by Philip |
Last Updated: December 21, 2019 When you buy something using the links on our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
Statistics say that 40M adults in the US have some form of anxiety disorder. We don’t even need statistics to know that a lot of the people around us suffer from anxiety. If you ever find yourself stumped what to give to coworkers or friends, why not give relaxation gifts?
We guarantee they won’t get shoved in a corner to gather dust. When you give any one of the stress relief gifts from our list below, you’re gifting some measure of self-care and self-love.
Whatever your budget, we’re sure you’ll find something in our collection below. Every time your present is used, you can bet that you’ll be remembered fondly!
20 Stress Relief Gifts For the Ultimate in Relaxation
#1 – Gideon Wooden Dual Foot Massager
My Uncle got these as a gift for himself and boy was he happy. Top-of-the line machines are great but sometimes you just want to use something without the hassle of plugging in and fiddling with a lot of controls. This wooden foot massager is analog relaxation for the digital age. Just pull it out of storage and use instantly.
No products found.
Pros
- Best for people with plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and other foot problems
- Can be used while you work on your computer or after some walking or running
- Perfect for people who have standing jobs
- Very affordable and doesn’t use electricity
Cons
- No special features (unlike electric massagers)
See Also: The Best Foot Massagers For Your Achy Feet
No products found.
#2 – Salt Massage Stones
If you’ve been on our site before, then you know we love Himalayan Salt. We love it for lamps, for cooking, and also in stone form – for massage. You can use them warm or cool and then glide on your skin with organic coconut oil (or your choice of oil; but never water).
No products found.
If you have 3 minutes, watch this very helpful video of Ann Brown who talks about how she uses Himalayan salt stones on a daily basis.
- Can be used for people suffering from arthritis and pain from muscular diseases
- Cleansing and detoxifying
- Relaxing and stress-relieving
Cons
- Will get smaller over time especially if you expose them to too much water
No products found.
#3 – Original Gorilla Grip
Relax for longer in your bath with a good bath pillow. This Gorilla Grip has excellent suction cups so that your pillow stays in place and you can relax in your warm bath.
This is the #1 Bestseller in Bath Pillows.
No products found.
Pros
- Fits any tub or jacuzzi
- Waterproof and easy to clean
- 10 year guarantee and 100% refund guarantee
- Haven’t experienced mildew or bad smell with this brand
- Perfect for those with neck arthritis or other similar issues
Cons
- Suction cups are so strong that the pillow may rip if you force the pillow from the tub (we speak from experience!). If you are taking the bath pillow out, I’d suggest using a fingernail instead to pry the suction cups slowly off the tub surface.
See Also: The Best Bath Pillows
No products found.
#4 – OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Speaker
We’re suckers for a good bluetooth speaker for the bathroom. I mean, are we the only ones who have rockin’ concerts in the shower?
This is the #1 Bestseller in Wireless and Streaming Audio Systems.
No products found.
Pros
- Splash-proof and water resistant
- Great for the beach too as it’s also sandproof and rainproof
- Great sound!
- Long-lasting battery
- Very durable and well built (one famous story tells of one being run over by a car and still working)
- No problem with connectivity
Cons
- On and off button might be difficult to locate the first time you use it
No products found.
#5 – Aromatherapy 18 Essential Oils
Essential oils are a wonderful natural solution if you want a pick-me-up, want to feel sleepy, or if you have a cold. There’s always an essential oil for anything and everything, thanks to aromatherapy.
These are best paired with a good diffuser. I just recently came home after crossing 7 time zones and I was a complete wreck. My diffuser was one of the few things that kept me sane during my one-week excruciating jet lag.
This is the #1 Bestseller in Fragrance Collections and Home Scents.
No products found.
Pros
- For a fair price, you get 18 bottles of essential oils
- All natural with no additives; therapeutic grade
- Includes my favorites like lavender, lemongrass, rosemary, tea tree, frankincense, pink grapefruit, and many more
- Very responsive customer support
Cons
- Packaging should be improved as there is no individual cushioning for the bottles so a few buyers got theirs cracked (This is where the responsive customer support comes in.)
