Shopping for the people you care about doesn’t have to be a pain. Check out my favorite self-care gift ideas to make your giving (and receiving) a whole lot more enjoyable!

Here are some of my favorite self-care gift ideas for the people in your life (even if that’s you).

My Favorite Self-Care Gift Ideas for the People You Love

1. Books

Books are a perfect choice for someone who’s into self-help. Whether your person is into personal development, fiction, memoirs, natural health, spiritual text, or happiness, there’s a book out there that’d make a perfect gift for them.

Here are some of my own favorite reads that’d make great gifts:

• The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
• The Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Burchard
• How Can I Help? by Ram Dass & Paul Gorman
• You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
• A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson
• The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
• A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
• The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
• High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
• Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, by Anne Lamott
• Life’s Golden Ticket, by Brendon Burchard
• Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor E. Frankl
• Peace is Every Step, by Thich Nhat Hanh
• Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse
• Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair, by Anne Lamott
• Tao Teh Ching, by Lao Tzu, translated by John C. H. Wu
• The Universe Has Your Back, by Gabrielle Bernstein

Here are my books if you want to support my work (thank you!):

• Sleep Affirmations: 200 Phrases for a Deep and Peaceful Sleep
• Morning Affirmations: 200 Phrases for an Intentional and Openhearted Start to Your Day
• Sleep Rituals: 100 Practices for a Deep and Peaceful Sleep

“There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.” — Kahlil Gibran

2. Classes and Courses

For anyone interested in living their best life, learning is a never-ending adventure and growth is a priority.

If you’d like to give the gift of growth and nourishment, here are a few ideas:

• Brendon Burchard is one of the top performance coaches and speakers in the world; browse his courses for the person who is focused on growth.
• Gabby Bernstein is one of my favorite spiritual teachers and she has several courses.
• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is a world-renowned nonprofit committed to educating. They offer schools for yoga, integrative yoga therapy, and Ayurveda. From cooking to mindfulness to creative expression, there’s something for everyone. Explore their long list of programs by date, days, and theme to find the perfect getaway for your loved one (or, for both of you).
• Sounds True is an independent multimedia publishing company with a ton of resources, courses, and inspirational content. They offer audio programs, guided meditations, guides to living well, instructional CDs and DVDs, and more. (I loved their Self-Acceptance Summit.)
• Hay House is a publishing company focusing on self-help, spirituality, personal development, and the like. Their live lectures, live events, and online courses are perfect for anyone interested in happiness, health, growth, and mindfulness.

If they’re into yoga, meditation, or exercise, consider purchasing a gift certificate to their favorite studio or gym.

3. Journal + Pens

A good self-care routine probably incorporates self-reflection and writing exercises for clarity, appreciation, healing, and inspiration.

To support your person’s love for healing and growth, here’s some inspiration:

• Leuchtturm 1917 hardcover dotted journal
• Gratitude: A Journal by Catherine Price (a gift that I’m still using and loving)
• Art journals; I don’t use any, but I’m sure you can find some good ideas on Amazon.com, Etsy, or your local arts and crafts store. Search for “art journal kits” and you’ll find some nice bundled ideas.
• I’ve heard these fountain pens are really nice (and there are colorful versions, too)
• Tombow dual brush pen art markers
• Micron drawing pens

4. Planners

Plain or dotted notebooks (like the Leuchtturm notebook, which I’ve used as a bullet journal) are perfect for people who are artistically inclined or appreciate the blank space to set up each month’s calendar.

My personal recommendation is Danielle LaPorte’s Desire Map Planner.

There are several planners and systems out there. It might help to ask the person if they have any favorites already to get an idea of what could work best for them.

Giving from the heart feels like love.

5. Positive Messages

• Create a happiness jar. Fill any container of your choosing with positive affirmations, love notes, inspiring quotes, mantras, happy memories, and hopeful reminders. It’s a beautiful, personal, and extremely thoughtful gift.
• Inspirational mugs. “One day at a time.” “Blessed.” “You got this.” “You are loved.” The options are endless and, once again, Etsy is my preferred place to shop for handmade gems of all kind.
• Inspirational prints. Adorn your loved one’s walls with healing words they'll see every day. “Love each other. Love yourself.” “We rebuild, together.” “I am enough.” My collection keeps growing!
• Positive temporary tattoos. Give the gift of wearable positivity in the form of a temporary tattoo. “Today will be awesome.” “Live fearlessly.” “Stay strong.” I did another Etsy search, and there’s a lot to inspire.
• Jewelry that inspires. Inspire their best self with positive mantras on bracelets and necklaces (Mantra Band is a good company). You can do a search on Etsy for handmade and customizable options.
• Positive pins. Perfect for mental health awareness, cheer someone on with an enamel pin that fits their style. Here’s a “rooting for you” pin from Blurt.

Blurt is a wonderful company for prints, stationery, books and cards, pins, patches and posters, and their monthly BuddyBox subscriptions (or one-time purchases) filled with self-care goodies. Every product raises awareness and understanding of depression, which means I’m a fan.

6. Thrive Market Membership

This online shopping club offers organic, wholesome foods and non-toxic home and body care products for less than what you’ll find in traditional retail stores.

One reason I mention Thrive as a gift option is because they have such a vast selection of personal care products. Here are a handful of self-care gift ideas that I love, from Thrive’s catalog:

• Himalayan crystal bath salts, lavender
• Natural Himalayan crystal salt lamp
• Moss Botanicals Relax Aroma Mist
• Gaia Herbs golden milk
• Earth Therapeutics anti-stress silk eye pillow
• Manduka eKO SuperLite travel mat
• Most of their healthy snacks :)

7. Make Your Own Self-Care Gift Box

There’s an abundance of handmade and homemade self-care gift ideas out there, but here are a few recipes that are easy enough to make yourself.

If you’d like, purchase or make a box or vessel of some sort to hold all of your creations. This way, whenever your person needs a little pick-me-up, they can consult their self-care box for inspiration.

If you’d like to DIY:

• Hand sugar scrub and cream. Here’s a great collection of handmade sugar scrubs. This is an incredibly simple hand cream recipe using just coconut oil (and vitamin E and essential oils, if desired).
• Homemade bath bombs
• Positive notes/love notes, a handwritten message, card, or a mini recipe box with your favorite healthy/comforting recipes
• Make an uplifting playlist or podcast compilation

Other items (some handmade) available for purchase that’d be perfect in a self-care box:

• Fidget spinner rings for mindfulness, meditation, and anxiety
• Non-toxic nail polishes in favorite colors
• Teas with chamomile, lemon balm, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, and rose are soothing
• Stress-relief candles
• Dead Sea mineral bath salts in pleasing aromas
• Slime stress ball (or this lavender aromatherapy slime)
• Coloring books
• Aromatherapy inhalers (I haven’t tried one yet, but I would try one like this)
• Essential oil starter kit (Annmarie Gianni Skin Care’s pure essential oil blends are heavenly)

Therapy Threads is an awesome company advocating mental health awareness. Their aromatherapy scarves and jewelry, essential oils, and t-shirts have self-care written all over them and would make a thoughtful addition to any gift box.

. . .

Tell me:

Which of these would you love to give or receive this year?

Tell me in the comments. I’d love to know!

Share these gift ideas with someone you care about, as inspiration or a hint.

With love,

Jen