A Holiday Gift Guide for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) - aka Sensory Sensitive People / 2024
Hello dear HSPs & friends/family of HSPs!! We are rapidly approaching a time of year I absolutely LOVE - the holidays!! I thoroughly enjoy the lights + decor + just about everything holiday related. It’s a magical time; isn’t it? My gift guide may be used for Christmas, Hanukkah, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, Valentine’s Day or any day you like!! You may choose to gift someone else &/or your beautiful self!! I hope some of the ideas below will be purrfect for your loved ones & for YOU!!
While I highly recommend shopping your local, independent stores/artists, Etsy & farmers’ markets, etc., I’m linking many of my ideas here to Amazon - for the ease factor. But, please remember to shop locally too. I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for women-owned small businesses.
Also, a reminder about HSPs and what we need to flourish: HSPs need to check in with ourselves often. It’s imperative to keep our nervous systems as regulated as possible. Oftentimes, this is a challenging task. HSPs relish quiet, peaceful environments + meaningful 1:1 convos + lots of down time + so much more. Most of us love to write, journal & reflect. We value growth + harmony + being able to live life in our own unique (HSP) way - with the least amount of stress & pressure as is possible in modern society. Approximately 80% of us are introverts; tuning inward is one of our superpowers.
I’m not an affiliate for Amazon or for anyone. Perhaps I should consider such an opportunity … ?
Enjoy, friends - & remember to breathe. I recommend checking in on your breathing periodically throughout the day. It’s a beautiful form of meditation. We typically breathe 17,000 - 24,000 times daily. How amazing is that?!?!
The Sensitive Sherpa’s Gift Ideas For Nurturing Inner Peace & Joy!!
RELAXATION (& NOISE REDUCTION) - HSPs are an extremely noise sensitive group of humans. I’ve been sleeping with ear plugs since the mid 80s; no joke. They make all the difference in the world for me. I also need to calm my nervous system throughout the day. Maybe you do too? Here are some items you may like:
Sound machine, ear plugs (my faves - after years of experimenting), eye mask. Meditation cushion, yoga mat. A gift card for a massage or pedicure (two of my favorite “things”). Lately, I’ve been learning a bit about “floating” sessions too. Have you tried them??
Side Note: I tremendously enjoy listening to the guided meditations of both The Honest Guys & Jason Stephenson on YouTube. Also, I listen to beautiful music + water videos there on the daily. Piano and Rain is one of my favorites. I kid you not, listening to these glorious sounds calms my nervous system within a short amount of time.
BED, BATH & BODY - HSPs love our cozy bedrooms (our sanctuaries of peace & rejuvenation). I encourage you to make your sleeping space - no matter the size - beautiful, welcoming & filled with peaceful vibes.
Soft sheets. Comfy pillow. Bath salts or oils (for sensitive skin). Beauty products. What are your favorite (clean) beauty products? Please let me know below. I really like L’Occitane. I worked at one of their boutiques back in the day & fell in love with many of their products. They all worked well for my (very) sensitive skin. I tried (& liked!!) 100% Pure several years ago & must revisit their products. Also, I’m eager to test Beekman 1802. I admire their company’s philosophy. Their little goats (source of milk) are adorable!!! They take very good care of those special angels.
(Please note that most HSPs are scent sensitive.)
INTERIOR SPACE BEAUTY - Plants, candles, strings of lights, macrame wall hanging shelf. I plan to order one of these for my cozy little home. How do you like to decorate your living space?
HOBBIES/CREATIVE - HSPs are creative souls. Personally, I LOVE journals/journaling!! Having said this, I believe that choosing the right journal for yourself or someone else is very personal. It’s important to find the right size, style, kind of binding, etc. that suits your particular tastes. I’ve tried many different kinds of journals; how about you? Please share your favorites below. I’m including a link to one I would like to try. (Spiral bound journals generally work best for me.) This one comes in 3 different sizes & a plethora of colors. Pink for me, please. It’s a lined journal. Sometimes I prefer lines; sometimes not.
Personal development (PD) workbooks &/or decks of oracle/reflection/tarot cards. (I hope to create a blog post on the topic of PD decks of cards - one day.) Coloring books, paints, pens, puzzles (I really like this one!). My wise & beautiful friend, Antonia, has created a truly lovely Etsy Shop (Brighter Better Days) filled with helpful PD planners, journals & more. She’s all about mental health & wellness.
Also, let’s not forget an HSP fave kind of gift - BOOKS!!! Maybe Dr. Elaine Aron’s pioneering book &/or workbook on the topic of high sensitivity?
TREATS & TEAS - Yummy!! Who doesn’t love tea & chocolate?!?! Some delicious ideas:
One (dancing tea leaves with teapot; how delightful!!). Two (tea by mood gift set; love this!!). Three (See’s Candies - my favorite chocolate). And/or a cute kitty cat mug (or two)!! There are soooo many from which to choose!!
ART - One of my besties, also an HSP, is a very talented artist & gorgeous human being. I’m delighted to share Val Cline’s work with you!!
MISCELLANEOUS - Cozy slipper socks, hoodies (probably my favorite item of clothing!!), beanies; maybe even an uber comfy robe? I’m going to have to order this beanie for myself!! lol. It’s adorable. (According to the reviews, it’s for smaller heads or kiddos.) How about a birdie feeder or hammock?!? You may want to check out this company too: Natural Life.
THE GIFT OF TIME - Perhaps the most extraordinary gift of all. Offering to help declutter/clean your HSP’s home or help her/him/them move. Baby/pet sit or prepare a meal or help with yard work, etc. These thoughtful gifts of time & love mean sooooo much; they’re truly priceless!!
And finally, please remember your HSP’s furry friends!! We love our kitty, puppy, bunny, birdie (+ more) floof-y & feathered companions!! My dear friend since high school (!!!), Sherri Matos Gilmour, creates/sews absolutely adorable doggie carriers as well as the most unique & beautiful Christmas stockings I’ve ever seen; true works of art & love!! Each item is one-of-a-kind!! Please check out her amazing Etsy shop (Luv Sacks). I love my Christmas stocking soooo much; thank you, Sherri!!! Can you guess what furry friend graces my unique stocking???
Well, I think that’s a wrap for this year. I hope you enjoyed my “care-full-y curated with love” ideas …
If you would like to see my first/original gift guide, you can find it HERE. I plan to post a new guide annually; fingers crossed!! Creating this kind of post is fun (& inspiring) for me - minus tech challenges; lol!!
You can learn more about what it means to be an HSP in this blog post.
And, if you would like to take my self-paced, online resilience building course for free, please drop me an email @ mary@thesensitivesherpa.com. I’ll send you the link & password. It’s a lovely & helpful little course - if I do say so myself!!
Until next time …
Love + Meow. XO
Mary — The Sensitive Sherpa (TSS)
Please leave a comment below if you feel so inclined.
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Hi; I’m Mary - a Highly Sensitive Person, cat lover, tea drinker and counselor. I love helping HSPs navigate life while caring for their sensitive souls.
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