Unplugged: A Tech-Free Gift Guide for Anyone Who Needs to Tune Out (Um, All of Us)

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a black moleskine notebook, a white pillow slide, a gift package of spices from Diaspora Co. on a blue background. there's a tag that says 'season of self care' that represents Healthline's holiday gift guide theme.Share on Pinterest Collage by Brittany England

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    A quick look at the best non-tech gifts

  • Best budget-conscious gift: Chestnut Ridge Coffee
  • Best gift for getting creative: All Paint By Numbers
  • Best gift for self-care: Lush Bath Bomb
  • Best gift for couples: Cheesemonger Box
  • Best gift for foodies: Diaspora Co.
  • Best gift for your work-from-home friend: Pillow Slippers
  • Best gift for the busiest person you know: Blue Apron
  • Best gift for the yogi in your life: Crystal Candle
  • Best gift for bookworms: Bookshop.org
  • Best gift for a writer: Moleskine Notebook

    • There’s nothing wrong with enjoying or coveting the latest gadgets and gizmos, but with so many gift guides focusing on new tech, finding the perfect gift for the non-techies in your life can be tricky.

    So how do you shop for someone when you take tech out of the equation?

    Think about their interests — maybe even a shared interest you have — and focus on that. A surefire way to nail your gift-giving is to opt for consumables.

    Worried someone will already have the thing you’re eyeing? Think food, spices, candles, bath bombs, wine (or nonalcoholic beverages), and experiences. What do these things have in common? They have a limited shelf life. You’ll find a few suggestions for these below.

    And don’t forget to have fun when shopping. You might even think about creating a theme, like “movie night” or “self-care extravaganza.”

    Read on to discover our favorite non-tech gifts for this upcoming holiday season.

    How we chose

    When choosing the following best non-tech gifts, we kept a few criteria in mind:

  • Pricing: We included options to suit different budgets. Many of our selections make great gifts whether you’re looking to buy for your favorite relative or work secret Santa.
  • Reviews: We opted for products with positive customer reviews or high praise from Healthline editors.
  • Varying interests: You’ll find various gifts to suit different interests on this list, from foodie-forward goodies to the perfect gift for the bookworm in your life.
  • Zero technology: No cords, no charging, no complicated instruction manual — all these gifts are low-tech and battery-free.

    • Pricing guide

  • $ = under $25
  • $$ = $25–$100
  • $$$ = over $100

    • Healthline’s picks for the best non-tech gifts

    Best budget-conscious gift

    Chestnut Ridge Coffee

  • Pricing: $

    • Specialty coffee roasters, Chestnut Ridge, are based in Downtown Harrisonburg, Virginia. They offer a variety of delicious coffee options. The website features detailed information about each coffee’s region, farm, processing method, and tasting notes, so you can easily find beans to brew your perfect cup of coffee.

    Shop now at Chestnut Ridge Coffee

    Best gift for getting creative

    All Paint By Numbers

  • Pricing: $$

    • Painting can be a relaxing, meditative experience, but you don’t have to be a talented artist to enjoy an art session. These kits aren’t the ones you remember from your youth. Consider them the grown-up version.

    Whether you’re buying for a super artistic person in your family or a friend who’s itching to try out a new hobby, there’s a kit to please. From intricate landscapes to abstract art, the kits come in various themes, sizes, and the option to add a frame.

    Shop now at All Paint By Numbers

    Best gift for self-care

    Lush Bath Bomb

  • Pricing: $$

    • Shower your loved one with this luxurious bath bomb gift set from Lush, a company committed to creating fresh, handmade, ethical products. This lovely set includes everything your giftee needs to zone out and focus on themselves, including bath bombs, skin-softening soap, bubble bars, and body butter for a bit of skin aftercare.

    Shop now at Lush

    Best gift for couples

    Cheesemonger Box

  • Pricing: $$

    • It can be tough to shop for couples, especially those who already have everything. And if you don’t know them too well, it can be downright impossible to figure out what they do and don’t have. So put the fancy salt and pepper shakers down and opt for a yummy cheese selection from Cheesemonger Box.

