Can you believe it’s gift-giving season already! With Thanksgiving days away, the holidays are officially on most people’s minds. To make everyone’s life a tad easier (including my own), I created another gift guide. But this year I’m focusing even more on practical holiday gift ideas. Shopping for everyone on your list isn’t easy, nor is giving people ideas for yourself. These gifts are carefully curated with minimalism and practicality in mind. Keep reading for plenty of ideas to get the gift-giving job done!
For the Home/Office:
Is your partner or child downsizing but still can’t stand to part with their collection of college, band or concert tees? Send the shirts off to be repurposed into a useful custom quilt carefully crafted by designers, cutters, and sewers earning a fair and living wage in the United States.
My friends, Dani and Roman have two of these quilts and they are so soft and fun! Mike and I are having one made from all the brewery t-shirts we’ve collected over the years.
Starting at $74.99 for a 4′ X 4′ quilt from Project Repat.
Meditation doesn’t require any tools or props, but for the serious practitioner, a zafu certainly helps. I have one of these cushions, as well as a zabuton pillow. They pair beautifully if your gift-buying budget is a bit higher, but I have given zafus as gifts by themselves. A very thoughtful gift for the person in your life trying to live more mindfully and peacefully.
“Zafu meditation cushions provide height under your pelvis for healthy posture. Ours are filled with organic buckwheat hulls that form to your contours. They are also covered with sturdy, beautiful, long-lasting upholstery-grade fabrics and include a convenient handle. Each one is handmade in the USA.”
$49.95 from Hugger Mugger
3. A Year of Gratitude elegant box set
“You can live a life of abundance, independent of any material things, if your heart is always filled with a spirit of gratitude. This elegant box set contains all you need for a head start on such a gracious way of living. Not only does it contain 52 thank you cards—one for each week in the year—but it also has tips for writing meaningful thank you notes, and a guided journal for you to record your experiences. Maybe over this year you will reconnect with someone from your past, or brighten the day of someone who feels taken for granted. With gratitude in your heart, such exchanges can be seen for what they truly are—small miracles.”
$30.00 from Uncommon Goods
4. Random Acts of Kindness Kits (original, teen and family versions)
“Change the world in four easy steps with these intentional act of kindness kits. With the 26 cards in each, you’ll find yourself picking up someone else’s tab at a restaurant, writing a letter to someone who inspired you, picking up the trash on your street, giving genuine compliments and so much more! The coolest thing about Boom Boom! cards is that you can create a chain reaction of covert kindness that could theoretically travel around the world!”
$10.00 – $15.00 from Uncommon Goods
For the Book Lover:
5. Questions For Life: Two Year Guided Daily Journal For Intentional Living
This is the journal I created and use personally every single day.
With The Questions For Life two-year guided journal you can reflect, express gratitude, capture your happiest moment, and answer a self-discovery question in only minutes a day. Get in the habit of slowing down and reflecting on each day while getting to know yourself better. Soon you’ll be enjoying the simpler things in everyday life, living more intentionally, and feeling happier! See firsthand that although every day may not be good, there is good in every day.
Click here to learn more and read a review.
$18.99 from Amazon
I had the privilege of hearing Brené Brown speak this year and she is so inspiring! This book is on my personal Christmas list.
“In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown, a leading expert on shame, authenticity, and belonging, shares ten guideposts on the power of Wholehearted living—a way of engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.”
$8.59 from Amazon
For the Fashionable
“The Real Now Watch is our only piece that tells the time and functions as a mindfulness tool that reminds you to be here now. Made from recycled eco-friendly materials.”
$33.33 from Etsy
Love yoga AND craft beer? I know I do.
“Yoga at craft breweries has been popping up all over. Go in style with this craft beer-themed yoga shirt!”
$20.00 from Hopcloth
I love these pants so much, I had to include them again, but in a different style.
“You and Elephants both need some downtime. With a drawstring waist, back and side pockets, and a relaxed leg, these unisex pants are built for relaxation.”
$24.00 from Elephant Pants and a portion of their proceeds are donated to help save elephants!
For the Minimalist (or person who has everything)
10. World Vision Charitable Gift
Help children and families in need in your gift recipient’s honor. So many options to choose from including bed nets, goats, solar lanterns, shelter, clothing, water wells and so much more. Give a gift. Change a life.
Options starting as low as $16.00 through World Vision
11. Personal organization Voucher
Okay so maybe this one’s for the budding minimalist. We all know someone with too much stuff who doesn’t need anything except for some help getting organized. Why not give them the gift of your time and services. Help a parent, sibling, or close friend clean out some closets or rooms. Give them the gift of your time, presence, and peace of mind. It costs you nothing and goes a very long way.
12. Presence is the Perfect Present
Instead of a gift, give of yourself and your time. Make plans and share some quality time with a loved one. I guarantee you it will be more appreciated and better remembered than a sweater or a gift card.
13. Consumables
You can never go wrong with good wine, craft beer, or coffee (assuming the gift recipient drinks wine, beer and/or coffee.) Consumables, especially high-quality ones, are practical gifts that people don’t often splurge on for themselves.
14. Meal Delivery Service
Home-cooked meals make awesome gifts, but are difficult to coordinate. Instead, why not give a Blue Apron or Hello Fresh meal delivery service gift card? Mike and I have tried both and really enjoyed them! The recipients (think busy couples and families in your life) can redeem it on their schedule and choose the menu they want. All the ingredients are delivered fresh to their door with the recipes enclosed. Ensure your friends and family are eating well… at least for a few days.
Gift card options start at $60.00.
15. A Groupon or Living Social deal for a spa service
Facials, massages and the like are wonderful indulgences we can’t all afford. Check out Groupon and Living Social for deeply discounted deals in your loved ones area and buy them a service they wouldn’t buy themselves.
16. A baby or pet-sitting voucher
Who doesn’t love a night out knowing the kids are alright? Offer to spend some quality time with the kids (or pets) so your loved one/s can get some time away knowing their little ones are in excellent hands.
For the Pups
17. Homemade dog treats
We have A LOT of dogs in our life and were spending a fortune buying gifts for all of them. This year, I’m making homemade dog treats for all my four-legged brothers, nieces, nephews, etc.
Here’s a link to Pinterest’s “homemade dog treats” search results. Save some money and control the ingredients yourself to ensure a healthy and delicious treat. I think I’m going to try making the peanut butter pumpkin ones first!
Need more ideas? Check out last year’s Mindful Holiday Gift Guide featuring sixteen great gifts under $50!
I hope these lists help you cross some items off your list! Wishing you a happy, mindful, and low-stress start to the holiday season!
Great ideas!