ThisNext Blog

Because you can’t grace every stressed-out soul on your holiday shopping list with a gift certificate to some divine and decadent spa, it makes sense to seek out other less costly but still lovely treats that can bring much calm, peace of mind, and a little indulgence. One of the most effective anti-stress treasures on the planet, lavender naturally soothes troubled minds whether taken in chocolate, honey, or tea form. The herb also makes for a subtly fragrant essential in self-care products such as the soap, shower gel, and bath tea featured in Pachamama World’s Lavender Pack. Ideal for those looking for gifts that give back, the entire fair-trade Pachamama World catalogue helps promote sustainable community development by supporting low-income artisans and farmers in the Third World.

Another bliss-inducing bath product, Lollia’s Dream Calming Bubble Bath blends white rose and muguet petals with almond and avocado oils into a tension-melting, skin-loving concoction that can help you to sleep more soundly. Plus, the packaging is so to die for.

For a gift geared specifically toward stressed-out feet, look to Vickerey’s Spa Foot Care package. Featuring herbal spa socks and shea butter foot creme, the gift set lets you play at spa-going when an actual getaway’s not in the cards.

A recent study from the University of London found that drinking black tea can help you recover from everyday stresses, so exquisite earl greys such as Blue of London from Le Palais des Thes should provide a simple-yet-sublime end-of-day retreat. “Their people actually know what they are doing and are very passionate about their work. It shows,” says ThisNexter loft3 of Le Palais des Thes. “Purists at heart, their teas are skillfully picked and blended. Even their more whimsical combinations have to be taken seriously.” Loft3 recommends storing your tea in a Bamboo Tea Box, another eco-friendly gift (“it’s renewable, it’s abundant and it looks fantastic,” says our shopcaster of the box’s super-sustainable material).

A slightly different kind of herbal stress reliever, Elixir Tonics & Teas are Traditional Chinese Medicine-influenced, fruit-infused beverages that taste so yummy and help unwind your mind. My personal favorite is the Liquid Yoga tonic, an apricot-enhanced blend made with calming botanicals like jujube, Chinese peony, fleece flower, longan, and Aucklandia. Added bonus: The bottles are quite attractive, which considerably ups their gift-worthiness.

For a more playful present, pick up the Faces on the Moon Stress Balls selected by CorporateMonkey. “Softer and more personal than the usual convention giveaway stress ball covered in corporate logos and buzzwords, these soft foam squeezies seem to empathize with your frustration, and offer a bit of relief from those endless TPS reports,” says our shopcaster (and yay for Office Space references).

Crafts like knitting and crocheting can produce a meditation-like effect that dissolves tension better than a bottle of wine. To help a budding crocheter develop her skills (and perhaps achieve a Zen-like peace of mind), give The Crochet Answer Book (“pocket size, good reference,” says ThisNexter jchinique).

And since laughter, as we all know, makes for the best medicine, going for a comedy classic can do no wrong. With the The Woody Allen Collection you get eight DVDs, all of which are hilarious and must-sees, according to John and Rose.

See more of my Gift Guide: For the stress case list at ThisNext.