30 best gifts to help relieve stress and ease holiday frazzle

What if I told you for $6 a bottle you could have a stress-free bedtime experience? Thanks to Dr. Teal's, this is a promise I can keep. I've actually used this exact spray for years and now, and when I smell it, I'm instantly relaxed and ready to nod off. Thanks to its calming blend of melatonin, lavender and chamomile, it's never been easier to drift on down to dreamland. You can use it in the shower, on your body, and on your pillows and sheets. Gift a bottle to a friend and keep one or two for yourself.

I love a gift that looks adorable and happens to deliver helpful results. This is the case with the cute and functional Nodpod Sleep Mask. It's basically a weighted blanket for your eyes, distributing deep-touch pressure to help soothe headaches and calm the mind to help you relax into sleep. Its scallop-edge design allows it to contour your face while its loose ends offer comfort in any sleeping position. It's a perfect gift for that frazzled friend who could use a little brain hug.

Nothing makes me mellow out faster than someone scratching my head or playing with my hair. Sadly, it's not always possible to have another human on hand to make that happen. Enter: a scalp massager. This particular model has 20 "fingers" that flexibly retract to give the scalp a feeling of absolute zen. This item makes a great stocking stuffer or a stand-alone gift for an exchange at the office.

If you're looking for a gift to help reduce stress as a matter of routine, look no further than the Calm app. It offers a range of ways to integrate calm and serenity into your life, including support for good sleep, meditations, music to help with focus and sessions to support overwhelm at work. Calm offers a free 7-day trial and a full year's subscription for $69.99. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving.

The creative arts, including art, music, dance and drama, are all known to offer mental health benefits and stress relief. That said, we're not all natural artists. To reap the mental health benefits of creative arts without the stress of coming up with an art project (that may not turn out the way you want it to), Breathe People offers beautiful paint-by-number kits to cater to this need. The kits come with everything you need — a paint-by-number art sheet, paints and paint brushes — so all you have to do is open up the kit and let your creativity take over. It's a great stress relief gift for people of all ages. 

A nice, hot shower can be a pretty great stress reliever on its own, but adding in the soothing scents of eucalyptus, lavender, mint and chamomile makes it that much better. Gift these shower steamers to someone who could use an at-home spa experience to relax and unwind. This set of 18 will help your giftee start the day (or end the night) on a stress-free note.

Adults are absolutely allowed (and encouraged) to play with toys, especially when said toys provide added stress relief. Such is the case with LEGO’s Bonsai Tree Building Set for people over 18. This set includes a bonsai tree and cherry blossoms for a mindfulness activity with a display-worthy payoff (perfect for creating a mini green space on an office desk). If you know someone who chills out best by keeping their mind and hands occupied, this is the perfect gift.

Having a new baby at home is a stressful experience (beautiful, but stressful), and a parent's nerves don't die down when the baby falls asleep. In fact, ask just about any new mom or dad how often they check in on their little one to make sure that all is well, and chances are they'll say "all the time." Owlet's Dream Duo Smart Baby Monitor system includes the brand's FDA-cleared Dream Sock and their Owlet Cam 2. The Dream Sock tracks heart rate and oxygen levels, immediately notifying parents if anything seems awry. It's a great way to make a new parent's nights a little less stressful so hopefully they can get some sleep, too. 

There is legit science behind the evergreen shrub ashwagandha and its ability to lower stress levels, and thankfully, you don't have to chew on a bush to reap those benefits. This herb is harnessed in Olly Ultra Strength Goodbye Stress Softgels. Its combination of stress-fighting ingredients including ashwagandha, GABA, L-theanine and lemon balm work together to help soothe the brain, improve response to stress-related fatigue and support relaxation. 

Just remember that supplements aren't regulated by the FDA and not all supplements are appropriate for all people. While the ingredients in this product are considered safe, it's always a good idea to consult with a medical professional before adding supplements to your diet. 

Once again, Dr. Teal's delivers for the win. At a price this low, you could give the gift of a relaxing bath to everyone on your list. The lavender essential oils and soothing epsom salts help the mind and body head to a calmer place, preparing it for bed. And if your recipient has kids? You can pair it with the kids' version so the whole household can enjoy a toned-down bedtime routine.

Do you have a friend or partner who sweats through several scary Zoom meetings a day? Keep their hands busy with the Panic Pete squeeze toy. It's a classic for a reason — slowly squeezing Pete and watching his eyes, ears and nose pop out does produce an oddly relaxing effect. For just $8, they make a perfect team gift for your co-workers.

Living a lower-stress life starts when the sun comes up, and the Hatch Restore 2 Sunrise Alarm Clock helps the user fall asleep and wake up more naturally. It incorporates a dimmable clock, sleep sounds, and a sunrise alarm for a "gentler" wakeup. If you have a loved one who tends to start the day cranky and upset after their iPhone alarm has jolted them from their dreams, this gift could be the answer. In fact, it ranks as our best overall alarm clock for heavy sleepers and ranks high on our list of best sunrise alarm clocks too.