Best 2022 Gift Deals for Mental Health Management
- Published on:
- By: Angela Catholdi
Each year, we honor National Mental Wellness Month. Not only does balanced emotional wellness improve our moods and inner peace, but is believed to strengthen our body’s physicality and immune system responses. While far from a cure or preventative measure from most major illnesses, we currently live in a world where COVID-19 has caused many to amp up their wellness routines: mind, body, and soul. With so many changes to state-by-state protocols, changes still affecting aspects of day-to-day living, it only makes sense that a lot of society is more in-tune with health and wellness than in years before.
Yearly traditions are far from exempt from the changes that we’ve had to accept as our new – though hopefully not permanent – levels of taxing and troublesome normalcy. Despite many families losing vast amounts of income, product shortages and additional economical troubles have brought inflation from (seemingly) all angles. Extremely high gasoline prices, much higher rental costs, higher utility prices, doubling grocery bills, and increased costs of many services in general, families may struggle more than ever when it comes to their holiday shopping this season.
Officially, Black Friday 2022 kicks off on November 25th. This year, however, to help lessen some of the financial strain on the average household, while still ensuring that they’re able to keep their own businesses thriving, many corporations have started Black Friday deals earlier than ever. Many deals will be running all the way through the last day of December.
Whether shopping for yourself or tackling holiday shopping on a tighter budget, we’ve compiled a list of great Black Friday deals that (hopefully) help keep your wallets and mindsets a little more full and content.
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ATTENTION
Due to the new Department of Transportation (DOT) policy, Emotional Support Animals are NO longer allowed to fly in airplane cabins for free. However, Psychiatric Service Dogs are eligible.
Apparel
Self-care is essential when it comes to successful stress management, and that often includes being as comfy as possible while taking some time for yourself. Slippers are always an excellent choice, like these once from UBFEN, which have insoles of memory foam. Right now, they’re just under $24, which is 20% less than their usual price of $29.99! With over 5.8K Amazon reviews, over 90% are at 4 or 5 stars. You can also shop for UBFEN products straight from their actual website, which is linked to their Amazon listings.
For others, stress management may include making or having time to exercise. Items like sneakers and activewear are excellent gifts for a more active person. Awesome clothing deals exist at JCPenney, a store that has always been known for low prices. During this holiday season, their prices are some of the lowest that I’ve ever seen. Right now, their coupon code can be used for all products they have on their website, for an extra savings of up 25%! This makes many gift-able, high-quality items less than $30. With sizes for all ages, there’s sure to be something for everyone on your shopping list.
Electronics
Whenever I’m feeling stressed out, I turn to my customized playlists and let music help relax me. Right now, the Beats Studio Buds Wireless Earbuds are 40% off if you purchase them on Amazon, leaving them at only $89 a pair. Compatible with all Apple & Android devices, Beats have a built-in Microphone and come in several colors. If this specific style doesn’t meet your needs, many styles and or additional brand options (such as traditional headphones) are discounted as well. Just type your specifications into the Amazon search bar, and see what other great savings pop up!
For many, reading is also considered a stress-free, enjoyable pastime. Stories have the tendency to give people breaks from their everyday lives. Early season shoppers are currently able to purchase a Certified Refurbished Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32 GB) for 18 percent off its usual price through Amazon. To sweeten the deal, when you buy most new or refurbished Kindles, you’ll receive a three months membership to Kindle Unlimited, absolutely free!
Experience Gifts
With more and more families having to use their “extra spending” funds on more essential items, many parents are requesting family and friends to purchase experience gifts, rather than things they’ll outgrow or don’t need. On sites like Get Your Guide, you can book activities all around the world. Some of the activities include (but aren’t limited to) walking tours, park passes, museum memberships, zoo and aquarium tickets, and bay or harbor cruises. After inputting location credentials, website users also have the option to customize searches by interest, destination, price range, duration, and more. Their Black Friday deals offer up to 50% off, depending on activity.
Other beneficial experiences for mental health management are massages, a few hours in the sauna, acupuncture treatments, manicures, pedicures, or even classes (such as learning to cook, paint, or do yoga!) We recommend checking your local Groupon listings for great deals in any specific area (search bar for location at the top of the page).
Exercise Equipment
As mentioned above, the benefits of exercise can include improvements to our mental health, and can even help manage our levels of stress. If the last several weeks of price slashing on physical fitness equipment are any indication of what to expect through December, consumers can expect great savings. A few noteworthy items being offered at great prices: Multiple treadmills at Walmart, reversible yoga mats through Lululemon, and the Schwinn Grit and Petunia Steerable Kids Bike, which is currently 46% off on Amazon. If you or a loved one are looking for similar exertion items, now’s the time to buy!
