Gifts for someone who’s having a year.
Small things that say “I noticed” without making it weird.
Small, cheap and doing their best
Inexpensive. Small. Trying very hard.
Tiny hand-painted ceramic ducks
Several very small ducks. Arrange them. Rearrange them. Call it a hobby.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Etsy) on EtsyAn emotional support pickle
A pickle for their desk. Not a solution. A colleague.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Etsy) on EtsyA one-inch clay pet potato
One inch of moral support. Fits in an envelope, a pocket and most moods.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Etsy) on EtsyA silk sleep mask
Comes in a two-pack. One for them, one for you. You both look like you need it.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA hedgehog pin cushion
Full of pins and completely fine with it. Leave it out where they can learn from it.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on Amazon
For people who say they don’t need anything
They mean it. Get them something anyway. Make it useless, so they can’t argue.
Canned unicorn meat (a plush)
Unicorn, in a can. They didn’t need it. Nobody needs it. That was never the point.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA banana phone
A banana that takes calls. They’ll use it once and keep it forever.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonEmergency underpants
Compressed into a tablet. Says: I’m thinking of you, and of your contingencies.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonSushi socks, in a sushi box
Socks, which they’ll use, disguised as sushi, which they won’t. Everyone wins a little.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonThe original Pet Rock
It’s a rock. They didn’t want anything. This is very close.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on Amazon
For the one who reads the news before getting out of bed
Things to hold while the headlines load.
A knitted emotional support potato
A small knitted potato for their pocket. Something to hold that isn’t a phone.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Etsy) on EtsyAn electric heated throw
A heated throw with an auto shut-off. It knows when to stop. Lead by example.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA manatee tea infuser
Makes tea, floats, asks nothing. A good role model for this year.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA large weighted frog
Heavy enough to hold them in place while the headlines load.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on Amazon
For the one holding the whole office together
Supplies for the person everyone emails first.
Tiny geese for your monitor
Four small geese for the monitor. Supervision, finally.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA tiny desk vacuum
For the crumbs from lunch at their desk. We’re not judging. The vacuum might.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA tiny turtle zen garden
Rake the sand. Move the turtle. Put it in the calendar as a meeting.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA tiny sad trombone
Plays “womp womp” on command, so they don’t have to say it in the meeting.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA take-a-number ticket dispenser
For when everyone needs something from them. Now there’s a system.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on Amazon
For the one who needs to go to bed
Gentle hints, in plush and lamp form.
A bathtub tray
A shelf across the tub for a book and a drink. Implies they’ll have time for a bath. Generous of you.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA wearable shark blanket
A wearable shark. Nobody emails a shark.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on AmazonA loaf cat plush
A cat in loaf position. The weekend plan, in plush form.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Etsy) on EtsyA face-down duck night light
A duck lying face-down, glowing gently. They’ll get it.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on Amazon
For the one who lives too far away for a hug
Small enough to post. Heavy enough to count.
A tiny hand-painted shelf toad
A tiny painted toad for a shelf. Someone will ask about it, and they’ll get to say your name.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Etsy) on EtsyA weighted pocket frog
A small, heavy frog for their pocket. Not a hug. Roughly hug-weighted.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Etsy) on EtsyHow to Do Nothing, by Jenny Odell
A book about doing less. Give it with no deadline attached, or it defeats the purpose.
Fine, I want it. ↗ (opens Amazon) on Amazon
Still unsure? Get the frog.
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