Over the last few years, I am definitely much more into gifts that are useful or better yet ‘experiences’. My husband and I still do small gifts for each other but I have really moved away from wanting to receive more stuff to clutter my house. We are also trying to instill this into our kids with purchasing one larger Santa gift and a few stocking stuffers. If you are looking for ideas for your friends or family with more of a fitness/wellness theme or want to give your significant other some ideas, I have come up with 6 of my favorites.
Magazine Subscriptions
I use to be a CRAZY magazine hoarder. I probably had 8 different subscriptions and I actually read the majority of them. When did I have time, you ask? I used to spend countless hours doing cardio at the gym. I would plow through my magazines as I was on a boring piece of cardio equipment for at least 30 minutes, 6 days a week. After I had kids, my exercise routine changed quite a bit and I am only now on a treadmill every so often so I forced myself to cancel all my subscriptions until I read through my HUGE pile of issues that I have not had a chance to read. However, I do still love magazines and still get a few. They are fun gifts to give and receive since you get a new one every month.
My favorites:
Clean Eating Magazine-This is by far my favorite food/cooking magazine. I cook probably 80-90% of my recipes from this magazine. The recipes vary from Paleo to Gluten Free to Vegetarian. The recipes state how long the prep work will take and gives the total time to make the recipe from start to finish. So I can easily go through it and decide if the recipe will work for me on a busy school night or if it is better to save for the weekend. I also like that they have some super simple recipes and others are a bit more complex to strengthen my cooking skills. The magazine also contains other useful articles.
My other absolute favorite magazine (and if you follow me on IG, you know I post a lot of quotes from their articles) is Experience Life Magazine. In my opinion, this is hands down the most comprehensive and well-rounded magazine with a holistic approach to health and wellness. This magazine contains articles on food, nutrition, exercise, mind-body wellness, organization, travel and more. I love the overall concept of this magazine and I am definitely a reader for life.
I also like Women’s Health and Parents magazine as my runner-ups.
Fitness Trackers/Wearables
Last year, I gave a lecture at a corporation on “Fitness Technology” and I ended up doing quite a bit of research on fitness trackers or wearables. Since these are very hot on the market right now, these devices are probably capable of even more now that they were just last year. These trackers can track everything from steps, calories, sleep and more. The consensus from most of my research is that fitness trackers can be useful in helping people reach their goals as it makes you more aware of your activity level, sleep, etc. Though the pedometer feature is fairly accurate in most brands, the calories burned can be quite off so be aware of that if that is a feature that is important to you. I personally wear a Garmin Vivofit as I wanted one that was compatible with a heart rate monitor but also with a watch feature. However, I use the pedometer feature the most. Even though I work in fitness, I still tend to sit at my desk a lot so I do check the pedometer feature often and try to get in more steps on days I am not very active. I do think it makes me more aware of my overall movement throughout the day. There are literally tons out there so figure out what you want to track, price range, what features are important to you and go from there.
Monthly “Box” Subscriptions
These are so fun and all the rage right now. You can get monthly ‘box’ subscriptions of about anything. Clothes, snacks, dog treats/toys, kids books/age appropriate toys, workout gear and more. How it works is you sign up for one of the themed subscriptions and every month you get a package in the mail filled with goodies! Some of the subscriptions like the one with clothes, you often get to pick what you want and only pay for what you keep. I love these because its like getting a little present every month and in the actual mail! It’s like Christmas! I currently subscribe to WOD Box which is a CrossFit themed subscription which includes anything from workout gear to protein bars or powders, natural body products and more. Prices for all these boxes vary greatly but again, very fun idea.
SPA, SPA and more SPA
Though maybe not original, I LOVE spa treatments. I am such a big proponent of self care and getting monthly massages helps me recover physically, mentally, helps my stress levels and honestly, helps me be a better mom. Some see massage as a luxury but I see it as maintenance and will always budget for it as it is important to me. I would rather get a massage than get my hair done or buy clothes. I always tell my husband that if he ever is out of gift ideas, a spa gift card is always appreciated. Less expensive options include manis and pedis!
Essential Oils
I have mentioned and posted before that I have recently started using essential oils as a more natural remedy from anything from stress to insect bites to getting a better night’s sleep. I received a book while I was pregnant all about using essential oils during pregnancy and with young children. I currently diffuse different oils in Caleb’s room every night to help calm him down and prepare him for bed. It’s so cute but he actually asks for his ‘smelly’ stuff now. Caleb has had eczema in the past and Madelynn currently has cradle cap, which I have used Lavender oil on both. I have barely just touched the tip of the iceberg with the incredible uses of oils. I have also started cooking with them! I started with a basic kit that came with 10 of the most popular oils and a diffuser. This is a great way to get started using them. I am loving them and look forward to learning more of what they can do.
Punchcards to Boutique Fitness Centers
In the fitness world, “Boutique Fitness Centers” are all the rage. These are studios or centers that specialize in one type of workout. CrossFit is one of the most popular but you have probably also heard of Orange Theory Fitness, Core Power Yoga and Pure Barre. New other studios include cycle yoga combinations and indoor rowing. Ongoing memberships to any of these studios can be quite expensive. However, most offer punchcards which is what I tend to do. I like so many types of exercise that I like to have multiple punchcards so I can get my CrossFit fix and Yoga fix without paying high ongoing monthly membership fees.
Home Gym Equipment
Though I love going to the gym or yoga studio, I like being able to have the convenience of working out from home when I need to. You do not need extensive equipment to be able to get a good workout but a few pieces of equipment can really take you a long way. If you are trying for the least expensive, a resistance band and a physio ball can give you quite a variety of exercises. If you want even more options, a few sets of dumbbells can literally give you hundreds of workouts. I also have a used treadmill that I use often, especially in the winter or early mornings before the kids are awake but that is obviously quite more expensive. You can always start small with a few pieces and add on a little bit as the years go on.
Hopefully this gave you some fun ideas for gifts for your friends or family or yourself! 🙂 I would love to hear other fitness gift ideas.
Happy Holidays to you and your family!
XOXO
Sara
