Top 10 holiday gifts to kickstart healthy habits
The holiday season is the perfect time to inspire loved ones with holiday gifts that promote health and well-being. With an increasing focus on wellness and health gadgets, healthy gifts have become popular choices for holiday presents. This is why giving thoughtful presents that encourage healthy habits can make a lasting impact. Whether it’s through fitness and nutrition or self-care, these gift ideas show you care about your loved one’s long-term health.
Before making any significant changes to your own diet or lifestyle, consult with a primary care physician. This ensures that any new health habits are safe and suitable for you. If you don’t currently have a primary care provider, you can search BJC HealthCare to find a doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients.
A fitness tracker is a health gadget that motivates people to move more. In addition to tracking steps, some devices monitor heart rate, blood oxygen and even analyze sleep patterns. By providing real-time feedback, they encourage users to stay active and reach their fitness goals.
A subscription to fitness apps or online classes can be a wonderful healthy gift for a busy individual. These services offer a variety of workouts that can be done at home, ranging from high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to yoga and stretching.
Workout clothes are an excellent health gift because they enhance performance, provide comfort and support overall well-being. Proper activewear, designed specifically for physical activity, ensures freedom of movement and aids in thermoregulation, which helps maintain optimal body temperature during exercise – and some can even improve posture. This not only improves workout efficiency but also reduces discomfort and the risk of injury. Additionally, high-quality workout gear boosts motivation and confidence, encouraging regular exercise and a healthier lifestyle.
Resistance bands offer a versatile, portable and cost-effective solution for strength training and rehabilitation. Suitable for all fitness levels, they can be used to enhance workouts, improve flexibility and aid in physical therapy. Their compact size makes them easy to store and carry, allowing for exercise anywhere, whether at home, the gym or on a trip. Additionally, resistance bands can target various muscle groups, making them an all-in-one fitness tool for anyone looking to improve their health and well-being.
Staying hydrated is essential for good health. A high-quality reusable water bottle makes it easier to drink enough water throughout the day. Look for water bottles with features like built-in filters or insulation to keep water cold for hours. Some high-end, smart water bottles even remind the user when to drink, or track water intake through a Bluetooth app.
Cooking at home can be a key part of a healthy lifestyle. Consider fun health gadgets like air fryers, blenders or spiralizers, which facilitate vegetable preparation and healthy cooking methods. These tools make it easier to prepare nutritious meals for the work week and try new recipes.
Healthy eating starts with smart meal planning. Meal prep containers help you organize meals in advance, making it easier to plan meals and maintain a balanced diet. They come in various sizes, and some feature compartments that are perfect for portion control and storing different types of food.
A cookbook focused on nutritious recipes is an easy way to inspire healthy eating. Look for cookbooks that offer simple, delicious recipes with easy-to-find ingredients that still feel indulgent. This can make healthy cooking more accessible and enjoyable. As an added bonus, why not make a date to cook a delectable, healthy meal with your gift recipient to get the ball rolling?
Mental health is just as important as physical health. Gifts like guided journals, meditation apps or mindfulness dice can help reduce stress and improve mental clarity. These tools encourage daily mindfulness practices that can enhance overall well-being. Mindfulness dice are marked with various prompts that are designed to encourage the user to practice calming activities or gratitude, or focus on the present. For example, a roll of the dice may prompt you to take several deep breaths, identify things for which you are grateful, or note areas of body tension and release tension as you exhale.
An essential oil diffuser can create a calming atmosphere in any room. Aromatherapy has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. Choose a diffuser that is easy to use and pair it with a set of essential oils for a mentally healthy gift.
Basic fitness trackers will track activities such as steps and miles, and, sometimes, swimming, biking, climbing and other workouts. Higher-end devices may also include GPS, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking and other health metrics. Look for devices that sync with a smartphone via Bluetooth.
It is generally recommended to drink about eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, but individual needs may vary. Increase water consumption on active days and during warmer months to stay properly hydrated.
Yes, most meal prep containers are microwave safe, but always check before reheating food in them. Containers made of glass or ceramic are usually safe. Most of the time, the product packaging will state whether the containers are microwave safe.
Air fryers require less oil than traditional frying, making them a healthier option for cooking crispy foods. Take advantage of the air fryer’s strengths by using only a light spray of oil on foods to get a crispy surface with less fat.
Mindfulness tools, including guided journals and meditation apps, can help reduce stress, improve focus and promote a sense of calm. These apps work best when you incorporate their use as part of a healthy routine each day.
Choose cookbooks that focus on whole foods, offer simple recipes and provide nutritional information for each dish. Recipes that place a heavy emphasis on vegetables and lean proteins are a great place to start.
Lavender, chamomile and eucalyptus are popular choices for promoting relaxation and reducing stress. Other soothing choices include bergamot, rose, jasmine and lemon. You can make your essential oils do double duty by mixing them with a neutral massage oil to work out muscle knots.
These holiday gifts can help your loved ones kickstart and maintain healthy habits in the years to come. Another way to promote good health is to consult with your primary care physician. If you don’t have one, you can search BJC to find a doctor or nurse practitioner who is taking new patients.
Maintaining a relationship with your PCP is critical, but if you need medical attention for a minor injury or illness outside of regular business hours or same-day care, we are here to help.
Reserve a time at one of the BJC Medical Group’s Convenient Care locations.
Schedule a virtual care appointment via video
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A BJC primary care provider serves as your health partner, providing preventive health care and treatment for illnesses, injuries and chronic conditions. If you do not have one, find a primary care provider accepting new patients. Learn more.
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