Christmas is just around the corner. If you haven’t yet gotten your holiday shopping list sorted (just like me), this holiday gift guide will help you (and me) become everyone’s favourite Santa this year.
The great thing about this list is you can get most of them for under $30. However, if you’re feeling extra giving and you’re particularly liking someone’s performance, feel free to up your budget to show your appreciation.
Tumbler
Let’s get this one out of the way, shall we? It’s basically on every list but it really is the most simple and useful thing. Tumblers help you stay hydrated and help the planet by minimising trash.
Good quality tumblers can keep your tea hot the whole day, and won’t spill no matter how you toss it in your bag. It never expires and will probably last forever (if you don’t lose it), so overall, it’s still one of the most practical and cost-effective gifts you can give.
Essential oils
A small yet mighty addition to my home office, essential oils are great at setting the mood. Citrus scents feel like opening a bottle of happiness, while mints are great for improving focus and productivity. A nifty hack that you can use to revolutionise your home office – use specific scents to signal your brain of certain activities.
Use peppermint when you’re about to begin work, citrus when you need an afternoon boost, and something grounding like lavender or sandalwood when you’re finished with work, to cue your brain that it’s time to relax.
Journal
You can’t really go wrong with a good journal. Having a place where you can jot down your thoughts, to dos and world-domination plans is the first step to achieving anything.
There are many affordable journals in the market today, with creamy pages that rival giants like Hobonichi and Leuchtturm. If your giftee doesn’t journal, a daily 2023 planner might be too much. Instead, you can check out undated journals, gratitude journals, or a compact traveller’s notebook.
Fountain pen
An extra peripheral that just absolutely changed the journaling game for me is the fountain pen. They can be a bit tricky for beginners, but I promise you’ll feel like you got everything all worked out every time you’re writing something in smooth buttery strokes.
It also just makes the act of writing things down so much more enjoyable – the physical flow of words being able to keep up with your mental thoughts is incredibly satisfying. For fountain pens, it’s best to stick with trusted brands. There are some great beginner-friendly fountain pens from Pilot, LAMY and Kaweco.
That’s the list for now, but feel free to let me know if you have anything you think is a great Christmas gift. I’ve thought of other things that I think I might purchase to give my team as well. Feel free to use this list if you’re running out of holiday gift ideas.
1. Soy candles – eco-friendly and with so many beautiful designs, this is the perfect addition to a WFH setup.
2. Coffee – I’m personally not a big fan, but I know a lot of people want this for Christmas. Pick up a bag from your local cafes to support small businesses.
3. Noise-cancelling headphones – this might go over the budget but nothing is worse than being in the zone and getting distracted because of adorable barking sounds. A must-have if you have a little pupper.
4. Footrest – because lumbar support pillows and cushions are so 2022. Footrests can make sitting more comfortable, leading to a more efficient workflow.
5. Laptop stand or desk riser – while we’re on ergonomics, I might as well add these two items that are extremely useful to prevent hours of hunching in front of the desk.
