Journals, App Subscriptions: Your Go-To Gift Guide For A Healthy Lifestyle

‘Tis the season for Secret Santa and festive gatherings leaving everyone scrambling for the perfect gift. 

The array of options is endless and hence overwhelming. Choosing gifts that promote physical activity, mental well-being, and overall health is not only thoughtful but also inspires a positive impact on the recipient's life. 

Here is a comprehensive gifting guide for you, that is all-season. It is a bookmark-worthy resource for anyone looking for thoughtful presents that cater to the wellness and healthy lifestyle preferences of their loved ones. 

This all-season gifting guide is a go-to resource for thoughtful presents tailored to the wellness preferences of your loved ones. Whether for family, friends, or employees— and whether they're fitness enthusiasts or just beginning their fitness journey — selecting gifts aligned with a healthier lifestyle reflects your commitment to their well-being. 

This gifting guide takes into consideration current trends in healthy living and the challenges that people face when trying to make healthy choices.

1. Fitness Trackers And Smartwatches

These provide the motivation needed to encourage movement throughout the day. They also monitor heart rate and sleep patterns, promoting a holistic approach to health. There are several options available nowadays, offering a variety of designs, features, and price points to easily fit any requirement.

2. Continuous Glucose Monitors

Continuous glucose monitors are small patches with an extremely fine needle that is applied on the arm (usually). The sensor connects to an app on the user’s smartphone and provides a continuous reading of their plasma glucose. It is extremely useful not just for diabetics but also for people who want to be more aware of how different foods affect their glucose levels. Being a tad invasive and a new technology, people are more willing to explore this if someone nudges them towards it, making it an ideal gift, especially for family members. 

3. Apps Subscriptions

Guided meditation apps like Calm, Headspace or apps for overall wellbeing like Roundglass all provide free content but a paid subscription gives access to an extensive library of useful personalised content. Buying a few months or an annual subscription for the app is a thoughtful gift. This is something companies can buy for their employees to support their mental health and well-being.

4. Store Vouchers 

Vouchers from stores like Decathlon that have every product for nearly every sport or physical activity give the recipient a wide choice of products to choose from, be it for walking, cycling, tennis, swimming and trekking. 

5. Cooking Workshops 

I was pleasantly surprised by the thoughtful gifts of friends enrolling each other in my healthy cooking workshops. It served as a way to nurture their friends' love for cooking while delving into the principles of preparing nutritious meals. Additionally, I've had the joy of conducting these workshops for companies, whether in their offices or offsites. Men and women alike displayed keen interest in learning quick and healthy cooking tips and recipes.

6. Essential Oil Diffusers 

Good quality essential oils when used in cool mist diffusers are game changers when you want to make your space smell good. They create a calming and aromatic ambience that improves mood, reduces stress, and improves mental clarity. Choose an essential oil or a blend from woodsy, citrus, floral, or herbal ranges that you feel the recipient will love. They can be used both in work as well as home spaces.

7. Sleeping Aids 

Apart from the diffusers that create a calming environment, luxury sleep masks, pillowcases or pajamas that aid better quality of sleep are something everyone will appreciate. These gifts are of course a little more personal and work for Secret Santa with friends or family members. 

8. Journals 

A beautifully designed journal or a gratitude diary, that encourages self-reflection and positivity gets us a step towards mindfulness. It can help process their emotions, reduce stress and anxiety, gain self-awareness, improve their sleep, and develop healthy habits, all of which contribute to a better mental health status, making it an ideal gift in this category.

9. Reusable Water Bottles 

Staying hydrated is essential for overall wellness, and having a reusable water bottle on hand can help us stay hydrated throughout the day. Whether it's for a yoga class, the gym, or to keep on the desk, a reusable water bottle is a practical and thoughtful gift that promotes wellness and sustainability. Choose bottles with high-quality materials and get the bottle personalised to make it an even better gift. 

10. Food And Beverage 

Seed mixes, crackers, dark chocolate and gourmet protein bars are some of the food gift ideas for those who lead a health-conscious life. Herbal tea blends and herbal tea infusers or kettles are things perfect for tea lovers. Low-sugar artisanal tonics and kombuchas, zero-proof versions of rum or gin make a great alternative for teetotallers.

11. Plants 

Plants are the most cost-effective way to upgrade any space, be it an office cabin or home. Choose low-maintenance, shade-loving plants so that they don’t need extra effort from your gift recipient. Indoor plants improve air quality and create a sense of tranquillity, contributing to overall well-being, and making them the best gift, be it personal or professional.