Our Annual 7 Thoughtful Holiday Gifts for Someone Who Is Grieving

The focus during the holiday season is often on family, loved ones and celebration. But for those who are grieving, the traditional feelings of comfort and joy can seem far away. In fact, it can feel very isolating, making coping more difficult. And if a person lives alone, the smallest functions may feel difficult or impossible. So if you’re struggling to find a thoughtful holiday gift for someone who is grieving, consider items that focus on adding elements of self-care, beauty or easy activity to their day.

Here are our top seven choices for holiday gifts for the special people in your life who are experiencing grief.

Gift #1: DIY Candle-Making Kit with Essential Oils 

Creating can be healing, but those in grief may have little to no energy. For them, this candle-making kit with essential oils and other add-ins can be an easy, gentle activity with rich rewards. They might choose to make a memory candle for their loved one who has died or, possibly, just create something beautiful that brings them comfort. And with all the ingredients and materials conveniently in one box, candle-making can be a really relaxing and healing activity.

The essential oils in this DIY Candle-Making Kit can help soothe a grieving heart.

Gift #2: Miss Patisserie Deluxe Bath Sampler

The emotional, physical, cognitive, and psychological responses to grief are exhausting and can make day-to-day function overwhelming. Self-care is essential. This set of bath and shower treats brings self-care to the forefront and is a truly thoughtful holiday gift for someone who is grieving. The luxurious, aromatic combinations and iridescent colors in items like peony and pear sugar scrub, Turkish delight bath slabs, and aromatherapy shower steams encourage delightful, magical moments of self-care and self-soothing.

The Miss Patisserie Sampler Gift Box adds an element of luxury and self-care to the simple act of bathing.

Gift #3:  Self-Loving Notebook

Writing or journaling is a valuable way to process grief and work through deep or confusing emotions. If you’re looking for a creative and thoughtful gift for a grieving friend in your life who loves to write things down — or for the one who might find blank pages intimidating — “Notes to Self” is a self-loving notebook full of prompts, illustrations and list pages that encourage self-care.

“Notes to Self” by Lisa Currie provides inspiration for those who find journaling helpful for dealing with grief.

Gift #4: Grief Calming Yoga Mat

Yoga can be a wonderful coping tool for those who are grieving. The slow movements and deep breathing of yoga practice ease emotional and physical tightness, calming the body and mind. For your grieving friend who already enjoys yoga, or for one who might want to try stretching or deep breathing, consider gifting them a cork yoga mat. This beautifully unique mat from 42 Birds is 100 percent cork, making it eco-friendly and naturally antimicrobial and self-cleaning.

The practice of yoga can be either calming or energizing, depending on what your grieving friend needs at the time.

Gift #5: The School of Life Emotional Baggage Tote

Some people want to talk about their loved one who died, and others do not. For those you know who want to talk about their loss, grief or life change, The School of Life’s cotton canvas tote printed with the words “Emotional Baggage” is a playful way of acknowledging that. The tote’s message helps to destigmatize human pain, and it can also be the perfect conversation opener for one who wants to talk about their grief.

A terrific conversation starter, The Emotional Baggage Tote is a great gift for someone who may wish to talk about their grief.

 Gift #6: Custom Hometown Map Puzzle 

Wintertime, solitude and grief can make the holiday season unbearable, especially for men. A puzzle can be a very thoughtful gift for a male friend (or female) who is grieving as it can be a good way to pass the time that doesn’t require a lot of energy. There are tens of thousands of puzzles out there to choose from.  You can select one with a theme that you know your grieving friend would find enjoyable or try this custom hometown map puzzle, available from The Grommet. Perhaps there’s a special location your friend holds dear, and a custom puzzle can help him or her foster memories of places spent with their loved one.

A unique gift for someone who is grieving, this hometown map is custom-made, so order soon for Christmas delivery.

 Gift #7: Magical Healing Crystals Kit

For the grieving friend who needs grounding, beauty and a little bit of mystic fun, a crystal kit might be an especially thoughtful gift. This Little Bit of Crystals Kit by Cassandra Eason comes with a 128-page book along with three crystals: Amethyst, Rose Quartz and Labradorite. The book provides background on a variety of crystals and the many uses for them, as well as how to use them to nurture self-love and well-being.

The act of making crystals can be a wonderful distraction from the intensity of grief.

This wraps up this year’s list of thoughtful gifts for someone who is grieving. If you’re looking for more ideas that can help a grieving friend through the healing process at their own pace, have a look at last year’s list of seven holiday gifts for someone who is grieving here.