By clicking on the featured links, visitors will leave NationalGeographic.com and be directed to third-party e-commerce sites that operate under different terms and privacy policies. As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, National Geographic will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below.*
We all know someone who is constantly stressed and frazzled about something, whether it’s their job, kids, or what’s going on the table for dinner. You’ve probably already thought about someone you know who fits this description. If you want to give the gift of calm, we’ve rounded up the best stress relief gifts to help someone relax. The list includes everything from relaxing gifts for women to calming gifts that can be given to anyone.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
There’s nothing worse than hearing an excess of background noise in an office, at a hotel, or even at home. These noises can cause stress for those trying to take calls or fall asleep. Enter the LectroFan EVO sound machine with 22 unique fan sounds, including 10 different fans, 10 white noise options, and two ocean sounds. Since the buttons are on the top of the sound machine, it’s easy to use and see what buttons are being pressed to change a setting on the fan. An optional timer can also be set for one to eight hours.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
Sometimes, the best way to destress is to nap or have a good night’s sleep. The Kitsch satin sleep set includes a pillowcase, sleep mask, and scrunchie. The super-smooth pieces are comfortable to sleep on and wear overnight. An even better bonus is that satin pillowcases are great for hair, reducing frizz and breakage.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY RETROSPECTIVE GOODS LLC
Buy it now at Speks
Stress relief gifts for adults come in all sizes, but one that’s very tactile is the Gump memory gel stress ball. The squishy stress ball has a gel center, so it can be stretched and squashed as many times as needed, and the ball will still return to its original form. The stress balls can be ordered as singles or as a set of three, which is great for those who need stress relief at multiple locations, like home and the office.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY ROLL RECOVERY
Buy it now at Roll Recovery
Stress can make it feel like all of the body’s muscles are tight, but the R4 body roller can help you feel light and loose again. The roller has a center groove that aligns with the spine and neck for optimal rolling. The outer diamond-patterned roller sections are great for loosening bigger muscles like the calf and lower back. This is a great gift for friends who love fitness and wellness and are looking for a way to rid the body of stress easily.
Buy it now at Thera
Everyone seems to love a weighted blanket at home, and now the weighted Therahoodie is a heavy jacket that can be worn on the go. The hoodie comes in two fabric types: a sweatshirt-like fleece and a soft plush that’s more like a blanket. Weighing 10 pounds, the blanket is easy to carry from home to the office, to the car, and back home to wear again and again. Even better, the garment is machine washable, making it easy to clean.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
What do you buy for someone who is stressed? A set of 52 cards with mindfulness and meditation exercises is a great option. Each card lists one exercise, the objective of the practice, and easy-to-follow directions to do the exercise correctly. Even better, the cards are travel-sized and only weigh seven ounces, so they can easily be packed in a backpack or purse for those who are always on the move.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
The ProsourceFit Acupressure mat and pillow set could be a great gift for those looking to try something new to reduce stress. The set claims to lower pain and muscle tension by laying on the mat for 10 to 30 minutes. It comes in two sizes: large and extra large. The large mat has 8,910 acupressure points, and the extra large mat has 11,178 acupressure points. The pillow comes standard with 1,782 acupressure points.
Buy it now at HH Science
One of the best and most useful stress relief gifts for her is an ice roller. This model has a detachable stainless steel head that can stay cold for up to two hours. The ice roller can be used on the face, neck, and more to help to de-puff and reduce swelling. Besides the perceived cosmetic benefits, ice rolling feels nice, especially for those in a warmer climate where cooling off quickly is essential to calm down.
(Do ice facials actually work? We asked the experts.)
