It can get a little bit boring buying the same old Christmas gifts every year. Sure, a selection box and a bath set is a lovely thing to be given, but sometimes you just want the gifts you give somebody to stand out. That’s why I started to think about what I really wanted to be giving people, and gifting with more intention than I was previously doing. I wanted to reduce the waste involved in unnecessary gifting – both environmentally and financially – and come up with gifts that were really going to make an impact on the recipient’s life. Here are some of my ideas!
DNA kit
Recently I did a DNA test from a well-known brand, and it was able to tell me all kinds of things about myself and my genetic history. There are all kinds of options – ones that tell you where your family comes from, and even ones that can tell you if you’re genetically more or less likely to enjoy the taste of broccoli! This can be a bit of a pricey gift, especially if you start looking at the ones that go a bit more in-depth, but it’s going to be a present that the recipient is going to remember forever.
Piano lessons
When I think about a traditional family Christmas, I think of the whole family being snuggled up and singing around a Markson Piano singing carols together. And while that might not be entirely realistic – does anybody ever get through the holiday season without at least two people falling out with each other? – it’d be a whole lot more likely if you gifted piano lessons to one of your loved ones. Learning to play piano is a skill that will never leave you, and is going to have such an impact on your life if music is important to you, so there is no better gift for any music lover in your family, no matter their age.
A new furry friend
They do say that a pet is for life not for Christmas, but if you have a family member who you know has looked into getting a new furry friend and has already mentioned their plans to look after it, then this could be the perfect way to surprise them. Nothing is quite as life-changing as gifting somebody something that they can love and dote on for the rest of their lives together, and as long as you know that they can provide the pet with excellent care and it works for their family situation (make sure you let other family members in on the secret first!), a new pet can be a fantastic gift to give somebody.
A cleaner for their home
Life gets in the way for a lot of us, and I think most people can empathise with the feeling of being absolutely exhausted after working all day and then seeing that you have a whole house to look after. This can be especially difficult for disabled people, both with physical disabilities or one that affects executive functioning, like ADHD. Hiring somebody a cleaner – whether its a one-off to do a deep clean, or its a regular booking – can be a really touching gift for somebody who is struggling, and sometimes it can be exactly what they need to get them out of feeling overwhelmed.
A food subscription box
On the topic of feeling overwhelmed, another task that many find difficult is cooking for themselves. A food subscription box, or even vouchers for a couple of nice meals, is a great way to show that you care about that person being nourished and looked after. Sometimes self-care is difficult when life is overwhelming, so this is a great way to make that job just a little bit easier for them so that they feel more able to pick it up themselves.
Have you ever been given any life-changing gifts? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.
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