It feels like we’re busier than ever. We have to work, cook and clean. We have to walk our dogs and take our kids to school. Most importantly, we have to spend multiple hours every day scrolling on social media because a couple of nerds decided it would be a good idea if the whole world became extremely online.
Needless to say, if there’s anything we could all use more of, it’s time. So, if you’re not sure what to get someone for the holidays, why not give a gift that helps them with their daily responsibilities so they can truly push the limits of their screen time?
Here are some ideas…
Helpful Tech
The future is now, which means we have all sorts of robots that can do our chores for us. Whether the person you’re shopping for spends too much time vacuuming, making breakfast or mowing the lawn, chances are, there’s a machine that’ll do it for them, like these:
Roomba: The Roomba robotic vacuum has been around for some time now, so we know it works. It’s great for anyone who spends too much time cleaning, and at $199, it’s relatively affordable. (If they need a deeper clean, the Scooba robot will also scrub their floors.)
Husqvarna Automower: Does your recipient spend every waking hour mowing the lawn? Well, the Husqvarna Automower will be happy to replace them. The one problem: It’s nearly $1,800, so you better really like the person you’re buying it for.
Litter-Robot: If the person you’re shopping for has cats and hates cleaning their litter boxes, the Litter-Robot is self-cleaning. You better hope the kitties like it, though.
Foldimate: There’s still a waitlist to purchase the Foldimate, but if your recipient is patient, it’ll fold all their laundry for them.
Clear: For the avid traveller, a membership to Clear, a biometrics company, can allow them to skip lines at certain stadiums and security checks at airports, which is a huge time-saver.
If you think your recipient would prefer some kind of kitchen helper, there are all sorts of choices, from coffee makers to egg cookers to hot-dog toasters. In short, if the person you’re shopping for has a favorite food, there’s probably a robot that’ll cook it for them.
Subscription Boxes
Does the person you’re shopping for need help shopping for themself? Subscription boxes like the ones below can save a person loads of time by delivering goods straight to their doorstep:
Freshly: Freshly delivers heat-and-eat meals for about $12 a piece. That means there’s no need to cook, let alone shop for groceries.
Dinnerly: If your recipient likes to cook but hates to shop, Dinnerly is probably a better choice. They pack all the ingredients you need to make a meal (at $4.69 a piece), but leave the cooking to you.
Stitch Fix: Stitch Fix is a personal stylist in a box, so if the person you’re shopping for wants to look good without picking clothes for themself, this is a good choice.
Birchbox: For the person who spends too much time shopping for cosmetics, Birchbox fits the bill.
American Cocktail Club: Does the person you’re shopping for love booze? The American Cocktail Club will ship all the ingredients for speciality cocktails, alcohol included, straight to their home bar.
Nugg Club Box: Is your recipient more of a stoner? The Nugg Club Box comes with flower, pre-rolls, vapes and edibles, so there’s no need to run to the dispensary. (Keep in mind, however, that because of legal reasons, they only deliver to California.)
Headspace: Being a meditation app, Headspace isn’t a box, nor a time-saver. However, it can encourage the person you’re shopping for to make time for themself despite their busy schedule, which is probably something they could benefit from.
Home Services
If robots and subscription boxes aren’t up to the task, hiring a real-life person to take something off your recipient’s plate is another option. Who you hire really depends on what the person you’re shopping for needs — it could be a cleaning crew, a lawn-care service, a painter, a handyman or even a professional snow shoveler, if that applies. So long as it allows them to kick back, I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.
Now I’ve gotta go scroll through — erhm, walk the dog.
Ian Lecklitner
Ian Lecklitner is a staff writer at MEL Magazine. He mostly writes about everyone's favorite things: Sex, drugs and food.