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
A good sleep schedule is imperative to reducing stress. With the Hatch Restore 2, getting into a routine is easier. The device is an all-in-one alarm clock, sound machine, and reading light, all wrapped into a minimalist design that fits into any home. The clock has a sunrise alarm where a light is brightened gradually to support the circadian rhythm. Then, when it’s time for bed, programmable sleep sounds assist with falling asleep faster.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
Another good gift to help people relax is a crochet kit for beginners because it keeps hands busy and the mind focused on one task. This kit has everything needed to crochet: yarn, stuffing, a needle, eyes, stitch markers, crochet hooks, scissors, patterns, and a basic crochet manual. The kit comes pre-packaged in a gift box, which is great for those looking to send a gift via mail or delivery service like Amazon.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
The No Worries Workbook is a perfect stress relief gift for adults. It features 124 lists, activities, and prompts that help ease stress and set small goals to reduce overall worry. The paperback book is suitable for almost any age, from older teens to the elderly, so no matter who’s receiving it, they may find it helpful for reducing stress.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
Embroidery has become popular again thanks to TikTok, where embroidery tutorials have amassed thousands of views. The kit includes one hoop, threads, the pre-stamped pattern, embroidery needles, and instructions. The pattern is easy to follow for beginners, and the stamp can be washed away in warm water after completing the project.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
There’s nothing like easing into a warm bath after a stressful day. And to make a bath even more enjoyable, a bathtub tray is an ideal relaxing gift. The tray is made from bamboo and features non-slip edges. The extendable tray also has a slot to put a wine glass, a phone holder, and a book and tablet stand to catch up on a new book or social media feed.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
Getting stress under control can be as easy as putting on this TheraICE Migraine Relief Cap. The stress relief gift for adults is a 360-degree cooling compression cap that may help relieve stress headaches. The ice cap is comfortable to wear thanks to its gel design that targets areas of tension on the head. We also love to stick this in a travel bag because it’s just under two pounds and lays flat for easy packing.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY PLUTO PILLOW
Buy it now at Pluto
Gift ideas for a stressed friend who travels often are plentiful, but the Pluto POD 2.0 seems like one of the most practical. This structured pillow hood is perfect for those who travel by plane frequently and need to rest. The adjustable pillow has a built-in eye mask for sensory deprivation and a seamless velcro neck support for easy wear. The internal lining is made with temperature-regulating material, so the pillow is never too hot to wear for extended periods. We also love this for mid-day naps around the house for those working from home.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
Monitoring stress just got easier with the WHOOP 4.0. The fitness wearable continuously monitors the wearer, taking in data like heart rate, skin temperature, respiratory rate, and tracking sleep activity. These metrics, plus being able to log daily activity like diet and stress level, give the wearer a fuller picture of health and what could be triggering stress through the device app. One major perk to the wearable is the daily recovery score that shows how ready your body is to take on the stress and strain of the day.
Buy it now at Olive & Cocoa
The Olive and Cocoa Serenity Spa Crate is an ideal stress-relieving gift. It includes hand-selected products, including lavender tub sachets, artisanal soap, a lavender candle, and a hand-crocheted washcloth. The included hand cream can easily be put into a purse or backpack for a little moment of stress relief, too. The wooden crate comes wrapped together with a ribbon, so you don’t even have to wrap this stress relief gift yourself.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
Sometimes, the best de-stressor is a hot shower. With the Hai smart shower head, a spa-like experience can be recreated at home. The shower head is Bluetooth enabled to track water usage. The integrated LED lights alert users when the water is at the perfect temperature. The shower head has multiple pressure options, ranging from a high-pressure stream to a fine mist with the touch of a slider button.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY LULULEMON
Buy it now at Lululemon
There’s nothing better than the feeling of stress and tension leaving the body. One of the best gifts to give for stress relief is this set of Lululemon Release and Recover Balls. The three lightweight massage balls are specifically designed to target tension in small, medium, and large muscle groups. Each of the different balls has a different texture, which can help to pinpoint any trouble spots in hard-to-reach areas.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON
Buy it now on Amazon
Relaxing gifts are often centered around arts and crafts, but someone stressed may not be up for learning something new. This Crayola flower coloring book makes artistic expression super easy. The gift has 40 perforated coloring pages that can be torn out easily to color and display. We suggest pairing the book with a high-quality set of colored pencils or markers so the recipient can use the gift immediately.
Megan duBois is a travel journalist with years of experience covering everything from theme parks and cruises to group travel and food destinations. She’s visited almost two dozen countries and four continents. You can find her work around the internet and in print at places like Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Delish, Travelocity, and more. Follow her on Instagram @minglingwithmegan and on X @megand513 for travel tips and tricks.
*Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these experiences or products with you, National Geographic is not endorsing these experiences or products on behalf of anyone. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products or experiences for individual consumers. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication.
