combines the basics behind Pictionary and the classic whisper-in-the-ear antics of Telephone. Players draw a card and roll a die to select a word. Then, they are challenged to sketch out the word while a timer counts down. After the time is up, they pass their sketchbook around to other players, who each write down what word they think the drawing illustrates and then attempt to draw it themselves. At the end of a round, all players reveal their drawings and laugh at how far off course some of the sketches got.
Get Telestrations from Target for $19.99.
A spa-worthy chair massager
Get the HoMedics Shiatsu Plus Massage Cushion with Heat from Bed Bath & Beyond for $99.99.
A fancy scrapbooking kit
Check out the Creative Memories Boho Escape Bundle, the Emerald Gemstone Bundle, or the Vitamin Sea Bundle for $75.50.
A powerful vision board set
Get the Bold Tuesday Vision Board Kit from Amazon for $36.95.
A virtual world to relax in
Get the Ceek VR Headset Goggles plus a three-month experiences subscription from Amazon for $99.99. Visit their website for more info.
A beautiful bath bomb
Get a pack of 12 aromatherapy bath bombs from Etsy for $21.
An alarm clock that won’t cause dread
The Hatch Restore is a bedside sleep assistant that creates a personalized routine for its users. It acts as a sound machine, sunrise alarm, reading light and meditation app all in one. Users will love waking up to their own gentle sunrise, selecting between 22 reading light colors and choosing tranquil sounds to fall asleep to like water or wind.
Get the Hatch Restore Alarm Clock from Amazon for $129.99.
A low-maintenance plant
Get the Lemon Lime Prayer Plant from Etsy starting at $15.75.
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