Gift Guide 2023: 5 Life-Changing Gifts Recommended by Healthcare Professionals

Don't stress about gift giving this season –after all, your healthcare professional wouldn't recommend it!

But they do recommend these following gifts.

And if you're already stressed, I.X.L. would like to offer you this gift of a mindset journal.

Photo byKhanna Connections

The season can get wildly over-sensationalized with gimmicky gifts, trending products, or worse – failed "guaranteed to make mom smile" gifts that get left to rot in the abyss.

Yet the hype is almost inescapable.

Holiday songs about what my true love gave to me, and shiny lights on loud advertisements everywhere, leave us with little reprieve from the pressure of delivering top-notch gifts.

We spend hours per person analyzing what would make the best gift, typically only to be met with anticlimactic disappointment. The exception, of course, is hitting the golden jackpot of giving, a gift that gets used daily (the ultimate reminder of our wise purchase) or creating a memory that lasts a lifetime.

If it's not either of those circumstances, chances are your gift is going to an eventual grave.

Gift giving begs the question: What if what your loved one really wants or needs isn't waiting behind a screen or a glass storefront?

That's precisely why we set out to create the perfect gift guide to outlive the season, curating a guide with the help of experts to explore gifts that speak to the mind, body and soul.

Sometimes, we are lucky enough to occupy a special place in their lives of our loved one with unique perspectives not privy to anyone else.

The holidays are a perfect time to give a gift you think they may benefit from or to encourage them to take a confident leap, knowing they have your full support.

After all, finding something you can do together rings true at the holidays more than any other time of year - tit's about the present and the presence.

Workout EquipmentPhoto byKhanna Connections

Give them the finish line to work toward

Giving an experience with a date can be a great motivator. It's a tangible measurement that has a deadline in place. That goal gets even better when you have a group of people involved who can hold each other accountable. "Working towards a common goal as a family or group is a great way to increase camaraderie and have a little friendly competition while working toward a health goal," says surgeon Dr. Andrew Shapiro. "And that's why we highly recommend our family-friendly Advanced Surgical Physicians 5K Obstacle Course in February. It's an event for all ages and fitness levels meant to feel encouraging, not intimidating."

The event is in February, which gives people almost ten weeks to prepare. Ten weeks of togetherness - going for long walks and reconnecting, weekend bike rides in the cooler weather or working out together and cheering one another on.

This could be someone's first 5K and the start of a lifelong love of running or just a warm memory of time spent together that lasts forever and changes a life.

To make the gift even more special, you can wrap the registration (link here) with new running gear like new laces, team shirts or even a new pair of sneakers so they can practice for the big day in style!

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A certificate that could save a life

Heart health knowledge can be used for preventative, proactive, or rescue measures.

Heart Health & CPR classes are one of the most practical gifts one can give and are perfect for everyone, including budding babysitters, parents-to-be, jobseekers who want a skill that sets them apart and literally anyone who is interested in prioritizing their health and the safety of those around them.

"One of my roles in primary care isn't just treating my patients; it's emphasizing knowledge and preventative health. Truly, one of the fundamental steps in achieving optimal health is knowledge,” said Roshini Singh, a National Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner and the owner of the mobile practice 365 Wellness in Palm Beach County. “It's part of our duty to teach health education to our patients and the community."

Roshini is hosting an event covering 10 important heart tips every person needs to know and CPR tutorial (including certification of completion) on February 3, 2024. Email Roshini@365healthwellness.com for more information.

CPR and Heart Health classes are a gift of life and knowledge and have the potential that can save someone's life or even your own.

To make the gift extra special, pair it with an Apple watch or another tracker to really encourage making those steps count.

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Peace (of mind) on Earth

The vulnerability that comes with asking for help managing stress can be hard and sometimes, the mission of seeking help and knowing where to find it can be overwhelming and stressful in and of itself.

This coupled with the stigma still associated with mental health are just a few reasons people don't seek what they need sooner.

"Mindfulness and mentorship are two powerful coping and guidance tools that help people navigate life's circumstances. One of the highest levels of success we can achieve is ownership over our thoughts and emotions,” says Akai J. Jackson, voted America's Favorite Mindfulness Coach and owner of IXL Today.

"IXL's online Becoming Fearless course or journal, which can be remotely accessed privately, or a few sessions of his Young Men's Mentorship Circle hosted in person and online every Tuesday, is a quiet way to introduce these resources to a loved one. Taking the course together is a positive bonding experience that will spark open dialogue and deeper conversations."

Giving the gift of tools to conquer life's ups and downs is a game changer we highly recommend and to make the gift even more memorable, include a beautiful new notebook and pen with a personalized message of love which will enocourage the recepient even more.

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The gift of inclusion, excitement and purpose

Feeling able, celebrated and included is a gift at any age and for the seniors in your life, the Wisdom Warrior Challenge (WWC) is a program that will have them feeling like rockstars on a daily basis.

"I created WWC in 2019 to dispel myths about aging and the limitations that follow this narrative. We have much more control over how we age, and making better choices for our physical and emotional health enhances the golden years," says founder Linda Borgmeyer, who is also a speech-language pathologist.

The challenge is a free "box" event with everything provided for hosts to have a successful all-inclusive track event with separate divisions for those using a device such as a walker, cane, or self-propelled wheelchair.

Free for participants 50 and up, the Wisdom Warrior Challenge is designed to promote physical activity and engagement and debunk the myths about aging related to the ability to remain active.

T-shirts, trophies, and swag bags are given to participants, and the community with the most points holds the Wisdom Cup until the next annual event. Giving the gift of purpose and inclusion doesn't just change life; it changes life every day

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A gift that keeps on giving

Achieving optimal weight can have several benefits, like lowering the risk of diabetes and hypertension. Conversations about weight can be especially vulnerable, so we don't recommend having them with anyone who hasn't verbalized their concerns with you first.

If someone close has confided their efforts haven't gone as expected, gifting a few months of weight loss assistance might be what's needed to help support them.

"I have been working with patients on semaglutide and Tirzepatide for the past three years and have had great success," said Erla M Brizeus-Pierre, MSN-APRN-FNP-C, who has a practice in Delray Beach, Florida.

"Much research shows that semaglutide regulates blood sugar, improves AIC, improves insulin resistance, suppresses appetite, reduces the risk of cardiac events, reduces blood pressure and reduces inflammation. Tirzepatide was recently approved for weight loss. In addition to lowering your blood sugar, it also works on both hunger hormones by helping you eat less and feel full faster and longer,” she said.

Helping someone achieve their weight goals is a gift that can change life in the short and long-term.

To show support and solidarity, gift this along with a book of daily affirmations to to remind your loved ones that they are powerful, strong, and capable of accomplishing anything they want to.