There’s no denying that 2020 has been an unpredictable whirlwind of a year. With the holidays officially upon us, we thought we’d put together a little Gift Guide, with 10 gift ideas connected to speech and language, wellness, and brain injury recovery. Please feel free to share any other gift suggestions for our community in the comment section below.
- JOURNAL OR PLANNER: Writing things down is the #1 tool recommended by SLPs for supporting memory, planning, organization and task completion. Kick off 2021 with one of the many styles of planners, ranging from small pocket-sized notebooks to monthly calendars. There’s also some great paper “To Do” lists available. Bonus tip: There are many styles and designs out there, and choosing a pleasing pattern may help with motivation to stick with your habit.
- YOGA GEAR: Although you certainly don’t need any specific props or gear for yoga (for example, use a book for a block, or a pillow as a bolster), now might be a good time to get a nice yoga mat, set of two blocks, bolster, blanket, or foam roller.
- BOOKS: We’ve compiled a list of book recommendations relating to topics within the brain injury and wellness genres. Check out our bookstore on Bookshop.org, “an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores”. (Disclosure: We are an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.)
- COMFY CLOTHES: If you didn’t have them before 2020, you probably have them now after the pandemic stay-at-home orders! But is there anything better than slipping into some stretchy yoga leggings, a soft sweater, or comfortable adaptive clothing?
- REUSABLE DRINKING CUPS: Because staying hydrated (and perhaps caffeinated?!) is self-care, and reusable cups mean less waste. Check out Etsy for some cute yoga-themed options.
- ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT: Our Occupational Therapy friends often recommend adaptive equipment for folks who’ve had a brain injury. There’s lots of great options out there, including adaptive utensils, clothing, pill boxes, technology and mobility options.
- GAMES/APPS: As the saying goes, “There’s an app for that.” Apps are often coming and going, but search your preferred App Store and search for top-rated apps for: yoga, mindfulness, memory, word puzzles, etc.
- SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it even more important to support your local businesses. If you don’t feel comfortable heading out to your local store or restaurant, many are offering gift cards and curbside pickup.
- MAKE A DONATION: There are so many great causes out there to support at the local, national, and international levels. Making a donation supports organizations working to make the world a better place.
- SELF CARE: Here’s a few fun ideas to treat yourself: perhaps a lavender eye mask, neck pillow, selection of teas, or a diffuser for aromatherapy