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.