It’s been said that it’s better to give than to receive when it comes to gifts. What about both? Guess whoever came up with that aphorism didn’t consider the both/and option. There is definitely some truth to that idea, though. In fact, there’s a psychological benefit to giving yourself a gift.
It’s always exciting to give gifts during the holidays, but at the same time, the holidays and all the gifting that comes with them can be stressful. Sometimes, you just need to give yourself a little something extra for making it through another holiday round with the family. From the elaborate to the simple pieces of everyday jewelry, there are lots of ways to show yourself a little extra love this holiday season.
1. A Tool for Your Hobby
The holidays are a great time to splurge on something for your hobby. You can get yourself a little hobby-related gift any time of the year, so save your big purchases for the holidays. Whether it’s a ratchet set for the avid DIYer or a DSLR for the budding photographer, lean into your hobbies around the holidays and invest in the hobby you enjoy.
2. Something Cozy
The holidays are already cozy, so why not add on an extra layer of happiness? A nice robe, fuzzy socks, slippers, etc. Whatever makes you feel like you’re wrapped in a cloud, go for that thing. Extra points if you can wear it in front of the fire with a Hallmark movie playing.
3. Anything That Improves Your Workflow
This might be a controversial take. While not everyone is going to love the idea of getting yourself a work gift, some people just really love their jobs. This is, in fairness, more related to freelancers, entrepreneurs or the otherwise self-employed, but anyone can benefit from it. Whether it’s a new desk, computer or software, this is a great time to invest in something that will make your workweek a little more enjoyable.
4. Interior Décor
You likely spend plenty of time in your home, especially if you work remotely. Why not love how your place looks? If you’ve been meaning to invest in your furniture, now’s the time. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars, but investing in one nice piece can really improve how you feel about your home. This is an especially great gift if you’re somewhere you plan to stay long-term and don’t need to worry about moving anytime soon.
5. Pieces for Entertaining Guests
Extroverts unite! Yeah, it’s great to get yourself a gift. But what’s better than just getting yourself a gift? Getting yourself a gift that’ll help you host more events, of course! Whether that’s serving ware, a bar cart or a bigger couch for everyone to fit on, make it something that’ll allow people to feel even more comfortable in your home.
6. Jewelry
This is a classic gift, but usually for others. If you’ve been eyeing a piece of jewelry for a while, now’s the time to pull the trigger. If this has been a down year for you, consider getting yourself a promise ring and committing to the changes you want to make in the new year. If this has been a great year for you, a self love ring is the perfect way to cap off a year you’re proud of.
7. Food and Drink
You can’t go wrong here. Unlike trying to gift this to someone else, you know exactly what you like. Whether it’s fancy cheese, expensive chocolate or just your favorite coffee, you know exactly what to get yourself, so do it! You don’t even have to splurge for this one. If you want to keep it budget-friendly, just pick up your favorite snack or guilty pleasure food.
8. An Excuse to Upgrade
There’s that thing that you have. You’ve had it forever. You’re always planning on replacing or upgrading it, but you just haven’t. You’ve had that wallet for eight years, and it’s falling apart. It’s time for a new one. Maybe that one’s just us, but you get the point. Whatever that thing is that you know needs to be repaired or replaced, now’s the time to commit to it. You’ll feel a lot better afterward.
9. Subscription Box
This has a good deal of overlap with the food and drink suggestion, though it doesn’t have to. You can get basically anything in a box service at this point.
Sure, you can get standard food or drink subscriptions, but you can also get wildly creative. How about a box of apocalypse-ready gear? Bigfoot merch? Pickle of the month? Flowers every week from an online flower shop. Those are all real — look ’em up. Point is, the world is your oyster. Before you ask, yes, oyster subscription boxes do exist.
10. Tickets
Whether that’s to an NBA game or for a flight to the Maldives (those aren’t your only two options, but you get the point), get yourself some tickets. Sure, things are great, but so are experiences. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to see or a place you’ve always wanted to go, now’s your chance.
Whatever you choose, get yourself something this holiday season. It doesn’t have to be extravagant. If your ideal self-gift is one of those giant tubs of cheese balls and a Red Box rental, you go right ahead. You’ve earned it.
