12 Creative Gift Ideas for the Eternally Stressed Out

Do you have a friend or family member who is eternally stressed out?

We all know the type. 

The overachievers, the workaholics, the new business owners, the serial entrepreneurs, the peacemakers, the high performers, the parents, and the planners.

These are the people who need the most TLC during the holidays.

To help, our editorial team has put together this carefully curated self-care-focused holiday gift guide to help your busy loved ones de-stress, relax, and focus on themselves for a change.

12 Gift Ideas For The Eternally Stressed Out

1: Adaptogenic Chocolate Treats

Chocolate used to be considered an unhealthy “crutch” for dealing with stress. 

However, research suggests that chocolate can help reduce stress (especially in women).REF#133

Plus, you can now find high-quality, antioxidant-rich chocolates enriched with stress-busting herbs.

These herbs are called adaptogens and include Maca, Ashwagandha, and Turmeric. 

You can find various herb-infused chocolate brands online, including organic, Ayurvedic, and dairy-free andsugar-free varieties.

At Gaia Herbs, one of our best-sellers is our Maca Cacao Ginger powder. 

This chocolatey adaptogenic blend can be mixed with your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk or added to recipes like smoothies or healthy desserts.

2. Healthy Meal Kits & Premade Meals

Weekly cooking, grocery shopping, and meal planning can add stress to an already busy schedule. 

Fortunately, meal kits can ease the dinnertime crunch. Plus, they’re fun to cook with, and there are many services to choose from. 

For the health-conscious, look for a meal kt subscription service that offers organic, plant-based, vegan, paleo, and gluten-free varieties.

If your giftee doesn’t like to cook, consider a healthy fresh, or frozen meal delivery service that offers similar options.

#3: Stress-Busting Teas

Did you know that drinking tea has been proven to reduce stress?REF#134

Different teas also contain stress-busting nutrients and properties, such as theanine in green tea and matcha and anti-inflammatory saponins in Yerba Mate.

When it comes to herbal teas, some of the most popular (and tasty) stress-busters include:

• Chamomile
• Lemon Balm
• Lavender
• Passionflower
• Valerian
• Ashwagandha
• Tulsi (Holy Basil)
• Rose

Gaia Herbs Sleep & Relax Herbal Tea, with Passionflower, Lemon Balm, and Chamomile, as well as our Golden Milk with adaptogenic Turmeric, Ashwagandha, Dates, Cardamom, and Vanilla make great stocking stuffers for tea lovers.

#4: Spa Gift Card

In general, the eternally stressed out are notoriously neglectful of self care. This is where a thoughtfully selected spa gift card comes in.

Here are some helpful tips on selecting the right gift card:

• If you’re unsure what types of spa services they like (believe it or not, not everyone likes massages or facials), give them a gift card for a dollar amount vs. a package or specific service.
• Before gifting a massage or facial, do a little detective work to determine if your giftee has a massage therapist, esthetician, or spa they frequent. If so, purchase the gift card from that therapist or spa. In general, people like to stick with therapists they already know and trust.
• If you’re unfamiliar with the best spas in your giftee’s area, consider using a Spa Gift Card service. These companies offer generic spa gift cards your loved one can use at thousands of partner spas around the country or the world.

Insider tip: the holidays are a peak time of year for spas to sell gift certificates. Therefore, many offer special holiday packages at a discounted rate.

#5: Gaia Herbs Calm Kit®

Gaia Herbs Calm Kit is a combination of herbal supplements designed to promote a peaceful state of mind, a normal stress response, and melt away tension.

We accomplish this by using herbs that support normal adrenal and nervous system function in various delivery systems.

The Calm Kit includes the following:

• Adrenal Health & Daily Support® capsules contain nerve-supportive Milky Oats and adrenal-loving adaptogens like Ashwagandha, Holy Basil, and Rhodiola to promote a healthy stress response.*

• Golden Milk powder is our take on the traditional (and delectable) Ayurvedic Turmeric elixir used to promote overall physical, mental, and emotional well-being.*

• Ashwagandha Gummies are a fun and healthy way to promote relaxation.*. They’re sweetened with fruit and contain with 6 mg of Ashwagandha and only 5 grams of sugar per serving.

• Calm A.S.A.P.® with Passionflower, Chamomile, and Vervain is our award-winning formula designed to relieve occasional anxiousness and circumstantial stress.*

This calming bundle is a great deal when purchased as a set. Order yours today.

#6: Meditation Gear And Apps

Mindfulness meditation has been shown to be one of the most effective drug-free solutions to calm anxiety, ease stress, enhance focus, improve sleep, and benefit overall health.REF#135

Fortunately, technology has made it easy to learn the art of meditation.

Here are some ways to give the gift of mindfulness to the eternally stressed out:

• Meditation app subscriptions
• Mindfulness or Gratitude Journals
• Online or in-person meditation or yoga courses or retreats
• Meditation headbands track the user's progress and markers of relaxation while offering helpful ways to enhance your practice.
• Meditation mats come in a variety of forms. From super-simple cushioned mats to grounding mats enhanced with infrared heat, crystals, grounding technology, etc.

Unsure which meditation gift may be best for your friend or loved one? A journal and/or app subscription are great for everyone, regardless of their experience.

#7: Sauna Blankets

Saunas are fantastic for promoting relaxation, detoxification, healthy sleep, normal inflammatory response, and overall well-being.REF#136

Sauna blankets are a new, space-efficient, and affordable way to give the gift of sauna therapy.

