Gift Guide for Highly Sensitive People & Introverts

Shopping for an introverted, highly sensitive friend, spouse, co-worker, or family member? Then this list is for you! Featured here are presents for people who are overwhelmed by social and environment stimuli, are empathic, sensitive to beauty, and cherish privacy and peacefulness. (And don’t forget to treat yourself!)

Presenting: the Highly Sensitive Person & Introvert Gift Guide!

(Note: Introverts and HSPs are not the same thing. All introverts are not HSPs, and vice versa. But just for the sake of this list, they are lumped together.)

Here we go!

Gift an Experience!

Float/Sensory Deprivation Tank Experience

When floating in sensory deprivation tank, your senses melt away into weightlessness. Google or Yelp the nearest tank and buy a gift certificate for a meditative and relaxing experience–they’re great gifts for pregnant women, too. Here’s my float experience.

When floating in sensory deprivation tank, your senses melt away into weightlessness. Google or Yelp the nearest tank and buy a gift certificate for a meditative and relaxing experience–they’re great gifts for pregnant women, too. Here’s my float experience. A massage or spa experience.

A gift certificate to a class : like a class for cooking, photography, painting, gardening, pottery, language, or jewelry making. HSPs (especially high sensation seekers) enjoy learning and creating things. Select an activity that they’ve previously shown interest in.

: like a class for cooking, photography, painting, gardening, pottery, language, or jewelry making. HSPs (especially high sensation seekers) enjoy learning and creating things. Select an activity that they’ve previously shown interest in. Tickets to a museum, concert, play, or festival in which they’ve shown interest: Along the same lines, this gift shows you pay attention to what they like.

Along the same lines, this gift shows you pay attention to what they like. Donate to a cause that’s near their heart. Give money to an animal rescue, a medical foundation, environmental cause, or a charity that you know they care about.

Give money to an animal rescue, a medical foundation, environmental cause, or a charity that you know they care about. Take care of something. Arrange for meals, have their house cleaned, babysit–you get the idea. Take something off their plate.

Treat Yourself!



HoMedics Sound Spa Relaxation Machine with 6 Nature Sounds

Recently, I was staying at a hotel and this machine was on the nightstand. Serendipity! I couldn’t fall asleep, so I was happy to have this little gadget next to me, with its easy-to-use controls for sounds of the ocean, rain, white noise, as well as an “off” timer. I bought one when I got home.

Letters for a Year of Gratitude

HSPs often enjoy expressing gratitude to people in their lives. Letters for a Year of Gratitude includes 52 tear out-and-send letters that will inspire a year’s worth of notes of love, appreciation, and thanks. Keep track of the letters in the correspondence log in the back. Maybe over this year you will reconnect with someone from your past or brighten the day of someone who feels taken for granted.

Swiss Water Process Decaf Coffee Beans

I don’t drink caffeine because it affects me too strongly but I love having iced coffee once in a while. Then I discovered Swiss water process coffee, which is a non-solvent method for decaffeinating unroasted coffee beans–so no chemicals! I’m excited to share this with you and my current favorite variety, No Fun Jo.



Books

A Highly Sensitive Person’s Life: stories & tips for those who experience the world intensely by ME.

Of course I have to mention my own book! This blog-style collection of essays balances humor and sound advice in personal stories and honest reflections. You might see yourself described in these pages and think: “I didn’t know anyone else felt this way!” (Note: the book contains a lot of content from this blog!)

The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron

A must-read for those who are trying to understand high sensitivity in themselves or loved ones.

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking by Oliver Burkeman

I interviewed Oliver on my podcast after reading (and loving) this book. If there’s someone in your life who isn’t the most “positive” person, this might be a good gift for them. This book helped me feel a lot more at peace about my “glass half empty” personality. It explains powerful concepts from Buddhism, Stoicism, Eckhart Tolle, Alan Watts, and more, in Oliver’s entertaining, accessible, and lovely writing style.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

According to Dr. Elaine Aron, all HSPs are creative—by definition. “Many have squashed their creativity because of their low self-esteem; many more had it squashed for them, before they could ever know about it.” In Big Magic, Gilbert encourages readers to pursue a creative life “that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.”

Meditation for Beginners by Jack Kornfield

A fantastic introduction for people who’ve always wanted to try meditation but didn’t know how to start. This book helps you stick with a daily meditation practice and create tranquility in everyday life.

Gifts for Kids & Teens

It’s All Too Much for Oliver by Leila Boukarim

This is a beautiful picture book written and illustrated for highly sensitive children. Endorsed by Dr. Elaine Aron!

Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts by Susan Cain

Susan wrote the mega hit book Quiet, which brought introversion to the mainstream several years ago. Her new book is like Quiet but for introverted kids and teens.



Random Acts Of Kindness Kits (Family version)

This stocking-stuffer kit includes cards with acts of kindness to be performed by your child or the entire family. You may find yourself writing a letter to someone who inspired you, picking up the trash on your street, giving genuine compliments, and more. You can keep track of your good deeds online and see other deeds across the globe. There’s a teen version, too.

What is your ideal gift? Leave a comment and I may include it in this list.

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