The Ultimate Winter Gift Guide

Photo courtesy: The Guardian

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, though beneath the holiday jingles and fairy lights comes the arduous task of choosing the perfect gift for friends and family. We’ve all exhausted our notebooks and candle options at one point or another, and yet, each December, the gift-buying frenzy makes stores overflow with shoppers under the Black Friday influence. Finding the right gift can be stressful, but there’s nothing quite like watching someone’s face light up when you’ve nailed it. 

Amidst a season excessively iced with consumerism, therein lies the heart of what gift-giving aims to encapsulate: gratitude and love. So, to impress your loved ones with meaningful gifts and save you from a last-minute, panic-induced shopping spree, here is a gift guide with ideas for every kind of person in your life, with options ranging from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy. 

For the student-athlete:

Coming in handy especially with the winter sports season in full swing, these gift ideas are for the friends always on the move. Controversial take: as an athlete, you can never have enough water bottles. Owala, Hydroflask, and Stanley–take your pick. A portable JBL speaker would let them blast bus playlists for their team, and, if you want to spoil your friend, find them a comfy, oversized sweat set (from brands like Alo, Lululemon, Scuffers, and Brownbreath) to keep them warm before chilly early practices and comfortable after matches. 

For the workaholic:

This category is for the nocturnals who are unquestionably locked-in. They’ve probably finished that assignment before you’ve even opened the doc, and more often than not have scarily neat handwriting. Help them balance the never-ending grind with a pair of blue-light glasses to protect their eyes and a colorful or minimalist desk lamp to soften their workspace. For a higher-end gift, a Kindle will help them find solace through escapism between deadlines. 

For the reserved homebody:

These gifts are for the ones who aren’t afraid to indulge in lazy mornings and frequent naps. A pair of fuzzy slippers and an oversized knit sweater are the ideal add-ons to the ultimate ‘I’m staying home all day’ fit. If you are willing to splurge, a sunrise alarm clock is every snooze-button-smasher's dream. 

For the foodie:

Arguably the most universal category, this section is for those who love food, dabble in cooking, or enjoy scavenging hidden-gem restaurants. A jellycat or plushie of their favorite food is a fun way to commemorate the food fanatic in your life. For a more personal touch, create and paint ceramic cups or plates that are both useful and individualized. If electing a more intimate gift, reserving and paying for a dinner date at a new restaurant is a sure way to capture the heart of any food lover. 

For the one who’s impossible to shop for:

We all have that one person in our lives who sets off the red, blaring warning sirens every time we need to buy them something, so think of this section as your last-resort effort to get a gift in their hands by the end of the winter. Opt for self-care essentials such as hand cream, lip balm, and body wash to elevate their lifestyle, or a LEGO set for a stay-in, nostalgic, and decompressing activity. Offering an experience such as a pottery, perfume making, or cooking class is also a thoughtful way of gifting through material and memory. 

To conclude this year's gift guide, it's important to note that regardless of whether or not you celebrate Christmas, the art of gift-giving, no matter how difficult it may be to master, is one that makes those around you feel seen if done correctly. With that in mind, whip out your winter playlist, pour yourself a mug of hot chocolate, and get gifting!