Looking for inspiration for your own list, to treat a friend or some Secret Santa ideas? Check out these 10 sure-to-please presents.
1. Accountant pencil set
There are dozens of accountancy pun gifts out there, but this is one of our favourites – a set of five pencils in a stylish black and gold finish, with a different phrase on each. (There are more sets to choose from for the doctor, architect or teacher in your life, too.)
2. Graze snack box subscription
Great for fuelling those busy workdays or late-night study sessions, Graze delivers tasty, nutritionally balanced snacks through the post each week (or as often as you like). There are more than 60 different snacks to sample, tailored to your tastes, plus lighter and vegan options.
3. Virtual escape room game
Trapped in the Web creator Dave Murphy came up with his virtual escape room idea during lockdown, and later took it into the Dragons’ Den. There are a range of themed rooms with varying difficulty levels – try Out of Hours, where you investigate the dodgy dealings of a rogue CEO.
4. One Line A Day memory book
As the name suggests, the idea of this five-year journal is to jot down just a sentence or two each day. At the end of five years, you’ll have a compact record to look back on – the perfect way to mark life journeys such as your training and see just how far you’ve come.
5. Circular&Co. travel mug
Circular&Co. mugs are made from discarded single-use paper cups – and are fully recyclable after their 10-year life span. With a leak-proof, ‘360-degree drinking’ lid, they keep contents hot or cold for around an hour – which should see you through your daily commute.
6. Stress Relief card deck
Each of the 52 cards in this deck features a simple practice or reminder to help reduce stress and regain calm and clarity. With a beautiful, clean design, mål paper has a range of other decks to choose from too, including Mindfulness, Affirmation and Questions to Empower.
7. Anker MagGo power bank
A portable phone battery pack is invaluable when you’re on the go. This slim but powerful design from Anker snaps into place with a strong magnet, features a clever kickstand and comes in a range of colours. (It’s designed for iPhone, but will work with Android handsets with a MagSafe adapter.)
8. Johnny Urban backpack
German brand Johnny Urban has a great range of colourful Eco Series city backpacks made from recycled plastic bottles. They’re compact but spacious enough for your laptop and everyday essentials, and water-repellent too. We like the Robin roll-top design, and the Mia.
9. Dodow sleep aid
If you have trouble dropping off at night, especially during times of stress, the Dodow could be for you. This simple gadget projects a pulsing light onto your bedroom ceiling – just sync your breathing to it and it will help you relax and fall asleep naturally.
10. Sony WH-1000XM4 noise cancelling headphones
Sony regularly gets voted the best for wireless headphones, and for good reason. These are light and comfortable but deliver 30 hours’ battery life, excellent sound quality and effective noise-cancelling – ideal when you need to block out a crowded train or busy office.