The holidays are the season of giving, which is great, unless you find yourself at a loss for what to give. If there’s one gift category that encompasses just about every human on the planet, it’s wellness. While wellness might not mean the same thing to every person, nearly every person is invested in some aspect of their personal wellness.
From weighted eye blankets (yup, that’s a thing) to activewear and technology, these gifts offer a unique option the health-obsessed will truly appreciate this holiday season.
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For the hygge lover: The Nodpod
Hygge is becoming a perennial buzzword in wellness circles. The Danish word describes a quality of coziness and comfort that leads to feelings of contentment and well-being.
For contentment-causing coziness, it doesn’t get much better than the Nodpod, a weighted blanket for your eyes. The strap-free sleep mask incorporates the science of deep touch pressure — the application of gentle pressure to relieve stress and anxiety. Deep touch pressure works by signaling the brain to release serotonin and melatonin, which naturally calms and relaxes the central nervous system. Weighted blankets have long been used by anxiety sufferers and people on the autism spectrum. The Nodpod applies the same science that makes weighted blankets such a simple-but-effective form of stress relief, promoting deep, restful sleep, and it can be effective as a nighttime anxiety remedy and, in some cases, as a natural migraine solution.
For the active fashionista: The Halyard Sport from Jack Mason
Jack Mason brand watches are the perfect mix of high-quality craftsmanship and sturdy, everyday functionality. The best pick for a wellness lover? The Halyard Sport, which was inspired by design cues from sailing and boats. This model features an easy-to-read dial enhanced by Swiss Super-Luminova markings and applied indices, making it easy to read on the run — even on a literal run. The watch’s brushed 42-millimeter stainless steel case is tested for water resistance of up to 100 meters, and the rubber strap is comfortable and fitted, so the watch stays in place during your most active moments. It’s a watch that transitions seamlessly from the gym to the office, which is a feat very few accessories can pull off.
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For the gritty romantic: Enso Rings
Enso Rings is a premium silicone ring brand specializing in a practical, comfortable (and still stylish) alternative to traditional metal wedding rings. Silicon rings are a great alternative to traditional wedding bands for a lot of people — from anyone whose job requires a lot of work with their hands to fitness buffs or frequent flyers. Silicone rings like those sold by Enso are perfect for avid athletes, like martial artists and swimmers, and for people dealing with more medically focused wellness issues, like arthritis and pregnancy (both of which can cause fingers to swell, making it uncomfortable to wear a metal ring). Another bonus of Enso? The company donates a percentage of the proceeds from every sale to global organizations with their Rings for a Reason initiative.
For the leggings snob: Superfit Hero activewear
Do you know someone who would live in leggings and activewear if they had their way? A pair of pocket leggings from Superfit Hero, a premium line of activewear, will make you that person’s holiday hero. Superfit Hero clothing is ethically made in Los Angeles and is available in women’s sizes XS-5XL, making the line truly size-inclusive. The leggings are comfortable, butter-soft, supportive and durable, and they feature full-size pockets on both sides. Plus, the no-sweat fabric dries fast, making Superfit Hero leggings the ideal uniform for hardcore workouts.
For the high-tech perfectionist: Run Free Pro Bio
The Run Free Pro Bio headphones from SOUL Electronics are the world’s first AI earphones with gait analysis, monitoring running form and providing real-time coaching to maximize performance. Yes, you read that correctly: These headphones will actually analyze a runner’s form in real time and provide feedback automatically to help athletes maximize performance and minimize potential injury. The technologically advanced earbuds measure speed, distance, cadence, step length, step width, vertical oscillation, head tilt angle, stance/flight time, shock, maximum leg force, balance and consistency. Users simply connect with the SOUL Fit App, which tracks and analyzes runs to improve overall performance and helps athletes at all levels reach their full potential. In addition to the amazing AI capabilities, the headphones boast up to 11 hours of playback time on a single charge and safety LED lights with still and flashing options for added safety during night workouts.
For the sleep-deprived workaholic: Philip Stein’s Sleep Bracelet
A lack of sleep (or even just a lack of good-quality sleep) has a domino effect. On a superficial level, lack of sleep causes cortisol to be released, which encourages skin inflammation and complexion woes. On a more concerning level, poor sleep habits can lead to high blood pressure, exacerbate mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and can even increase the risk of early death. Unfortunately, many of us feel like we’re constantly burning the candle at both ends and sacrificing sleep to meet the demands of our busy lives.
