It is both a delight and customary for us to give Christmas presents to our loved ones. But have you thought about giving someone special something special this Christmas? That someone is you. You deserve to have a treat too! After all, how can you give when you have not gotten anything in the first place? 

Now, I am not talking about a luxury purse or a new car. While you can get that for yourself, I am referring to something that will not only benefit yourself but the people you hold dear in the long run. Give yourself the gift of health and wellbeing.

When we take care of ourselves, then we are more than able to take care of our loved ones. We become more productive with our work and activities. We become a better person who will be salt and light to the community.

Before you give up on this article and press add to cart or rush to the nearest shop to get that precious item you have been wishing for, consider what you could get at the same price bundled with an intangible gift called health.

Here are some of my suggestions for your grown-up Christmas list:

Smartwatch 

Regardless of your brand preference, from affordable Xiaomi and Fitbit to expensive ones like Apple or Garmin, having a smartwatch is a great way to start your fitness journey. It could help you to keep track of your daily activities including the quality of your sleep. It is not only diet and exercise that impact our health. Sleep is a major factor too. Having a smartwatch helps you become more mindful of your movement including frequency of standing by the hour. It will also give you an idea of how certain emotions and activities affect your heart rate and breathing. Did you know that when you’re upset, you tend to hold your breath and increase your heart rate? These two factors are damaging to one’s health. When you see the values, you could do something about your breathing and managing stress.

Standing desk 

We are resilient and one of the ways this trait has been manifested came out during the pandemic when we had to work at home to optimize productivity while keeping safe. Post-pandemic, many have opted to still work from home. Unfortunately, this may have led to a more sedentary lifestyle. There is no need to drive or commute to work. That means less movement. Therefore, we have to make an extra effort to burn more calories. Why don’t you get a standing desk? You burn more calories and fat standing up while working on your laptop compared to just sitting down on your desk. After all, sitting is the new smoking. 

Walking pad 

A study conducted by Seth A. Creasy and colleagues on energy expenditure during acute periods of sitting, standing and walking in 2016 showed that you burn eight calories more when standing compared to sitting. However, you burn more than two times the amount of energy when walking. A walking pad is a scaled-down version of a treadmill. You can use it under your standing desks. You can use it while watching your favorite show or while talking on the phone. If you have limited space at home, you can easily store it under the bed or the couch when not in use. This is convenient equipment to help you accomplish your 10,000 steps a day or even more!

Functional food 

For all the K-drama fans, you may have noticed occasional scenes where the actors open a sachet and drink Korean ginseng and other nutritional stuff. That is an example of a functional food. This is a plant food source that has benefits beyond basic nutrition. All plant food sources contain phytochemicals and antioxidants that have tremendous health benefits including anti-aging properties. Unfortunately, consuming a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, grains, and legumes may be inconvenient and also not readily available for three meals a day. That is the reason why modified functional food in the form of freeze-dried powder, liquid, and pills has emerged. It is not just for convenience but also for nutritional purposes as these functional foods are minimally processed in a way that preserves the natural food components, fiber, and nutrients like phytochemicals and antioxidants. Due to the concentration of nutrients and convenience, these functional foods are a bit pricey. However, instead of drinking a cup of sugary beverage, why don’t you add life-giving nutrients to your daily diet this Christmas season in the form of functional food like freeze-dried pure wheatgrass, American Ginseng, Hawthorn berries, Goji berries, Opuntia cactus, and more. Just make sure that the ingredients list only contains plant ingredients and no chemical additives.

When we have an extra budget for ourselves, it is tempting to buy stuff that will fulfill our heart’s desires. However, for this Christmas, I hope that you will reflect on how you can gift yourself with something that will not just make your heart happier but also healthier.

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