Sauna blankets vary widely in terms of cost and quality. So when you’re shopping, be sure to consider things like:

• The type of heat (infrared vs. traditional)
• Low-EMF 
• Timer settings
• Dimensions
• Materials
• Reviews

Note: Saunas may not be appropriate for those with certain health conditions and women who are pregnant. Always research the contraindications before purchasing.

#8: Digital Detox Tools

Most of us rely on digital devices to make a living, entertain, and run our lives. 

Unfortunately, although these devices can simplify our lives in many ways, they can also cause excess stress and degrade our mental health.

For example, a 2022 survey published by Statista showed a connection between users' addiction to digital devices and the level of stress they were experiencing.REF#137

Over 60 percent of those who considered themselves addicted or somewhat addicted to digital appliances stated that they were strongly or nearly strongly stressed. In contrast, over 50 percent of respondents, who were not addicted to devices, said they were not experiencing stress. 

This is just one example of how time spent on digital devices can cause stress and negatively impact our health.

The consequences of excess screen time have led to a new movement known as a digital detox. 

A digital detox can be accomplished in various ways. The basic premise is to help people create a more balanced relationship with digital devices.

Here are some gifts that can help mitigate the harmful effects of screen time while assisting people in striking a healthier balance

• A digital detox retreat: Popular with business owners and CEOs, these screen-free retreats take place worldwide and provide a complete digital vacation and reboot for the digitally compromised.

• A faraday mobile phone bag: These bags provide a double benefit for the digitally-stressed out: 

• They immediately shut off your phone, so you can’t hear dings, notifications, etc. 

• They block cell phone radiation, which research suggests may cause stress by contributing to inflammation, oxidative stress, and HPA (hypothalamus pituitary adrenal) axis dysfunction.REF#138

• An analog alarm clock: Health, sleep, and relationship experts agree Smartphones and other devices have no place in your bedroom.REF#139 The problem is, Smartphones have replaced alarm clocks in many households. Solve this problem with a simple, battery-powered analog clock.

• Wireless/Wi-Fi kill switch/Wi-Fi timer: Sleep is foundational to good physical, mental, and emotional health—including brain health and stress response. However, digital devices can cause us to stay up later than we should,REF#139 leading to sleep deprivation and all its downfalls. A wireless kill switch solves this problem by turning off your wireless at a set time of day, signaling: lights out. 

• Gifter’s tip: Avoid Smart Wi-Fi kill switches controlled from a phone. It makes it too easy to turn it back on.

• Blue-blocking glasses help reduce blue light exposure from screens, which studies suggest can interfere with sleep and increase stress. 

There are different types of blue blockers for daytime and nighttime use in all different styles for adults and children. 

Consider a dual-pack of daytime and nighttime glasses for those who spend most of their day on a computer.

#9: Gaia Herbs Relax Gummies

If you need a sweet stocking stuffer or host/hostess gift, Gaia Relax Gummies make a thoughtful and healthy gift.

These blueberry lemon-flavored gummies are free from refined sugar and artificial colors. They pack a powerful punch of herbal stress support, including: 

• Adaptogenic Holy Basil to support adrenal health, stamina, and stress response*
• Passionflower promotes relaxation and healthy sleep*
• Lemon Balm has been traditionally used for centuries to promote calmness, restful sleep, and a peaceful state of mind*

Need several stocking stuffers or small gifts? 

Save 10% with the Gaia Gummies Bundle with Relax, Black Elderberry, Turmeric Supreme, Ashwagandha, and Sleep.

#10: The Gift Of Green Space

A growing body of research has shown that time spent in greenspace is one of the most potent ways to reduce stress and anxiety and improve overall mental and emotional well-being.REF#140

But how do you give greenspace? 

Here are a few creative ways to give your stressed-out friends the benefits of greenspace:

• Buy them a membership to their local arboretum, botanical garden, or conservatory.
• Give them plants or trees. Research has shown that having houseplants around can reduce stress.REF#141
• Book them a session with a forest bathing guide. Popular in Asia, forest bathing is the act of spending time in the woods to benefit your health. Forest bathing guides provide hiking excursions, retreats, or relaxing walks in the woods to view flora and fauna.

• Gift them a glamping vacation!

• Give books on the benefits of green space, forest bathing, and nature therapy to inspire them to get outside.

#11: Weighted Blankets

Weighted blankets are a perfect gift for stressed-out, time-starved, over-thinkers because they’re so easy to use.

Just flop on the couch and pull one on for instant stress relief, warmth, and comfort.

They work by stimulating deep pressure points that help relax the nervous system. The sensation is meant to mimic the feeling of receiving a comforting hug.

This article from The Sleep Foundation has helpful tips on their top recommended brands. 

For the health- and environmentally-conscious, consider opting for weighted blankets made from organic and/or natural fibers like wool, cotton, etc.

When choosing the right blanket, it’s helpful to know the person’s weight to get the correct size. Generally, the weight of the blanket should be 10% of the user’s total weight.

If you’re not good at guessing weight, a gift card to a weighted blanket retailer is the safest bet.

#12: Gaia Herbs Sound Sleep 

Too much stress often negatively affects our sleep cycle, leading to many other problems.

Gaia Herbs Sound Sleep will be a welcomed gift for those who struggle with occasional sleeplessness.* 

The combination of gentle herbs, including California Poppy, Skullcap, Passionflower, and Hops provide relaxation and support a natural transition to sleep.*

Happy Stress-Free Holidays from our Gaia Herbs family to yours!