See Also: The Best Aromatherapy Diffusers
No products found.
#6 – Bian Stone
Bian stones are one of our favorite tools for Gua Sha massage therapy. Gua Sha is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s basically a hard scraping of the skin that results in scary red patches. It’s actually not as painful as it looks (or sounds) but it is highly therapeutic as it releases stagnant lymph and blood in the body.
Bian stones are said to be the best for Gua Sha.
No products found.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Best range of frequency for gua sha
- Authentic gua sha is done with bian stones
Cons
- Not the best pick if you have hands that are smaller than average
See Also: Learn All About Gua Sha
No products found.
#7 – Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp
Philip and I have a salt lamp in every room of our house and we have two in our bedroom. They’re also our go-to when we’re giving out presents. I personally think that salt lamps have healing properties although Philip may tease me about it. Still, he DID buy more lamps citing how they look very nice all lit up at night.
I am biased but this is one of my favorite stress relief gifts on this list.
No products found.
Pros
- Recommended for people suffering from asthma, allergic rhinitis and other respiratory issues
- Helps make a room smell better so it’s great for pet owners
- Uses very little electricity
- Very beautiful when lit up
- Comes with a dimmer
Cons
- Will sweat in a humid environment so you have to keep it on
See Also: The Best Salt Lamps To Buy
No products found.
#8 – Therabath Arthritis Paraffin Bath
Paraffin baths basically do two things. First, they render your hands and skin super smooth. Second, they are great for pain relief (especially for those suffering from arthritis of the hands or from carpal tunnel).
How they work is you melt wax in the paraffin bath. With the temperature just right, you immerse and dunk your hands into the wax several times to create a thick layer, and then you put your wax-encrusted hands into a plastic bag. The heat and the wax combine to heal chapped or painful hands.
The full explanation of the procedure is here.
No products found.
Pros
- Unlike many paraffin baths, this brand and model has very high buyer satisfaction ratings
- Paraffin baths are ideal for pain from arthritis, chronic joint pain, fibromyalgia, and others
- Good for addressing muscle spasms, inflammation, sprains, scars, stiff joints, eczema, psoriasis, and so on
Cons
- Has a 5 year warranty but you need to pay to ship it back if it develops a problem
- I wouldn’t recommend reusing the wax
No products found.
#9 – Naipo Shiatsu Back And Neck Massager
Portable massagers are awesome. If you’ve ever had a massage, then we don’t need to go into how amazing massages are. With these portable massagers, you simply drape it on your body, turn on the switch, and enjoy the heat and the Shiatsu massage rollers.
No products found.
Pros
- Heat and massage soothes away fatigue and pain
- Recommended for people who live alone (or who have lazy husbands) and can’t get shoulder massages
- Has a safety feature that turns off heat when it gets hot
- Naipo is one of our go-to brands
- Responsive customer support
Cons
- Should not be used without a shirt on
- Not for strong back deep tissue massage
No products found.
#10 – Coop Home Goods Memory Pillow
If you have a giftee who is having difficulty getting a good night’s sleep, you should give this friend a high quality pillow like the Coop Home Memory Pillow.
No products found.
Pros
- Ideal for any type of sleeper, whether you sleep on your side, back, or front
- Breathable
- Hypoallergenic and dust mite resistant
- Washable and will not go flat
- Has a 5 year warranty
- CertiPUR-US certified foam: very safe and without toxic materials like mercury, formaldehyde, pthalates, and so on
Cons
- Has the initial bad smell of memory foam (Here’s our article on how to get rid of the smell.)
See Also: The Best Memory Foam Pillows
No products found.
#11 – UrPower Essential Oil Diffuser
I love love love this little gadget. It’s very affordable and mine has lasted for more than a year now without any signs of wear and tear (apart from some smudged lettering). This is my go-to gift to friends who love aromatherapy and who don’t have an oil diffuser yet.
