Another new year is around, and hope and anticipation hang in the air. ’Tis the season to be merry. Everything seems special, from the calendars ready to flip, the aroma of cinnamon cookies baking in ovens, to spending quality time with loved ones.
As one revels in the rustle of unwrapping gifts, it is also the time of goodwill, to love and to give, and usher in the new year for family and friends with thoughtful little things of joy.
Chocolates, brooches, watches or clothes as presents may be passe. Happiest Health has curated, a bunch of unique gifting ideas that could bring cheer to our dear ones.
A touch of green indoors
House plants not only look aesthetic and elegant in the nooks and corners of homes and offices, but also have multiple benefits. An addition of greenery also uplifts moods. Experts say plants have several therapeutic benefits such as boosting immunity.
“They are good for one’s health. People also learn to nurture and take care of the plants and be their guardians. When they see the plant growing and swaying, they feel good and their confidence goes up,” says Samira Gupta, life and leadership coach, Gurugram.
A study done on snake plants, popularly kept indoors, found them effective in absorbing carbon dioxide in offices. The study also showed that optimum absorption was ensured by placing just about five snake plants in offices.
Read: 7 house plants for healthier indoors
Not just a journal
Gifting someone a journal or planner can add value to their life. Journaling helps one to document their life’s moments and express their emotions and inhibitions on paper. “Journaling is important to get rid of the things that are in one’s mind,” says Gupta. It can also help one to keep a track of tasks, memories and jot down positive affirmations.
A 2016 study published in the Journal of Nursing Education and Practice found journaling to have a positive effect over time on the ability of registered nurses to handle stress, increase what is called `compassion satisfaction’ or joy from helping others; and reduce symptoms of burnout or `compassion fatigue’ – roughly lack of care for others due to stress.
Read: Logging your emotions to uncover the power of journaling
A weekend retreat
Presenting one’s family or friends a weekend retreat voucher can certainly bring a smile to their face. This getaway could mean to them an opportunity to move away from the daily hustle and bustle. It can be a way to relax and rejuvenate one’s mind and body and can be tailored to anyone’s interests: for example, a spa or a yoga retreat in a natural setting.
Read: 7 tips to turn group trips into healing, mindful, and wellness retreats
Indulge in aroma or art
Peace, balance and therapy are a few buzzwords that have dominated the wellness space. Gifting a loved one something along these lines would certainly add merit to that ethos.
Options can be a session amid pleasing essential oils or indulging in art, both of which are said to have mood-lifting properties.
An art sojourn can be a creative stress-relieving experience; essential oils, with their therapeutic nature, can enhance physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
A 2022 study done in the Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Pittsburgh, shows that in patients feeling nervous before undergoing hip replacement surgery, aromatherapy reduced post-surgical opioid use by 50 per cent and managed anxiety.
Read Aroma therapy: the science of essential oils – Happiest Health
Read: Art therapy: blunting children’s trauma with some colours
These unique and creative gifting concepts can offer the recipient – and the giver – a sense of joy that sets the tone for the year. It may even be a year-long euphoria and appreciation. So why wait to create a novel visual or olfactory treat for your loved ones this season?