Self-Care Items
Many mental health experts believe that weighted (or gravity) blankets can not only lower anxiety symptoms, but help those who have trouble falling or staying asleep. Often filled with plastic pellets or beading variations, they’re made to apply therapeutic pressure to all the right points of one’s body. Since the pandemic, they’ve (naturally) gained more attention, with stress and anxiety levels higher than ever before. The DreamCloud Weighted blanket is just one of many on sale right now. This one in particular is sold with an antimicrobial cover, and buyers can save lots with flash sales, promo codes, and more (depending on the date).
Another tasteful (also tasty) self-care gift that’s budget friendly? Tea, which can often be purchased with caffeine or caffeine-free. This Taylors of Harrogate Assorted Specialty Teas Box Set being sold on Amazon is said to have something for everyone, from black tea to green tea to chamomile blends.
Sleep Products
There’s no debating that both adequate rest and a peaceful night’s sleep are great stress-reducers. The most impressive savings I’ve seen on sleep-related products is through the Nectar store. They seem to have a LOT on sale. For a limited time, shoppers are able to save up to 50% on most clearance items. If sales are this good even before turkey day, I’m anxious to see what’s in store for the end of the month and into December!
If Nectar is outside your budget or doesn’t quite have what you’re searching for, there’s so much more to look at!
Amazon seems to have the largest selection when it comes to sleep stuff! Though their deals change often, a lot is already marked eligible for those early Black Friday reductions. One of the items I love are these Perytong Sleep Headphones, which are not only bluetooth enabled, but have (mostly) high reviews and are 60% off. Some other sleep-related things worth taking a look at are sheet sets, neck massagers, aromatherapy diffusers (+ essential oils), meditation sound machines, and fleece throw blankets.
Budget-Friendly Alternatives
Dealing with financial struggles, on top of mental health challenges, may still put a damper on holiday shopping. While gifts are far from most important when it comes to celebrating, many still don’t like to show up to parties or gatherings completely empty-handed and others really aren’t sure what to gift someone who doesn’t seem themselves lately. Have extra compassion this holiday season, and remember that living from paycheck to paycheck can be even harder for families with children who believe in Santa Claus or have affluent friends. Additionally, individuals battling psychiatric disabilities may not be able to do as much as they would like during this time of the year.
I’ve been given some amazing gifts that are almost always priced under $15! If looking for some inspiration, homemade (free printable) or online coupon books give a lot, while spending little. They usually give loved ones some time off from usual duties or chores around the household, or offer one’s time and (free) services to parents who could use a break. Along the same lines, Knock Knock fill-in books allow you to list all the reasons someone is special to you. Additional gifts set at daily, discounted prices (no matter the season) are bookmarks, workbooks, diamond paintings, coloring books, and activity books, all of which are made for both children and adults.
Sometimes a simple gift card for food can go a long way. Those dealing with mental health struggles often find themselves lacking motivation for every day tasks. The ability to order a meal, without much thought or energy, is a fantastic help! If you have a single friend (or family member), a meal subscription box such as HelloFresh or EveryPlate may be in budget range with the Black Friday deals linked!
Animal Centered
Of course we cannot forget that our furry companions are huge life savers when it comes to the mental health community. It can go a long way to express thoughtfulness towards an individual’s ESA or PSA during the holiday season! Remembering those who walk beside us, even on four legs, is a sweet tradition that could touch hearts in ways you might not imagine. All of the major brands (Chewy, Petsmart, Petco, and even Walmart) have Black Friday deals in abundance.
Maybe you or someone you know is suffering silently with mental health challenges. You/they may qualify for the assistance of an ESA or PSA. After Thanksgiving, American Service Pets will be running Black Friday deals for letter packages and products through our online store. This month, we are also launching our BRAND NEW training program subscription in collaboration with one of the TOP names in animal training expertise! Jas Leverette, of Netflix’s Canine Intervention, has teamed up with us to ensure that proper self-training techniques are easily accessible, manageable, and also offer attainable results for every animal companion team. Follow us on social media @americanservicepets and don’t miss our incredible 97% off early Black Friday sale for initial subscribers! These trainings are great for any pet owner, but we promise there won’t be a better gift to give yourself or a loved one utilizing the amazing benefits of an assistance animal.
The benefits of an Emotional Support Animal certification and a Psychiatric Service Dog certification are drastically different. Fortunately for you, American Service Pets’ network of active board certified doctor or other licensed mental health providers can help you find the right path to certification. To find out whether you need an ESA or PSD letter, take our easy, three-step Pet Owner Survey!
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