by Deb Hadley, AIWC Düsseldorf and Health Team Co-Chair
My mother is well-known for handing out “aspirational” gifts at Christmas. Namely, clothes we would otherwise have loved, had they been the right size. She considered them a dangling carrot to inspire us to lose some weight in the new year! Some of her other hits included a Mylar silver 1980s style sweatsuit, Richard Simmons on Broadway and a Slimming World voucher.
Needless to say, this is probably not the best way to go about giving gifts that promote health and wellness. The key here is to know your audience and their aims and goals, and try to support them in achieving them.
Mindfulness is a wonderful skill and tool for a healthier life. Its benefits include better physical well-being in the form of better sleep, improved cognition, lower blood pressure and reducing chronic pain. Mentally, it can help alleviate anxiety and stress and improve relationships.1 It’s something accessible to anyone and doesn’t have to cost a penny. If you know someone who has expressed an interest in becoming more mindful or trying meditation, here are a few ideas to start them on their way:
For the the reluctant or skeptic, the book 10% Happier by Dan Harris is a winner. It is part guide, part autobiography and shows how mindfulness changed Dan’s hectic, stressful life into a manageable, mindful one. It’s actually quite a good read on the story front as well. There is an app that goes with the book, featuring various meditation teachers with different styles and methods. They do gift subscriptions, and this could be a great opportunity to help someone get started.
For those further along this path or more open to the ideas, Sharon Salzburg’s book Real Change: Mindfulness to Heal Ourselves and the World is an excellent read. Salzburg is a world-renowned expert in “loving kindness” meditation, which really helps to promote self-love and awareness and build strong and attentive relatationships with others and the world around you.
Other apps that offer gift subscriptions include Calm and Head Space. Both are filled with programs and guided meditations for many situations. I’ve been known to pop on the “fear of flying” meditation during some choppy flights.
For the active person in your life, a smart watch is always a good choice – if they don’t already have one. The usual suspects like Apple, Garmin and Fitbit are always good, although it’s worth checking what kind of phone someone has first to ensure that the smart watch will integrate. For budget-minded people, XiaoMi offers some wonderful options at very affordable prices that have all the features of the more expensive brands, but with a little less flair. Google has just released the new Pixel Watch, which is substantially cheaper than the Apple alternative and has received excellent reviews so far. For the fashion conscious, there are some new and intriguing fitness trackers out there, including the Oura Ring and Bellabeat’s Leaf – a unique fitness tracker for women.
For workout buffs, a foam roller or a nice massager would be an excellent gift. The Theragun Mini-Massager Red comes highly recommended and indeed, is one of “Oprah’s favorite things” this year. Purchasing this also gives health to others in that every purchase of the red model contributes to fighting global health emergencies like HIV and COVID-19.
For the teenager or younger woman in your life, there are some incredible menstruation products out there, from period panties to menstrual cups and sleep shorts. Many of these companies are female-led and donate a portion of their profits to support period poverty. It’s a sustainable gift that keeps on giving.
Finally, there is also the option of giving a gift that helps your mental health. Handcrafted and homemade gifts can often really delight the receiver, as the thought that goes into them extends above and beyond anything purchased, and the act of creating them stimulates endorphins that make you feel just as good.
The Health Team wishes you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season!
Disclaimer: These resources are for information only. With the exception of FAWCO-related options, there is no endorsement of the charities, services or products included in this review.
1 https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/benefits-of-mindfulness.htm