An oil diffuser lets you diffuse your favorite essential oils so that your rooms at home or at work are smelling great. Highly recommended!
No products found.
Pros
- Great value for money
- Perfect gift for friends who are into essential oils or aromatherapy
- Great mood-lifter or simply to make a room smell great
- You can play around with your favorite essential oil scents like lavender, orange, or peppermint
Cons
- The little LED light that indicates it’s turned on can be an issue if you want total darkness at night
See My Full Review: UrPower Oil Diffuser Review
No products found.
#12 – Tempur-Pedic Symphony Pillow
If you ask me, I’d say the best memory pillows are TempurPedic pillows. They’re the go-to brand for quality memory pillows. They come with an accompanying price tag though but it’s all worth it.
In fact, if you’re wondering why pillows are even in our list of stress relief gifts, I’ll just share that I had chronic neck and shoulder pain for months and months till I somehow got the brilliant idea of getting a memory pillow. And my chronic pain subsided since then.
No products found.
Pros
- Best for side and back sleepers
- Ideal for those with neck pain or neck arthritis
- Double sided
Cons
- Some buyers say it’s too firm
See Also: What is the Best Tempurpedic Pillow?
No products found.
#13 – TheraRub Electric Massager
Do you have a giftee who would love a portable massager to use on the face and body? If yes, then check out this Therarub model. You won’t break the bank but you will get a really good after-work massager.
No products found.
Pros
- One of the best handheld percussion massagers around
- Ergonomic, has 3 massage heads and adjustable intensity
- Massage is very strong; professional-strength
- Ideal for home use
- Great for muscle recovery and sore muscles after workouts or hard labor
- Has an extra long cord at 14 feet
Cons
- Not cordless, unlike other brands or models
See Also: The Best Handheld Massagers Reviewed
No products found.
#14 – Zyllion Neck & Back Massager Cushion
If you or your giftee dream of having a massage chair but can’t afford it, get the next best thing: a massage cushion. It’ll only set you back by a hundred bucks and you get a massage chair experience (albeit dialled down).
No products found.
Pros
- You can really feel the massage on your neck and back; feels so great you can even fall asleep on it
- Perfect for relaxation and stress relief
- Also works for a measure of pain management (it won’t make it all go away but you’ll get some relief)
- Really does what it says it does
- Quality item that lasts
- Responsive customer support
- With 1 year warranty
Cons
- Bulky (but not a big deal, in my opinion)
- You won’t like all the modes but you’ll have a favorite one that’ll be your go-to
See Also: The Best Massage Cushions To Melt Away Your Stress
No products found.
#15 – Beurer Shiatsu Foot Massage
I give you fair warning. We are entering into the realm of more expensive gifts. To even consider giving out these gifts, they would most likely be gifts to yourself, your spouse, or your beloved family.
We already featured a wooden foot massager earlier and the price is unbeatable. If you have the budget though and want something with more features, check out this Beurer, one of our favorite picks.
These foot massagers are a perfect gift for friends who have jobs where they stay on their feet the whole day or for elderly who are suffering from foot pain.
No products found.
Pros
- Relieves pain from plantar fasciitis, foot numbness, and similar conditions; improves circulation and alleviates pain
- Can be used even if you have diabetes (unlike the foot spas mentioned earlier that diabetics must NOT use)
- Has 18 rotating massage nodules and two levels of intensity
- With a large foot pad; perfect for folks with big feet
- Targets pressure points via vibration
- Has a heat function, unlike other brands
- Responsive customer support
Cons
- Has a lifetime warranty but you would need to pay for shipping if you need to ship it back
No products found.
#16 – Zinus 12” Green Tea Mattress
This mattress is called Green Tea because it’s made with green tea extract and castor oil. This helps keep the mattress fresh and clean. This mattress has the record for being the number 1 bestseller for mattresses and I believe this is due to a balance between the affordable price and the decent satisfaction ratings from buyers.
No products found.
Pros
- Medium-firm
- No bad memory foam smell!
