Unsure what gift to buy your loved ones this christmas?

It can be difficult thinking of what gift to buy your friends and family at Christmas. 

An awkward secret santa. 

Your dad, who never actually needs anything. 

That estranged relative, that you barely ever talk to. 

Usually, you just give up and spend a good chunk of money on crap (read: socks, slippers, razors, gift cards) that no one is actually excited about. 

It definitely doesn’t feel good buying something for someone who doesn’t need your gift, and gives you that fake “thank you”. We’ve all been there and felt that uncomfortableness!

So why not buy something wholesome that they may actually enjoy?

Diffusers

Everyone likes good smells, however, not everyone can be trusted with candles!

You don’t want to be responsible for little Annabelle nearly burning her house down! 

These diffusers are easy-to-use and allow you to add any essential oil smell freshening up your living environment! An incredible gift!

They:

• don’t burn out
• can be used over and over
• add color to any room
  

Light Alarm Clock

Give the gift of sleep!

These are brilliant for mimicking nature by gradually waking you up. They allow you to start your day right! They’re especially useful during winter when mornings are dark, and you want to stay in your cosy bed! 

For example, most light alarm clocks have a ‘sunset’ feature. It helps you drift off to a more peaceful sleep at night. By dimming the lights at night, these clocks help with melatonin production and let your drift off to sleep more easily. 

In addition, some also include natural sound effects like rainfall, crickets chirping, or thunderous storms that definitely put me in the bedtime mood. Certainly better than counting sheep!

Waking up to gradual light helps production of Vitamin D that you may be missing from the lack of sun. Oh, and ‘Light Therapy’ is a thing which is actually proven to make you happier! 

In the rainy city of Chicago, they have a whole building dedicated to light therapy that is designed to cheer you up. 

But with a light alarm clock, you can have one in the comfort of your own bedroom!

Yoga Mat

Give the gift of Yoga. 

There are tons of great videos online to get you started as a beginner Yogi!

And giving a yoga mat to your friend who is struggling to find the will-power to practice yoga, will definitely give them the resources and inspiration they need to begin their own yoga journey!

Gua Sha

This shaping tool is an actual stone which glides over your skin to improve circulation. It is literally a natural face lift!

Can you think of a better gift?

I bought one a year ago and, to clarify, have been ADDICTED to it since!

I would recommend using it with Vitamin E oil or Miracle Oil on your skin, to help it glide with ease. There are also plenty of online videos with instructions on how to use it.

Tongue Scraper

Okay, this may seem like an odd one, but, did you know that your tongue builds up a lot of bad bacteria overnight?If not scraped away in the morning, we ingest it?

This well-known ancient Ayurvedic (Indian) practice has been used for thousands of years. 

Using it: 

• improves oral hygiene
• removes bad bacteria
• improves your taste and moreover, overall health

Get scrapin’!

A Plant

Give the gift of life. 

I think a plant can be one of the most wholesome gifts you can give. 

The person will care, nurture and watch it grow. Let your loved one grow their very own herb garden and reap the rewards from it. 

They’ll be itching to show off their fresh herbs the next time they cook dinner for you!

A Journal

Why not get a lovely, well-made journal that somebody can use as a sacred space to jot down all their thoughts?

I’ll never forget how grateful I was when two friends of mine surprised me with a gift of a beautiful, teal leather-bound journal when I first moved to Boston, during their visit. As a result, home seemed less far away when I had it with me on my journey of self-discovery.

If you want to gift a Guided journal, Michelle Obama’s Becoming: Guided Journal is a brilliant thought-provoking journal that will get their writing juices flowing.

A 2021 Planner 

I bought my sister, who loves becoming organised, a 2021 Planner. It’s based on one of her favourite Irish Books with funny quotes and self reflection included. 

My mom is obsessed with an Irish Homeware Designer, Francis Brennan. I got her the Francis Brennan Homekeepers Diary. 

What interests does your gift receiver have? There’s probably a perfect planner out there for them!

A Good Book

I don’t just mean one of the cheesy romance top sellers. You know the kind. Boy meets girl. Everything’s great. Something bad happens. He leaves, she’s sad. When she’s at her lowest point, consequently, boy comes back. Everything’s great, corny punchline. End scene.

Gift a book that you think would benefit the receiver. Whether intellectually, spiritually, nutritionally, environmentally, or physically. 

Here are a few of my recommendations:

Environmental

How to Save Your Planet One Object at a Time – Tara Shine

Psychology/Thought Provoking

A Man’s Search For Meaning – Viktor E. Frankl

Spiritual

The Power Of Now – Eckhart Tolle

Nutrition/ Lifestyle

The Switch – Amanda Byram

Autobiography

When Breath Becomes Air –  Paul Kalanithi

Happy Gifting Friends!

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