FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS (management shake-up, literal building/structural chaos, an unusual number of employees leaving and being replaced but not soon enough so there has been scrambling, and then of course there are New People), my co-workers and I have recently been under noticeable levels of occupational stress. “This is fine,” we say to each other numerous times per day. “It’s fine. We’re fine.”
Also: in December, it is common for some of us, like maybe a third to us (which seems like the perfect percentage to make it easy for each person to do it or not as they prefer), to give out a small giftie to each of our co-workers. Last year, I handed out treat baggies containing a packet of cocoa (cinnamon, which was the best, but that’s discontinued so I’ve linked to pumpkin spice which is also good), a tea bag, a lil snack (these look nutritious/breakfasty, but they taste like big delicious cinnamon/oaty creme-filled cookies), and several little candies.
(image from Target.com)
THIS year, I would like to do something with a little bit of a calming / stress-relief theme. Imagine the same baggies, but filled with:
• a face-mask: they were on a 50%-off-plus-$10-gift-card-if-you-spend-$30 deal, I’m sorry, I should have given you a heads up but it all happened so fast, but anyway I acquired enough to give one to each co-worker
• a soothing tea bag, maybe a second soothing tea bag
(image from Target.com)
• a piece of chocolate, maybe some soothing cookies
And probably that’s enough. But does anything else spring to mind? I want to be careful to avoid the Wedding Favor Trap, where one starts to buy things just to buy things, and ends up spending quite a bit of money on multiples of things no one actually wants, so maybe I should just stop right there: if I were the recipient, I would enjoy those things but not, say, a stress ball purchased just to hammer home the concept of stress relief. And something like calming lavender hand lotion is nice, but too expensive when multiplied by more than a dozen coworkers. I would LOVE to do some tiny liquor bottles, but I am aware of several coworkers who do not drink.
I thought of candles, but then thought, too expensive? And a VERY cursory search turned up this set of six lavender tea lights for $8.99, I don’t know if that’s too much.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/891559222/lavender-healing-soy-tealights-hand?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=calming+candle++++tea+light&ref=sr_gallery-1-3&frs=1&edd=1&sts=1&organic_search_click=1
A small scented candle, maybe? If you have an IKEA near you, they have very inexpensive candles that smell nice. You could get a pack of tea lights and put one or two in each bag, or they have the kind that come in little glass jars for around $2 each (or at least that’s about what they cost here in Ireland).
I think your treat bag sounds absolutely perfect as-is! I would be delighted to receive such a gift!
I know you mean stress-relief, but I had to laugh at the idea of stress gifts–like the old joke about wanting something for a headache, oh, did you mean something to get RID of a headache?
Anyway, I think you’re on target with these. The only other thing that occurs to me, since black humor is my way of coping, is to make a joke of the “this is fine” part, and get some stickers or pins with that image on it. There seem to be a lot on etsy, for instance, like this one:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1277128055/this-is-fine-vinyl-sticker-vinyl-decal?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=this+is+fine&ref=sr_gallery-1-5&frs=1&bes=1&edd=1&organic_search_click=1
That’s a nice idea, I would say it’s a complete gift as it is. In case it’s a helpful idea for anyone else; I’m making up little bags with a bee theme. A little packet of sunflower seeds (with a nice “save the bees” motif) from Etsy, a small honeycomb shaped soap (also Etsy) and a few honey sweets (local sweet shop).
What a good idea! I would be extremely charmed by that.
If there are really cheap stress balls/fidgets with a “this is fine” or on-fire or otherwise pertinent theme, that might be a possibility, but also: this is plenty as-is!
scented votive? Glowing tealight? Individual packet of advil? I made winter survival kits a few years ago and the advil pkgs were a huge hit plus sanitizer, socks, lip balm. Some folks did get the tiny booze bottle but only the ones I knew would want it.
Advil is perfect: actually useful, but also funny! Thank you for the idea; I have ordered some of the lil packets!
Maybe a chapstick? Winter makes for dry lips ripe for picking when under stress. I saw some cute holiday themed scents multi-packs, I’m sure everyone just needs one so you could split a multi pack.
Thank you for reminding me that lemon loaf tea exists! It really is a calming, soothing flavor. Lemony herbal tea usually tastes vaguely medicinal to me but the glazed loaf herbs (whatever they are) make it sweet and comforting.
I love this assortment and think it’s excellent as is. The only thing I can think to add is a lavender shower steamer (World Market has a set of 12: https://tinyurl.com/mr4xwn3b) because I would love that, but I suppose maybe not everyone would???
I got my son a nice watch from Lume Lab on etsy. I think he has Watch Ambitions, so this can be his gateway watch and he can feed his addition later on his own dime. I got my daughter Taylor Swift tickets! And both are getting other assorted little things – a warmies wrap, sweats, travel cord organizers, stuff like that.
LOL. This should have been a comment on the teenage-gift entry. Sorry about that! Apparently I am not firing on all cylinders today.
One year I gave all my coworkers a “stress relief” gift that consisted of a piece of bubble wrap with a label printed. I found the labels on Pinterest, it was a super easy thing that made people laugh. Search “stress relief bubble wrap” for lots of free printables, cut out, staple to bubble wrap and you’re done.