Moms work hard all year, and sometimes, don’t get the credit they deserve. Whether she works a paying gig, runs her own business, tends to the home and kids, arranges the daily schedules, or quite possibly a mix of all the above, every mom deserves a break now and then. Rather than give her a box of chocolates, a card, and homemade coupons (though all are appreciated!) consider getting a gift for mom that will thoughtfully help (and encourage!) her to relax and re-energize.
Gifts that encourage self-care
The most obvious, cliched gift for mom is a foot massager. But you can kick things up a notch by getting her a different kind of massager, like a Shiatsu massager or eye massager, depending on the area of the body she often says gives her pain. If she’s always kinking her neck and rubbing her shoulders, a Shiatsu massager that goes around the neck will be a welcome gift. She can wear it while relaxing and watching TV or reading a book to get some relief.
Eye massagers are great for when she has time for an afternoon nap, or before bed. If mom is a workout buff, look into a handheld and percussive massager. She can take it with her and use everywhere. These are designed to target various problem areas based on what muscles she has strained that week.
Self-care is about a lot more, though. The one thing I always include on gift lists for moms is Dyson hair care products. The reason is that they are far more expensive than your typical blow dryer or hair straightener, which means a selfless mom will never spend that much on herself. But the design is chic and the products functionally work wonderfully thanks to Dyson technology that ensures no heat damage to your hair. They also get the job done quickly and effectively, which any busy mom can appreciate. It’s a total treat for a mom who is in dire need of an upgrade to the ancient blow dryer she has been using for a decade.
There’s a holiday package for the Dyson Airwrap Multi-styler curling iron that comes in a special edition finish along with a cool travel and storage case. It includes a variety of attachments to suit different hair types and styles. Hint: save a bit more if you choose from the official Dyson outlet on the Best Buy site, which includes refurbished products as well.
Gifts for mom to enjoy quiet “me” time
One of the things I value as a busy mother is “me” time. I’ll take it whenever I can get it. That usually comes in the form of workouts in my home gym and quiet trail walks on weekend mornings. There’s nothing like being in the fresh air with my true wireless earbuds and a great playlist. Truly wireless earbuds are the most convenient option.
Currently, I’m sporting the Google Pixel Buds Pro. I absolutely love them for the wonderfully clear and detailed sound quality, noise cancelling, ease of use, and solid and comfortable fit.
If mom uses an iPhone, you’re better off opting for a different pair, like the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). They offer seamless pairing with the mobile device along with premium features like noise cancellation, dynamic head tracking, and a MagSafe charging case. With Siri integration, she can use her voice to control playback, answer calls, hear incoming messages read aloud, and more.
If mom goes for runs, not walks (maybe she’s training for a 5K marathon?) look into something more specifically tailored to workouts, like the Shokz OpenMove bone conduction Bluetooth headphones. My friend, who runs 10K every day, has a pair and swears by these.
“Me” time is also about quiet time indoors. For this, consider grabbing mom an eReader like the new Kobo Clara 2E, which is fully waterproof so she can use it in the pool or while having an Epsom salts bath. It even has a dark mode and ComfortLight Pro setting for easily reading in any setting, whether it’s outside on a sunny day or in bed at night with the lights out.
Gifts to motivate mom
Some moms will appreciate gifts that motivate them, It might be to exercise more, eat healthier, or pursue a particular passion.
On the exercise end, or for overall health and wellness, you can’t go wrong with a fitness tracker or smartwatch. I’m a fan of Fitbit and for a mom who isn’t looking for something bigger on her wrist, the Fitbit Luxe is the ideal option. It looks like a bracelet but the tiny screen reports important stats, like daily steps, 24/7 heart rate, detailed sleep analysis workout summaries, incoming messages, and more. Plus, it works with the Fitbit app.
My favourite in the current line-up, however, and the one I have been sporting for the past year-plus, is the Fitbit Charge 5. It has a bigger screen and offers a nice balance: it’s a feature-rich tracker that toes the line between tracker and smartwatch.
Of course every iPhone user covets an Apple Watch and the latest Series 8 model would be perfect for the mom on your list. She might not even express wanting one, but after setting it up and seeing what it can do, she’ll be in awe. My best friend (a fellow mom) recently bought one and she’s in love with everything from its ability to connect to her exercise bike with the option to reply to messages via voice even when she’s in the shower.
Tip: if you’re on a tighter budget, consider the Series 7 Apple Watch. It has most of the same features as the Series 8 minus the temperature sensor and car crash detection. It is compatible with the latest OS update, but sells for slightly less.
If mom has been on a health kick of late, looking to eat better and feel better, a small appliance like a personal blender is a good choice. One will make it simple for her to prep delicious and healthy smoothies, protein shakes, homemade dips, even a batch of tofu avocado chocolate pudding when she has an inkling for something sweet (it’s really a thing, and it’s delicious!)
The KitchenAid Blender with Personal Blending Jar combines the best of both worlds since it includes both a full-sized blender for when she’s making larger batches and a personal blending jar that even has a lid so she can take it with her on the go. But there’s a wide selection of single-serving personal blenders to consider if you want something small and simple.
Gifts that make mom’s life easier
Anything that can make mom’s life easier is worth considering. One of my favourite small appliances is the Instant Pot, and combined with the Air Fryer Lid, it’s the one I use most often. I make hot school lunches for my son in it each morning, cook things like potatoes and corn on the cob for side dishes, fry up homemade fried chicken legs, slow cook flank steak for Taco Tuesdays, and even get creative from time to time with a variety of dishes.
If mom doesn’t have one yet, she’ll be thanking you once she gets over the Instant Pot learning hump and starts cooking up a storm in a fraction of the time. See our detailed Instant Pot buying guide to find the right model for the mom on your list.
Having a smart home is about more than just cool factor: it can offer tremendous convenience. And there are several smart home gadgets that can make mom’s life a little easier. From a smart display she can use to manage her daily tasks, reminders, and calendar events and get answers to voice queries, to a smart thermostat, smart lighting, or even video doorbell.
She’ll appreciate that she can control it all from a single smartphone app or even voice commands using Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit. Mom will love being able to have everything literally at her fingertips. Don’t forget to set it all up for her.
Help mom rejuvenate and recover
Moms are, by nature, multitasking creatures. We take on a lot, but love doing it even if it means burnout and the need for recovery time. Help give mom that recovery time she so desperately needs with a gift that will entertain, motivate, inspire, and make her life easier.
Check out a wide selection of gifts for mom at Best Buy Online.