Gift Edit 2024

19 Stress-Relief Gifts for the Anxious Person in Your Life (or Yourself!)

updated Nov 7, 2024
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Cozy room decorated for Christmas celebration
Credit: Alina Hvostikova / Stocksy

This feature is part of Apartment Therapy's Gift Edit, our editor-curated collection of gift ideas. Need more inspiration? Check out all our guides here.

The inability to fully unwind and let go of stress is almost universal these days, especially during one of the most stressful times of the year — the holiday season. And sometimes, we all just need a nudge to help us decompress and take a deep breath. This nudge can be as simple as a stress-relieving gift that your giftee would not buy for themselves, like a shiatsu neck and back massager pillow. Because aren’t those the kinds of gifts we want to receive anyway?

We went on our own mission to find some unique yet comforting gifts that anyone on your list would be happy to receive. From sleep aids and puzzles, to massage cushions and essential oils, we’ve gathered a wide range of gifts designed to de-stress and help us all take a breath and relax. 

Looking for even more gifts? Check out our Gift Edit hub to find more (or browse for presents for yourself).

1 / 19
Amazon
$29.99

If working your desk job leads to aches and pains in your neck and back, MoChushle’s Shiatsu Neck Back Massager Pillow might be your saving grace. This heat-activated pillow straps to your chair to target any pain points that come with your day with its four massage nodes. You can fully customize your massage, and it even promotes blood circulation.

2 / 19
Jiggy
$49.00

It’s been proven that puzzles help release dopamine in your brain every time you solve a section, which leads to greater stress relief overall. So why not pick up a gorgeous print-turned-puzzle to get your mind off your worries AND end up with a pretty picture in the end?

3 / 19
Hatch
$169.99

This sound machine is the perfect tool for easing in and out of sleep in the most relaxing way possible. It acts as both a white noise machine with nature sounds to help you fall asleep, as well as a gentle sunrise alarm to delicately wake you up from your slumber.

4 / 19
Amazon
$14.95
was $17.95

Another great way to relieve stress is to practice mindfulness, and these Allura & Arcia cards can help you get there. These cards offer 52 exercises for mindfulness, meditation, anxiety relief, stress management, self-care, relaxation, and more. Whether you space these out once a week or zoom through them daily, you can set your own pace when it comes to calming your mind with these soothing exercise cards.

5 / 19
Drowsy Sleep Co.
$79.00

This sleep mask will have you snoozing at the height of luxury. This cloud-like mask is silky-smooth and offers a full blackout design. The head strap is fully adjustable, and it’s 100% washable.

6 / 19
Amazon
$20.99
was $29.99

Similarly to solving puzzles, using both hands and having your full attention on a task like crocheting can help take your mind off your troubles. So this Crochetta Crochet Kit for Beginners is a great way to learn a new skill that doubles as a stress reliever. This kit will have you creating four different plant pot designs that can then go on to be decor or even gifts themselves.

7 / 19
P.F. Candle Co.
$24.00

Lavender is proven to have calming qualities, and it's a common ingredient in sleep sprays or massage lotions. So it only makes sense to combine that soothing scent with the warm relaxation a candle provides. This scent not only includes the scent of Ojai’s lavender farms, but it also channels the orange groves and mountains found in the area.

8 / 19
Solo Stove
$79.99
was $99.99

If you’re someone who instantly relaxes when a fire is going, but you don’t want to have to go to the trouble of preparing a fireplace or fire pit (or if you don’t have access to either), then the Geo Table Top Fire Bowl is the perfect compromise. This smoke-free fire option is fueled by gel, so you won’t have to worry about creating a smoky environment while you bask in the light of these cozy flames.

9 / 19
Clevr Blends
$28.00

This drowsy decaf is for all the coffee-lovers who lament the fact they can’t enjoy a cup of Joe for a night cap — until now! The Sleeptime SuperLatte is a great alternative to melatonin, using botanical sleep aids like valerian, passionflower, hops, adaptogens, and L-theanine to help you fall (and stay) asleep without the grogginess in the morning.

10 / 19
Best Buy
$149.00

For those who suffer from aches and pains that a soak in the tub just can’t fix, having a Theragun on hand can make all the difference. This percussive massager is designed to target hard-to-reach spots on your back and to treat both larger muscles as well as tender and sensitive areas.

11 / 19
LATHER
$18.00

For those who don’t want to inject any sleepytime aids, essential oils can be just as effective. This pillow mist is infused with organic lavender, organic ylang-ylang, cedarwood, ho wood, and lemon to combine to create a truly relaxing scent designed to help you fall asleep. Simply spray on your pillow right before bed, and let the aroma take you away to dreamland.

12 / 19
HoMedics
$249.99

The Drift Sandscape Kinective Meditation Sand Table doubles as a chic statement piece for your home decor and a meditation app. You can choose from hundreds of patterns, colors, and speed options to dance within the bowl and to suit your relaxation needs.

13 / 19
Sunday Citizen
$269.00

For those who are craving a nice warm hug, weighted blankets are the way to go. A gentle pressure causes your body to feel calm and comforted, and the fluffy Sung Crustal Weighted Blanket achieves this with flying colors. It comes in various weights, so make sure to choose one that’s up to 10% of your (or the gift receiver’s) body weight.

14 / 19
Pura
$49.99

This diffuser takes scent plug-ins to a whole new level. Not only is it equipped with fresh scents that help your space smell clean as well as help relax you, but you can also control the diffuser with an app on your phone. You can adjust the fragrance strength, as well as set up timers to schedule the scents with your day.

15 / 19
HoMedics
$319.99

This gift totally embodies the “Treat Yourself” ethos. While a bit of a splurge, you can enjoy a shiatsu massage sitting up, lying down, and everywhere in between. Its smartscan technology is able to automatically adjust to your height for a custom neck and shoulder massage — it's truly designed to work out all the stress the body holds onto.

16 / 19
Bearaby
$25.00
was $29.00

If a stress ball isn’t quite cutting it, why not try out a stress pillow? This knot design is gently weighted and activates pressure points to relieve stress. You can squash with your hands or hug the pillow close to release tension, and it can also double as a decorative pillow, depending on which size you prefer.

17 / 19
Amazon
$114.99

If your giftee is an avid reader, the Kindle Paperwhite is the ultimate gift. Made with a 300 ppi glare-free screen, this is totally waterproof (hello poolside reading!) and features a built-in adjustable light and a battery that lasts weeks, not hours. Be sure to preload it with a new read, too!

18 / 19
Sephora
$22.00

When it comes to staying calm, kicking back with a few eye patches, a warm cup of tea, and a cozy bathrobe can do wonders. Topical Under-Eye Brightening and Clearing Eye Masks can be a part of that. The hydrogel masks cool your under-eye area while relieving stress — all in one step.

19 / 19
Amazon
$79.00

As someone who naturally tends to be puffy in the mornings, I understand the struggle all too well. However, the Skinny Confidential Ice Roller changes that. It uses cold therapy to soothe your skin — just store it in the refrigerator or freezer, and you're good to go! The cold temperature will immediately help destress you.