That’s where the Philip Stein’s Sleep Bracelet comes in. Designed to help you sleep better and wake up feeling more refreshed, the Sleep Bracelet is embedded with Philip Stein’s Natural Frequency Technology, which works to strengthen the body’s bio-magnetic field while the bracelet “emits energy that stimulates the body’s natural production of sleep frequencies.” The company’s Classic Sleep Bracelet retails for $395, but a more affordable model, the Sleep Bracelet Nano, is currently available for $199.
MORE: Creative and sustainable ways to wrap gifts
For the light sleeper: The LectroFan EVO
This powerful little box is more than your average white noise machine. With 22 different soothing sounds, including white noise, brown noise, pink noise, fan sounds and ocean and surf sounds, the EVO minimizes sleep disturbances and promotes deep, restful sleep. White noise can also be a great focus tool during the waking hours and can help tune out workday distractions at the office. The EVO comes in white and black and features an easy-to-use, intuitive interface that you’ll master on night one — no matter how tired you are.
For the cutting edge tech tester: The Joovv Go
Red light therapy is becoming more and more mainstream, and that’s thanks, in part at least, to products like Joovv, which are bringing the treatment into users’ homes. Here’s the quick version of how red light therapy works: A device equipped with medical-grade LEDs delivers concentrated wavelengths of natural light to the body’s skin and cells, all without the dangers that come along with UV rays. The FDA has approved light therapy for the treatment of joint pain, reduction of wrinkles and other conditions.
How? Proponents of red light therapy say it powers the cells and triggers a chemical reaction in the mitochondria of cells that boosts energy production and regeneration. The Joovv Go makes red light therapy — a favorite of world-class athletes and personal trainers — accessible and portable. The company recommends sitting or standing near the device for 10-15 minutes a day to “charge your cells” and reap the corresponding health benefits.
For the anxiety prone: doppel
Wearable technology is booming, and London-based company doppel offers a wearable device that helps treat one of mankind’s most widespread woes: anxiety. The doppel device is worn on the inside of the wrist and works by creating silent vibrations that feel reminiscent of a heartbeat to calm the wearer. One study showed that using the doppel helped users across the anxiety spectrum feel better, even without medication.
The free doppel app, which is available for both iOS and Android, allows users to create, save and sync their personalized rhythms to their doppel device, in addition to the five preset rhythms designed to help users feel relaxed, calm, focused, alert or energized.
For the vitamin fanatic: itSpray Vitamins
If you thought gummies were the ultimate in vitamin delivery, think again. itSpray Vitamins are, well, pretty much exactly what they sound like: sprayable bursts of body-helping supplements. The line currently has three products: Boost, Dream, and Charge. Boost is an immune system stimulator, Dream increases serotonin to promote restful sleep, and Charge lowers stress and increases focus and energy. A few sprays under your tongue is all it takes for super-efficient, direct absorption into your body.
For the person who’s too busy for a spa day: The Rykr Roll
Professional massages can be amazing, but they can also be stressful. There’s the scheduling, the commute to the spa, the bite pro treatment can take out of your budget, and then, of course, there’s the whole getting naked around a stranger aspect. Still, whether you’re carrying tension from crouching over a computer for work or dealing with sore muscles from intense workouts, there’s nothing quite like a good massage. With Rykr Roll you become your own masseuse. The Rykr Roll is battery-free and can be warmed or cooled, depending on your preference. The handheld self-massager applies acupressure and promotes better oxygen flow and blood circulation to maximize pain and tension relief.
For the screen junkie: Sherman Shades Cooldown
Wearing sunglasses inside isn’t just a quirky fashion statement anymore. Case in point: Sherman Shades Cooldown glasses from Lucyd eyewear. The glasses, which have icy clear frames, feature a totally new type of lense: auto-tinting haze master. This innovative new lens technology is designed to protect the human eye against screens, darken in the sun and slightly enhance night vision.
For the kitchen sink jogger — SPIbelt
Fitness belts for runners and joggers are commonplace, but the Large Pocket SPIbelt is definitely one of the best options out there. The stretchy, elastic belt is so comfortable you’ll forget you’re wearing it and it lives up to its name with a large, stretchable pocket big enough to hold the biggest smartphones on the market and then some, making it a perfect gift for anyone who likes to keep a lot of items handy during their workout routine. The Large Pocket model can expand to hold everything you need on a run or at the gym, including headphones, keys, ID and credit cards.
Looking for another wellness gift? Learn about vertical tower gardens below.