I shared my holiday gift guide, but many of you have asked for a gift guide with unusual ideas that aren’t the usual kitchenware, clothes, and toys. This list of gift ideas is just that… a compilation of unusual and creative ideas that your recipient certainly won’t already have!
All these gifts are practical, healthy and usable and therefore do not sit on a shelf. Give them for a wedding, a birthday or just because. As an added bonus, if you live in the same house as your recipient, you can also enjoy the health benefits of these gifts!
Top unusual gift ideas
These are the gifts I give to the hard to buy for people on my list. I know they don’t already have them and I love that they will benefit from them too!
Red light therapy
What my mom is getting (I hope she doesn’t read this!) this year. Red light therapy or photobiomodulation It has been shown to improve skin, increase collagen production, and improve mitochondrial function in the body. I use it daily and wanted her to benefit from it too. I use a Joovv Combo light.
A mini trampoline
Great for the lymphatic system, as an easy way to exercise and just plain fun! A mini trampoline (also called a rebounder) will fit most homes and jumping on it is a great daily practice. A simple and inexpensive way mini trampoline It’s fun for the kid (or kitty-kid) on your list…and it’s healthy too!
Acupressure mat
Your recipient can use this gift at home for a few minutes a day to improve sleep, relieve tension, and increase relaxation. This mat features over 6,000 acupressure points that press against the body to help increase blood flow to your back and neck muscles. This can help reduce inflammation and pain while releasing endorphins.
The cervical pillow features 1,782 acupressure points that can reach between the neck and shoulder, treating tension headaches and neck muscle pain at the source. This is the one I have and love.
A balance chair
Do you have someone on your list who works at a desk part of the day? Many companies agree to replace their chair with a more ergonomic chair, even if they do not opt for a standing workstation. This balance chair combines a yoga ball and a rolling chair for an office chair that engages the core and undoes some of the harmful aspects of full sitting.
Full Spectrum Solar Lamp
For anyone suffering from seasonal affective disorder or daytime sleepiness, a solar lamp may be the solution. It has a full-spectrum light bulb that simulates daytime, even indoors and even in winter. It’s the the one I use to keep my cortisol levels healthy.
Music that improves health
Lately, I have also I love Wholetones and I’m giving it to several people on my list. It is music created at certain frequencies that helps calm the brain, improve concentration, reduce stress and promote relaxation. I keep it on repeat at our house this time of year, especially their Christmas album!
Trigger point massage tool
A trigger point massage tool looks like a cane but works for self-massage. It reaches hard to reach places and is ideal for releasing tension in the back. I love using it while watching a movie (bonus if you’re sitting in the yoga ball chair too!).
Cruzee Bike
This one is only recommended for those ages 5 and under on your list. It’s a whole new approach to a bike trainer. No training wheels or pedals here, just a super light bike which teaches balance. Best part? Children can carry, store and move it alone.
The MyoByddy
I received one as a gift and it’s one of my favorite things now! It’s basically percussion massage, myofascial release, and infrared heat. It feels like a mix of deep tissue massage and fascia massage and I find it so relaxing! I love it so much, I asked for a discount for you guys. You can get $50 off the Myobuddy Pro2 and $100 off the Myobuddy Pro2+ with code WELLNESSMAMA on this link.
ASC Membership
A great way to support local farms and provide fresh vegetables all year round. CSA stands for “community supported agriculture” and it means that the member essentially shares in the yield of the farm that year. We have been members of several different ASCs over the years and have loved them all. Search here for ASCs in your area to find one near you.
Pot squat
What’s better than good posture in the toilet? The squatting pot became popular after his appearance on Shark Tank, numerous celebrity endorsements, and his famous (and now banned) unicorn poop video. Our family has had them for years. My midwife even recommended them during my last pregnancy for better toilet posture and to prepare for labor.
Chemex or mushroom coffee
I have two rules when it comes to coffee…I don’t drink it every day and I only drink good coffee. (Except when camping, there’s something terrible about camping coffee that’s so good!) For me, that means I only drink coffee brewed in my Chemex.
Furthermore, I stick to Café Four Sigmatic Or Purity Coffee (use code Wellnessmama for 20% off!). The Chemex is a cone-shaped glass pour-over coffee maker that brews incredible coffee without any trace of bitterness or acidity. It’s also beautiful and it *almost* makes me want to drink coffee every day!
Probiotics for the home
Seems strange, doesn’t it? It turns out that our homes have a microbiome, just like our guts, mouths, and skin. Many scientists are concerned that we give birth and live in such sterile environments that our gut microbiome may suffer.
We can improve our gut bacteria in many ways, but just as I often let my babies play in organic dirt, we can also support our skin and gut microbiome by interacting with probiotics in our environment. There is also evidence that these beneficial bacteria can help combat mold and odors in the home. This is why I spray my house with a household probiotic called Homomebiotic and the super crusty person on your list might love this weird gift too!
Sauna
This is definitely a gift you would only buy for someone you really love, as it doesn’t come cheap. There are many benefits to daily sauna use and a home sauna is the easiest way to achieve this. We have a Clearlight sauna for two people and I love it because it’s my “quiet box” where I go to sweat, listen to a podcast, and take a few minutes of my time.
If you want something more portable and a lot less expensive (but still works great), then a sauna blanket may be the perfect solution. This sauna blanket from Bon Charge is thin enough to store under the bed and has very low EMF emissions.
Puzzle boxes
These beautiful Japanese puzzle boxes are a unique way for older children and adults to keep their valuables safe and they are fun to learn. You can also give them a Money Maze Puzzle Box with cash inside so they can get what they want.
Personalized photo book
Every year I make a photo book for each of my children with special memories from the past year. They always look forward to their unique memory book! I’m also trying to make one for my parents. My favorites are those of Mixed books.
Which of these gifts do you like? What is the most unusual gift you have ever received?