While experts are not sure how many people practice mindfulness worldwide, we’ve noticed the trend has grown in the past years, probably as a response to high levels of daily stress. Millennials and Gen Z started to recognise the benefits of mindfulness through meditation and special practices as a way to cope with burnout and anxiety.
Practising mindfulness has a significant effect on the mind and body. Long-term exercises can help people manage their anxiety and soothe insomnia. Mindful training includes being present at the moment and developing our warmth and kindness towards people and the world.
It can be difficult to remain mindful of the world’s unfolding catastrophes and minor inconveniences at home or work. If you’ve got a friend experimenting with these practices and want to reward them, here are some great gift ideas.
For those healing their inner child
Childhood trauma can resurface in our adult years, and addressing it is necessary to grow. Acknowledging one’s inner child is a process of self-discovery, and it can be filled with uncomfortable emotions. These feelings can include guilt, shame, or insecurity, which is why meditation is recommended because it boosts self-awareness and helps people feel more
confident in managing unwanted emotions.
Many people reconnect with their inner child by experiencing the joys of their childhood, whether they’re playing a game or simply having ice cream in the park. Therefore, you could help your friend by making time to share these experiences and having gales of laughter like you’d be kids again. Or, if you know they’ve loved something specific, like Disney cartoons, you can check out the Disney range of bags and backpacks with cute animation-inspired designs from Stitch, Minnie Mouse, or Winnie the Pooh.
For those struggling to sleep
Mindfulness meditation is great for those with sleep problems because it helps reduce all the racing thoughts that usually occur at night. Consistent meditation techniques like breath awareness or body scanning promote relaxation, which is necessary for a good night’s sleep. Considering that about one-third of the adult population is sleep-deprived due to stress, mindfulness might be the best solution for those who struggle.
If your friend has trouble sleeping but is approaching meditation as a coping mechanism, you could offer them a one-year meditation app subscription. This way, they’d have a calming voice to fall asleep to while doing mindful exercises through a professional’s guidance. Meditation apps provide the benefit of making the process of learning easier and more interesting while adjusting exercises based on their free time.
For those physically active
Friends who are physically active might already have a great stress-free mechanism because any type of exercise can help diffuse stress and also benefit the body. However, it might not always be enough to manage all emotions, especially when we talk about vigorous intensity. Sometimes, doing yoga is best to calm down and observe one’s emotions, so a gift card to a yoga studio is a great starting point.
Yoga is amazing for increasing flexibility and improving athletic performance. But most importantly, it helps reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and increase self-esteem, which contribute to positive mental health. Even if your friend isn’t into yoga classes, you could still gift them yoga props to experiment with exercises from the comfort of their own home, such as a yoga bolster, yoga blocks, and some yoga straps.
For those who prefer to be at home
There’s nothing wrong with making one’s home a relaxing sanctuary, where one can unwind from the daily stress and not be bothered by others. Some simply need to protect their energy and maintain their emotional balance, so they prefer time alone most of the time instead of going out. Indeed, being at home and relaxing allows people to reconnect with themselves, so those trying to meditate and be more mindful might need a little bit of support with the right tools.
Therefore, give your friend a meditation cushion or bench to place in their favorite spot for practice. A proper cushion helps maintain good posture while meditating, so the support will protect the back from feeling sore. A blanket is also one of the best things for when they seek comfort, along with a good-smelling candle or a diffuser to soothe one’s soul. Even devices are suitable, such as a pair of high-quality earbuds that they can use with the meditation app or to listen to music. There are several screen-free methods for meditation so that you could look into that too.
For those wanting to improve their mental clarity
If you’ve been chronically online recently, you might’ve noticed the trend of “brain rot,” which has actually been the word of the year in 2024. It describes people’s recent tendencies to scroll mindlessly on social media apps, which leads to the deterioration of one’s intellectual state. This trend seems to affect people’s capabilities to truly enjoy life and be mindful of their surroundings, which is why some seek more mental clarity by cutting back on social media.
That’s because they feel overloaded or are addicted to it, so if your friend wants to experiment with mindfulness and be more present at the moment, the best thing you can offer them is a book (or more). You could start with a meditation-oriented book that will help them navigate the challenges of being mentally drained, such as Fully Present by Susan L. Smalley, PhD, and Diana Winston or The Heart of Who We Are by Caverly Morgan. Regardless, any other book is a great start to getting away from brain rot.
What do you think about these gifts?
Globally, people are struggling to make it to the end of the day without being completely drained, so they end up having trouble sleeping or suffering from anxiety. Many resort to mindfulness exercises to learn to be present in the moment or learn coping mechanisms to calm down, so if one of your friends is trying it right now, it’s time to be supportive. Whether their goal is to connect with their inner child or improve their mental clarity, supporting their journey is the best you can do to show support.
