It’s that time of year again! Whether you’re the type to start manically buying gifts on the 23rd of December or you’ve already got it in the bag, we’re bound to have something on this list for your loved one (whether they struggle with chronic illness or not).
1. I wanted to start with this one, mainly because it’s top of my own list this year – the Ring Doorbell 3 by Amazon! Working from home and having to deal with chronic pain, I can see why so many rave about this little gadget. I’d do pretty much anything to limit my trips up and down the stairs when I’m having a flare-up and with this beauty, you can receive instant notifications when anyone presses your doorbell or triggers the built-in motion sensors. The real hit for me is the live view and two-way talk, so I can ask my delivery man how he’s doing and let him know he can leave my parcel (probably ASOS) on the porch for me to grab a little later. In my opinion, Ring Doorbell is one of the best gifts for 2020.
2. Silk Pyjamas! If you’ve not had the absolute pleasure of sleeping in pure silk pyjamas…you NEED to! To sum up, these ones by LilySilk come in beautiful colours and patterns (my fave is the plant print) in up to 22-momme pure mulberry silk. In layman’s terms, this is high-quality silk, not too dense or too thin and best used for clothing and bedding. Mine are reserved purely for those nights (and days) when I feel really ‘eugh’!
3. A little stocking filler coming right up…dry shampoo! Batiste is my fave and this cherry scent is fantastic – a little sweet, a little tart and a whole lot of deliciousness!
4. An Acupressure Mat and Pillow – this is a daily self-care tool based on the Indian bed of nails, however, contrary to popular belief, beds of nails have been used as a relaxation aid for 5,000 years. Thousands of sharp spikes apply pressure to skin and muscles and as a result support restful sleep, relaxation, mental clarity and well-being. I’ve found that if you push through those first 30 seconds (which admittedly aren’t the easiest), the rest of the time you spend is very pleasant and you will feel insanely invigorated afterwards.
5. Another little stocking filler – magnesium tablets! I can’t rave about these enough and these tabs by Lindens (a UK manufacturer) are by far my favourites! They help to keep your muscle, nervous and psychological function up-to-speed, reduce tiredness and fatigue and (very important for me) they’re easy to swallow.
6. Meal Prep Containers – These ones are BPA free, reusable and safe to use in the microwave, freezer and dishwasher. Sometimes I just really need one day of cooking, and then quick and healthy meals for the rest of the week. This pack of 10 will do for a half week of meal prep – you could even buy them and then cook your loved one some meals (the best gifts) to show you care.
7. A laptop table for the bed days – This is definitely a good, all-rounder! Whether I’m working from home or just relaxing, this laptop table gets a lot of use and a five-star recommendation from me.
8. I clearly can’t get enough of stocking fillers! These heat patches by Cura-Heat make minor pain much more bearable. I use them for back and period pain but they have a good variety of uses. So easy to use and they last for 24 hours.
9. Mario Badescu Facial Spray – Friends of mine may have seen these bottles in my holiday photos and to clarify, I LOVE THEM! They’re a refreshing, hydrating mist to use anywhere, anytime. I like to spray them on my face, my body, my hair, my pillow, my life. They also do a chamomile and lavender spray and a sage and orange blossom spray. The perfect all-year gifts!
10. Heat Pads – This heat wrap by Micro Heat and this one by HP Solutions both provide natural pain relief for cramps, joints pain, arthritis, muscle aches, sore feet, and stiff muscles. The perfect gift for those of us that want more natural and soothing pain relief options.
11. These comfort bras by Marielle are life-changing. I don’t ever get that ‘must take my bra off to get comfortable’ feeling when I’m wearing these. I can’t recommend for those of you that may be ampler in that department (I’d love to hear from you if you have tried them), as I’m an average C cup, but anyone between an A and a small D cup, I recommend them highly.
12. This Bonsai Kit by Plant Theatre is one of the most adorable gifts and a great addition to the home environment. Can’t have pets? A bonsai is a perfect stand-in as something to care for. To sum up, this specific kit allows you to grow your own Silver Birch, Red Maple and Mountain Pine bonsai with everything you need to get started included.
13. Cosy Socks by City Comfort – Super soft, snug, stripy socks! I have twenty-ish pairs of these and I love them. The colours in this set are randomly chosen so it’ll be a nice surprise when opened.
14. What about a mini-fridge? This one by iceQ has a capacity of 15 litres and in addition, comes in some very cute colours! A great gift that will get a lot of use, for example, drink and snack storage (that in itself is a lot of use for me) as well as medicine storage.
15. Copper magnetic bracelets by Earth Therapy – A powerful pain management tool to help relieve some of the pains and symptoms associated with chronic illnesses. In short, each bracelet contains 6, high-quality rare earth magnets (delivering over 15,000 Gauss) positioned near the joints to deliver maximum relief.
16. Adult colouring books by Johanna Basford – relaxing and therapeutic gifts, my favourites are Lost Ocean and Magical Jungle.
17. Gravity Blanket – If you’ve not heard the hype by now, you have clearly been living safely underneath your own gravity blanket. In short, this is a therapeutic weighted blanket engineered to relax the nervous system by simulating the feeling of being held or hugged. Tip: Don’t get squashed! That is to say, heavier doesn’t equal more effective – pick the weight that’s about 10% of your total body weight.
