We often wish people a happy, healthy holiday season, but rarely give gifts that support the sentiment. As the new year approaches and resolutions are made the following gift ideas will help recipients maintain those promises of developing healthier lifestyle habits.
FITNESS
- Jump Rope: This simple tool provides cardiovascular exercise, is portable and convenient. Some even have devices that count jumps and calories burned.
- Wearable Activity Trackers: Self-awareness is the first step to creating healthy habits. Wearable tracking devices monitor heart rate, sleep, steps, as well as motivate and challenge the user and hold them accountable to their health goals.
- Body Fat Monitoring Scale: Knowledge is power. Being able to measure body composition can be more informative in terms of predicting a person’s health risk than measuring weight alone.
STRESS MANAGEMENT
- Journal: Utilizing a journal is a great way to develop a better understanding of what causes a person stress as well as see what stressors they control and those they cannot. It is encouraged to end each entry with something you are grateful for or a motivational saying to encourage a more positive perspective.
- Aromatherapy Gift Set: Extended periods of stress raises heart rate, blood pressure and weakens the immune system. Candles or room sprays with calming scents have been proven to ease stress and improve mood.
- Tabletop Tranquility Fountains: Soothing sounds of water make any room more relaxing. Favorite music and sounds of nature are proven stress relievers.
SLEEP
- Eye Mask: Lack of sleep is associated with many chronic illnesses, obesity and increased stress levels. An eye mask can help achieve good sleep by blocking out light. Some are scented with soothing lavender scent or can be chilled in a freezer to alleviate headaches and reduce eye swelling.
- Humidifier: Breathe easier and reduce the chances of waking up with stuffy sinuses by using a humidifier, which brings moisture-rich air to any room along with soothing sounds that promote restful sleep.
- Wake-Up Light: Imagine an alarm clock that gradually brightens the room with a daylight-type bulb and nature sounds instead of a blaring horn sound. Gradual, natural waking can have a big impact on energy levels and proper hormone production throughout the day.
NUTRITION
- Mini Herb Garden Kit: Replacing salt with natural herbs such as parsley, chives and basil that can be easily grown in the home is a heart healthy, cost effective way to add natural flavor to foods.
- Creative Lunch Coolers: Make packing a healthy lunch more fun and eliminate the desire to grab fast food on breaks. This great gift is available in many sizes, colors, shapes and designs based off the recipient’s preferences.
- Small Appliance: Items like air fryers or rice cookers can make eating healthier easier to do.