    You can choose a subscription or opt for a one-time gift box and select between two ready-made boxes or build your own. The classic box comes with 3 half-pound cheese selections, and the signature box also includes a few other goodies like specialty crackers and spreads.

    Looking to impress? Jazz up the cheese box with a bottle of wine and your own accouterments to create a one-of-a-kind gift basket.

    Shop now at Cheesemonger

    Best gift for foodies

    Diaspora Co.

  • Pricing: $$–$$$

    • Need an idea for the foodie or amateur chef in your life? Opt for jazzing up their spice drawer. This South Asian-owned company offers a variety of fresh spices, including packaged spice kits. You can also build your own spice shelf featuring 3, 6, or 9 jars of spices — a great gift option.

    And you can feel good about these spices for a different reason. The company specializes in fair trade and equitable pay for farmers who harvest spices in Sri Lanka and India.

    Shop now at Diaspora Co.

    Best gift for your work-from-home friend

    Pillow Slippers

  • Pricing: $

    • Forget giant fluffy slippers, slides are in. These pillowy slip-ons are a great gift choice for your friend who works from home and needs a bit of TLC for their feet. The soft footbed offers comfort and support. The durable material is lightweight and easy to clean, so you can wear them indoors and out without worrying about tracking in dirt — just rinse them off and voila!

    Shop now at Amazon

    Best gift for the busiest person you know

    Blue Apron

  • Pricing: $$–$$$

    • We can almost guarantee that many people in charge of meal prep will agree that deciding what to eat is often more taxing than making the meal itself. Blue Apron eliminates the need for decision-making and provides you with all the ingredients necessary to create a delicious, satisfying meal.

    Consider gifting a meal gift card from Blue Apron to the busy person in your life. It’s also a solid gift idea for a couple looking to share more time together, like a cooking class in a box.

    Shop now at Blue Apron

    Best gift for the yogi in your life

    Crystal candle

  • Pricing: $$

    • Not sure what to buy that friend who does hot yoga religiously and always talks about the benefits of meditation and relaxation? This pretty candle from NOLA JAMES on Etsy is a lovely way to support their love for everything “ohm.” It contains quartz crystal and pink sea salt and comes in a giftable cotton muslin bag.

    Once the candle burns out, your giftee can keep the crystals for their collection.

    Shop now at Etsy

    Best gift for bookworms

    Bookshop.org

  • Price: $-$$$

    • Whether you have a book in mind or not, Bookshop is a great way to please the book lover in your life and support local bookstores.

    When you shop on Bookshop, you get to pick the independent bookstore you’d like to support. The proceeds from your purchase go directly to the store you selected. And if you don’t know which book to buy for your book-loving buddy, consider grabbing a gift card. You can even choose to link a specific indie store to the gift card.

    Shop now at Bookshop.org

    Best gift for a writer

    Moleskine notebook

  • Pricing: $

    • Is this a little cliche? Maybe. But we can pretty much guarantee that any writer will find a use for this classic gift. They can use the high quality flip-style notebook to jot down story ideas, write down grocery lists, or doodle when they’re struggling to find words.

    The pocket-sized version works well for on-the-go scribbling, but there’s also a large version for the writer who’s always at their desk.

    Shop now at Amazon

    Takeaway

    The holidays can be an overwhelming time for many people. But the end of the year can also be a great time to disconnect and focus on what matters.

    It can be tough to break the tech habit, though. We spend so much of the year looking at our phones, scrolling through Twitter, replying to emails, and being buried in work that when the holiday season rolls around, it’s easy to continue scrolling, staring, and clicking.

    Help you and yours stave off the tech obsession and log off for a bit by choosing analog gifts with plenty of thought behind them. It doesn’t need to be fancy. After all, it’s the thought that counts.

    Ready for a calm and stress-free holiday? Check out Healthline’s Season of Self-Care, your go-to destination for the latest must-have health and wellness gifts for your loved ones – and you!

    Posted : 2024-08-29 10:50

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