18. U-Shape full-body pillow by Queen Rose with a grey velvet-feel cover. Don’t even get me started on this bad boy. Just look at it! That’s all you need. In all seriousness, this is another game-changer on the gifts list. Originally made for expectant mothers, this full-body pillow also helps those of us suffering from hip or back pain, fibromyalgia, sciatica, poor posture, injury, and pretty much anyone looking to get better sleep.
19. Healthy snacks make great gifts and these superfood bites by The Protein Works and this jar of Indie Bay Snacks are no exception. NOM NOM! Just don’t buy them all because…well…just don’t.
20. Filofax organiser – I almost forgot about my Filofax! Probably because I’ve had it for so long and it’s just like a body part to me. Filofax’s make great gifts for chronic illness survivors as they help us keep our memory issues in check and are perfect for organising medical appointments and life in general.
21. Wearable blanket – Made for sofa-lovers like me who also enjoy drinking tea and playing video games. You couldn’t ask for more.
22. SAD light by Lumie – You can take Lumie’s ‘Vitamin L’ light with you to improve mood, energy and focus at home, work or college. ‘Vitamin L’ produces 10000lux at 16cm; so, using it for 30 minutes at a distance of 16cm is recommended for relief from the winter blues and SAD. I prop mine up at the window close to my desk during the winter months about 50cm away and leave it on for a few hours. It’s definitely one of my favourite gifts.
23. Orthopaedic seat cushion by Supportiback – Firstly, this cushion is ergonomically designed to provide maximum support and comfort whilst reducing pressure on the tailbone and promotes healthy posture. In addition, the gel technology keeps you cool, all day and it has a non-slip rubber bottom, built-in handle for easy transport and machine-washable zippered velour cover for easy cleaning. This cushion supports recovery from lower back problems, herniated discs, tailbone injuries, sciatica and other spinal issues. As a result, it’s one of those great gifts for the office, home, travel, or wheelchair use. Supportiback says that if you don’t fall in love within 100 days (although I sure did), contact them directly to return the seat cushion for a full refund, no questions asked. Each cushion also comes with a 5-year warranty.
24. This key turner aid – Another ‘odd’ gift but what a lifesaver. There were times in the past when I was almost in tears at my door because I couldn’t open the bloody thing. I now have a Yale Smart Lock (because ouch and forgetfulness = sad Kelly) but the cheaper and easier option would be the key turner aid for sure.
25. Inspirational charm bracelet – Another adorable little gift, perfect as a stocking filler or as a little pick me up. “Never forget strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.”
26. Gel ball hand exerciser – These colour-coded gel hand exerciser trains, strengthens and rehabilitates hands, fingers, and forearms subsequently increasing the range of motion and flexibility. That is to say, it’s perfect for those of us that struggle with grip and loss of dexterity in the hands.
27. Essential art therapy exercises book by Leah Guzman. This colourful workbook shows you how creating art can help ease mental health issues. Above all, these therapeutic exercises will help you overcome the mindsets that are holding you back.
28. Oversized hoody blanket – One size fits everyone! In short, they’re insanely comfortable and reversible with a large front pocket (read snack storage). I adore these more than I can write on a blog whilst still remaining accepted by society.
29. Jar opener set – Don’t even @ me. If someone bought me these as a gift, I’d be crying with happiness instead of crying over my smashed jar of Sharwood’s Korma Sauce. Be kind to your loved one’s mitts.
30. This electric blanket by Cosi Home – This electric blanket has been designed with ultimate comfort in mind. In addition, it’s also fully machine washable at 40 degrees and can be tumble dried on a cool setting. It also has ‘Overheat Protection’ which works from the moment you switch on your blanket.
31. Pedal exerciser – This pedal exerciser can be used for your legs OR your arms. It fits easily under a desk and helps improve blood circulation. As a result, you can use it whilst working or watching your favourite TV show! It has a large, easy to read screen which displays RPM, time, speed, distance and calories burned. A great choice for beginners and perfect for rehabilitation following surgery or injury.
32. Back stretcher by BackFlex – You only need to use this back stretcher for 15 minutes a day to start getting relief from back pain. It’s also a great stress reliever and perfect for use on your lunch break.
33. Compression gloves – The gloves, developed by doctors, are made up of a high-quality blend of cotton, nylon and spandex. They’re so comfortable, allowing you to wear them all day if you want to. Whether it’s arthritis, Raynaud’s disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even soft tissue damage, these gloves provide symptom relief in style!
34. Plug pullers – A lot of people would be a bit confused getting these as a gift but WHAT. A. LIFE. CHANGER! No more sore hands after trying for a full 15 minutes to pull a plug. By the way, Apple you are not helping the situation!
35. And last but not least…a little shameless self-promotion by me – The Guide to Boosting Self-Esteem. Help your loved ones remember who they are, what they value and, most importantly, love themselves. Above all, The Guide To Boosting Self-Esteem will help them to vanquish the demons of self-doubt and guide them through real-life.
This website does not provide medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on The Imperfect Cactus website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your GP or dial 999.
Kelly Winter is a self-care guru from Stockport, Cheshire. You can contact her here at www.theimperfectcactus.com, on Instagram (@TheImperfectCactus), Facebook (@TheImperfectCactus) or Twitter (@ImperfectCactus). ‘The Guide to Boosting Self-Esteem‘ is Kelly’s debut self-help guide which is available on Amazon.