Self-Care Gifts to Soothe the Soul
WOW! What a year 2020 has been! Between the Pandemic, racial tensions, the election, and whatever else you have going on in your life, a little self-care is a “must-have” this season and just what the Dr. ordered.
Let’s talk about great gifts that soothe the soul for everyone on your shopping list!
If you haven’t started carving a little “me” time, WHY NOT? Now is the time! If I’ve learned anything from 2020, it’s to slow down, pivot my life/business and do something for myself daily, weekly AND monthly. What are you doing? Exercising? Binge-watching shows? Getting a facial or mani/pedi? Writing in your journal? Any of these are wonderful ways to decompress, be mindful, grateful, and enjoy the moment.
- How many of you/your loved ones have been writing a little more this year? Maybe your recipient wants to put their thoughts on paper, so a new journal is a perfect gift. Whether it’s listing goals for the new year, drawing, or writing music, there are so many journals to choose from like these from Etsy.com. Check out a personalized leather-bound journal for him or one with positive quotes on the front or prompts on the inside for her.
- Being cooped up caused me to exercise more-no quarantine 15 for me! Did you start your new fitness regime now that you had more time on your hands or just ramp it up a bit? Either way, you need to move. Now that the weather is getting colder, a great gift idea is to buy a gym membership ( I recommend the Mauldin Sports Center), Beats headphones, or Bose earbuds for the male or female in your life. If you need a gift for the person who likes to be active, these will keep them motivated, if running on a treadmill or hiking. These are great ones.
- Are you or your loved one missing the social interaction and physical touch? This one was and still is a hard one for me as I am a “hugger”. These gifts could range from a subscription box from your favorite company or maybe a massage from your local masseuse. I recommend Erin Baker at Dr. for Life. I added monthly massages to my self-care list last year and it made a huge difference in my mental and physical well-being. If your favorite masseuse is still closed, have your spouse/partner give you a massage. I also LOVE getting facials, manis/pedis from local places like Organic Tan Face and Body, AO The Space, and Tips & Toes. Don’t forget to support your local businesses right now. Check out Causebox for her and another Etsy item-“Think Outside the Box” for him along with countless others (just google subscription boxes) offer a nice surprise each month and lots of goodies to try.
- Are you or a family member the caregiver? If you enjoy taking care of the family during this time, great but you need some self-care, too! Why don’t you try a new coffee or tea for some comfort? Or maybe wine or monthly/weekly boxed meals are needed to help with all of the stresses of homeschooling and being cooped up all day. Winco.com sends monthly in a number of ways: curated for you, straight from the vineyard, and recommended wines. I also love the “make your own Matcha” tea by Golde.co. Note it’s “co” not “com”. Meals from HelloFresh.com are also very popular if you’re losing your mind cooking 3 meals a day for the family.
- If you’re luxury obsessed, look no further than candles which are always a great gift, and bringing the smell of pine into your home during the holidays is a “must-have” for me! Look for beautiful candles like this one from NestNewYork.com, a luxury subscription box from Bespoke.com with all of your shaving needs for him, or maybe you just need to “Chill Out” with a chill pill bath bomb.
During these difficult times, shopping local is SO important. Many of the items I listed can be purchased locally (under different product names, spas, or mom & pop restaurants) so get creative and try that option first. Let’s help keep our friends and neighbors in business before heading to a mass retailer.
Wishing you all a healthy, happy holiday and hopefully getting back to our “new normal” of getting out and about in the new year where we all can wear “FUN” clothes/trends instead of yoga pants!
I am not affiliated with any of the companies I mentioned in this article.