When it comes to this time of year my totally dis-organised self goes: “Waah, what am I going to buy everyone for Christmas,” and I hit an immediate blank. Which means that I’m always happy when other people come up with new and different ideas to help guide my present buying.
When Jacqueline Hatch contacted me with an idea for a Guest Post all about brilliant gift ideas for Baby Boomers, I was more than happy to say, “Yes Please,” because I think we can all do with a little bit of inspiration at this time of year.
Anyay here’s hoping that you might find some useful gift ideas, so it’s over to the lovely Jacqueline …
Brilliant Gift Ideas for Baby Boomers
This holiday why not help out a loved one by buying them a gift that will have lasting benefits or help them remain healthy and strong as they age? Here are some brilliant gift ideas – both practical and creative for gift giving this holiday season.
DIY Grapefruit Sugar Scrub
Grapefruit is meant to be great for our digestive systems, but have you ever thought of using it on your skin? This recipe shows how you can create a pretty and effective facial scrub using parts of the fruit you consider “trash”. The scrub not only smells great, but it has also been proven to help renew damaged skin and reduce the appearance of age spots. What’s not to love?
A Gym Membership
This year, get your boomer friend or relative a gym membership or sign them up for classes at a yoga studio. They’ll be so grateful for the chance to work on themselves, and the two of you can perhaps attend an exercise class together!
A Health Food Cookbook
Our health is also directly correlated to the foods we put in our bodies. Do you know a Boomer who is too busy to come up with dinner ideas for the whole family, and often settles for frozen or premade meals? Get them the Clean Slate cookbook, which emphasizes eating whole, unprocessed foods that help fuel the body. The book is stuffed with recipes that make cooking healthy a cinch. One of the main benefits of eating clean is higher energy levels throughout the day; so this gift will actually help improve your loved one’s quality of life!
A Box of Medicinal Teas
Green tea has been all over the news in recent years for the health benefits it can offer drinkers. But have you ever tried Chaga tea or Rooibos tea? These exotic teas can help lower cholesterol levels, ease digestive troubles, and even prevent more serious health issues down the road. So as the weather gets colder, box up some of these specialty teas and wrap them beautifully for that special boomer in your life.
A Collection of Essential Oils
Essential oils have been proven to help relieve emotional distress and uplift the people who use them. They can be used to create anything from perfumes and beauty products to natural play dough and home cleaners. Use this guide to DIY Essential Oil gifts, and create the perfect personalized gift that can be used again and again.
Jacqueline Hatch is the Content Manager at Seniorly, Inc. She is passionate about volunteering, human rights, and creating content that supports those looking to improve their quality of life. Seniorly share articles and blogposts on the topics of aging, health care and senior housing options. They offer comprehensive information to help you make better decisions when it comes to aging. Get more information on topics that matter to you at Seniorly
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I’m keen to try essential oils too Kathy 🙂
I think I would be extremely happy to accept any of these gifts, except the gym membership because I already have one. Essential oils are something I’ve never tried so it would be wonderful to try these and the medicinal teas would be great as well. Thanks for these great Christmas gift ideas!
Lovely ideas Jo, but I have an even better one. At the risk of sounding like I have no Christmas spirit at all (which is actually not far from the truth!) I’d like to suggest that we all scale down our gift-giving. It’s a good time to pause and think about whether we all possibly have enough already. Have those difficult conversations with friends and family, and you may find, as I did, that they will be relieved that you suggest not exchanging gifts, because everyone is feeling pressured and struggling with the ‘what should I buy him/her’ question. We have scaled things down so much that we buy only for our grandson, and I buy for 2 friends in their 80s who are extremely traditional and for whom not exchanging gifts is tantamount to an insult. We occasionally buy for each other, but often we don’t. Christmas for me is largely stress-free as a result, and we can focus on the important things of getting together (whether on Christmas Day or on either side), and just enjoying each other’s company.
Fabulous insights Jo, and you are so right! And I do so agree – the whole gift giving thing has got out of control and most of us have more than enough already, or we have the wherewithal to be able to buy what we need/want, if we don’t have it. Yes, the older generation are entrenched in the tradition, but I can see more and more with my own family that the gift giving is scaling down and like you say, importance being placed on getting together.
I wish Jac a wonderful merry xmas.
I am very glad however that she is not my secret santa.
Haha Sue, at least you’re honest! What would you like to find under the tree this year?
Nothing ‘greenie’ I’m afraid. Maybe a new pressure washer..I do enjoy that ‘little’ job so much so that my last one literally burnt out, of and of course who would ever say NO to diamonds. Merry Xmas Jo.
I’d take the diamonds Sue, over the pressure washer! Merry Christmas to you too 🙂
I have done all my shopping, I love to get it out of the way early. I don’t find buying for boomers that difficult either, it is teenage boys I find most challenging!
For me it’s boys of any age, Jan! Husbands too 🙂
Needing all the gift giving inspiration I can get right now. I haven’t even started shopping.
Somehow it all gets a bit overwhelming these days doesn’t it Raych. I can remember when the build up and planning used to be fun rather than downright stressful. I wish you good speed with the shopping you need to do 🙂