At the beginning of 2021, three of the top four New Year’s resolutions were health related, according to Statista. Striving to have a healthy body and mind is a goal that many of us share, but it can be challenging, so it’s nice to have support from friends and family.

This holiday season, you may have friends and loved ones seeking to live a healthier life. Consider picking out a gift that helps them eat or sleep better, makes exercising more enjoyable or supports their mental health. Supporting your loved one’s health goals is a great way to show you care, and a thoughtful gift can be a good place to start.

Food

When you’re trying to eat healthy, time can be a huge barrier. Fast food is called fast for a reason! That’s why gift cards to healthy restaurants are a super helpful gift for someone who’s trying to eat well. Here are a few great options around Utah County:

• Aubergine Kitchen serves nutrient-rich Mediterranean food and fruit-sweetened desserts in Orem, Lehi, American Fork and a few other locations in Utah.
• Ginger’s Garden Cafe, located inside Christopher’s Herb Shop in Springville, serves fresh, vegan meals with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
• Green Me Smoothies, located in Orem, offers subscriptions for smoothies delivered right to your door. This could be a great option for the smoothie-lover in your life!

Sleep

Who isn’t tired? Sleep seems to be something we all struggle with these days — from high school students to new parents to busy professionals and beyond. Luckily, there are sleep aids and other products that can help. Here are a few to consider:

• Blue light blocking glasses offer “a safe and drug-free way to make sure late-night screen time and artificial lighting don’t affect your sleep,” according to Sleep Foundation. Head to http://sleepfoundation.org for a list of the best blue light-blocking glasses of 2021.
• Weighted blankets can help ease anxiety and keep you comfortable without having to pile on the hot blankets. Forbes Vetted has a great list of the best weighted blankets for different needs.
• Sometimes, a pair of ear plugs or a portable sound machine and a night mask can do wonders for a better night’s sleep. These stocking-stuffers may be a great option for the traveler in your life to block out the stimuli and get a good night’s rest wherever they may be.

Exercise

Exercise can be a challenge, but it can also be a lot of fun if you find the right activity. See if one of these gifts might help your friend or loved on experience the joy of movement:

• Provo Recreation Center offers a ton of classes for any preference or experience level. Plus they have a great gym and pool to use. Check out http://giftly.com to make a personalized gift card to the Provo rec center or other rec centers near your gift recipient.
• Fitness dice turn working out into a game! You roll the dice for a suggested exercise and duration or number or reps. There are tons of options on Amazon.
• Trampolines aren’t just for kids. Mini fitness trampolines are a great way to help bring the joy back into working out.

Mental Health

Mental health is key to overall health, and gifts focused on mental health are a great way to show you care. Here are a few gift ideas for supporting the mental health of a friend or loved one:

• A guided meditation app like Headspace or Calm is a nice tool to have in your pocket for everyday use or to whip out in times of stress.
• Mindfulness coloring books can be a great way to de-stress and focus on the moment.
• A self-care basket or “bucket full of sunshine” are fun to put together and can help brighten someone’s life all year long. For a self-care basket, add lotions, fuzzy socks, bath bombs and other pampering items to a basket. For a bucket full of sunshine, collect your gift recipient’s favorite candies, kind notes and other things in a bucket. Bonus points if the items and bucket are yellow (for the “sunshine” part of the equation).

As the holidays approach, consider getting your loved one a gift that helps them eat or sleep better, makes exercising more enjoyable or supports their mental health. It’s a great way to show you care, which is a wonderful way to start a healthy 2022.

Sarah Hilton, RN, has 20 years of healthcare experience and serves as the director of advisory services for Stage Marketing, a full-service marketing agency.

Newsletter