- Has antibacterial protection
- High satisfaction ratings from buyers
Cons
- None that we could find
No products found.
#17 – JNH Lifestyles MG401HB Infrared Sauna
Can you imagine yourself enjoying a sauna at home everyday? I can! It’s next on my personal wish list.
The therapeutic effect of heat is common knowledge. The use of heat to rejuvenate our tired bodies goes back to ancient cultures. The modern twist to it though is the infrared sauna. This type of sauna emits infrared light that we experience as radiant heat. This is easily absorbed by our bodies allowing for deeper penetration.
The JNH infrared sauna is one of the top brands and models for infrared saunas.
No products found.
Pros
- A great infrared sauna for up to 4 people
- Great functionality and performance; has 9 heaters
- Comes with speakers and LED lighting
- Has a digital control panel so you can change settings while using your sauna
- Aesthetically pleasing; you’ll feel like you’re in a spa
Cons
- Pricey
- Delivered curbside only so you will need White Glove
See Also: The Best Infrared Saunas
No products found.
#18 – Real Relax
If you’ve always wanted your own massage chair but never could afford one, I have good news for you! There are more brands and models in the market that should fit your budget. This awesome Real Relax chair for example has very good feedback from happy buyers and it’s under a thousand dollars.
You get real value for what you pay for.
No products found.
Pros
- This is a real budget-friendly chair that has the features of the more expensive chairs like zero gravity, waist heat therapy, full body massage, and so on
- Has hip massagers and vibrators
- Comes with two wheels at the back for easier repositioning
- When not in use as a massage chair, it is comfortable enough to be used as a recliner
- Easy assembly
- Responsive seller
Cons
- Delivered curb side so you will need White Glove or some strong friends
Also Read: The Best Massage Chairs
No products found.
#19 – Bath Master Spa Sauna
Similar to heat therapy from an infrared sauna, steam therapy also has numerous health benefits ranging from physical, emotional, and beauty benefits.
At the end of the day though, a relaxing steam bath such as this one is premium luxury that you can enjoy at home. If you’re earning big bucks and need stress-relief to keep you healthy and at optimal performance, then consider this spa sauna.
No products found.
Pros
- Has all the benefits of steam and heat therapy
- Has a ton of features like rainfall shower, foot massager, FM radio, speakers and microphone, fog-free mirrors and glass, blue LED lighting, ceiling lamps, control panel, waterproof parts
- Responsive seller
- Standalone equipment
Cons
- Not a simple piece to put together; recommended that a general contractor or professional put it together for you and upgrade parts like higher grade tubing for the best experience
- Some models may be too small; we recommend at least the 40×40 if your bathroom area is small
See: Six Superior Steam Showers for Serious Relaxation
No products found.
#20 – American Spas Hot Tubs
We’ve been to many spa trips where we experienced the full benefits of a jacuzzi. Once we have our dream sauna next on the list will be a hot tub with ALL the features! I want more jets and bubbles than I can count.
Be careful when buying a hot tub – it’s not just the initial purchase but also the subsequent maintenance. Many hot tub owners buy before they are financially stable enough and have to cement in their installation. The cost of upkeep turned their dream into a nightmare!
If you know exactly how much it costs to have a hot tub at home and you are the type of person to enjoy the full relaxation and healing benefits of a hot tub, then this premium luxury item has your name on it.
No products found.
Pros
- Has 11 stainless steel hydrotherapy jets
- 5.5kW heavy duty titanium heater
- Has an ozonator that purifies water
- With 50 ft reusable filters
- Plug and play; easy setup
- Aesthetic design
Cons
- Issues with delivery; make sure the delivery people have a forklift to unload it
No products found.
Author: Philip Andrew
A writer and teacher who enjoys lazing around and building winter nests out of duvets. “Most are too itchy. You’ve got to be picky.” His goal is to create a complete home spa for 24/7 access to rest and relaxation. Next on the agenda: a barrel sauna for the garden. Connect with Philip on Twitter @completehomespa.