I swear the second Halloween ends, the winter holiday countdown begins. Gift giving is a huge part of these holidays and so many of us wait until the very last minute to buy gifts. So, in an attempt to throw you a bone and make this holiday a little less stressful, here’s my list of great holiday gifts to give and receive, especially if you live with an autoimmune disease.
Top Tips for Giving Gifts
I am not a gift giving expert, but I do know something about receiving great gifts. The best gifts I have ever received are ones that I didn’t know I needed and would never buy myself, and gifts that are an elevated version of an everyday item. Here are my 2 examples:
My husband and I don’t really exchange gifts, but over the years he has really surprised me with some extremely thoughtful gifts. One of the best gifts he ever got me was a meditation seat. He knows I love to meditate, and I’m totally happy sitting on the floor to do it. But now I have this really nice cushion to sit on and it makes me so happy everytime I use it. It is definitely not something I would ever buy myself, but I use it daily.
I love hot beverages and I don’t like it when they get cold. Like at all. I order my coffee drinks extra hot so I can enjoy them while they stay warm. So when I was gifted a heated mug, it literally changed my life. I could sip on my coffee for a good 2 hours while it remained nice and hot.
If you have family or friends with an autoimmune disease, or if you are curating a wish list for yourself, here are some ideas to help you and your body this holiday season.
Red Light Therapy Device
Full disclosure, this is the one thing I’ve been wanting to get for myself for a long long time and have yet to pull the trigger. Red light therapy devices are really great for anyone suffering from inflammation, joint or muscle pain, or struggle to recover from workouts. There are so many different ones on the market (which is why I haven’t actually bought one yet), but here are the 2 brands I’ve seen recently that intrigue me:
- Kineon The Move+ Pro LED & Laser – this device is great for those suffering from joint, muscle and nerve pain. It’s small though, so for someone with more widespread body pain, this might not be the best option.
- Hooga Red Light Therapy Panel – this device is a more affordable option for red light panels yet effective for muscle, joint and nerve pain. The panel allows you to hit more areas at once, but does require the use of protective goggles. This device is also HSA/FSA eligible.
Vagus Nerve Stimulator
We all know how stress affects autoimmune diseases. If mindfulness and meditation is not enough, it might be worth checking out a vagal nerve stimulator like Truvaga Plus. This device can help relieve stress, improve sleep and even support gut health.
Grounding Mat
Grounding is an old technique that connects your body to the earth in order to create a conductive connection. The belief is that the electrons from the Earth can help fight inflammation in your body. Since most of us don’t have time to spend barefoot outdoors, or don’t have the space to do so, a grounding mat can fix that problem. I like the Terra Grounding Mat because it fits under your desk or computer and you can use it throughout the day. Several reviews said it helped with sleep and stress.
The Gift of Therapy
How amazing would it be to receive a gift of therapy? I think everyone can benefit from therapy, but many people are not willing to get it for themselves. Headspace is an online therapy platform that has several options with their membership. You can either use it for guided meditation or mindfulness exercises, or it can connect you with a therapist.
Cleaner Beauty Products
Beauty products as gifts fall into that “something I would never buy myself” category. If you know me well, you know I’m a huge fan of Counter (formerly Beautycounter). Their holiday gift sets this year are fantastic and have something for everyone. My favorites are the trio of hand lotions and their super popular limited edition Jellies (which are great for tweens and teens). This beauty line is great for those living with autoimmune diseases because they ban harmful or potentially harmful ingredients. As we all know, toxins just add to our inflammation load. This is the only beauty brand I trust because they are so transparent with their ingredient selection.
Instant Pot
I can’t have a gift guide without something to use in the kitchen. I love Instant Pots, and this Instant Pot Duo Plus is a workhorse. It can pressure cook, slow cook and even cook rice and yogurt. Cleaning is a breeze and it is a fantastic way to cook home cooked meals quickly. This is super important if you live with an autoimmune disease because fatigue is a real thing. Having an appliance that can easily cook things fast is a game changer.
There you have it, my top gifts for 2025 for those of us living with an autoimmune disease. Remember to follow me on my socials (Instagram, Facebook and YouTube) to stay updated on all of the things you can do to help you live better with your autoimmune disease.
Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash
