Time is ticking

Calling all last-minute shoppers [Gift Guide]( Hi friends! We’re back with our final gift guide of the year. And I gotta say, I’m officially ready for January. But before we get there, we’re giving all you last-minute shoppers (read: me) a bunch more cool-kid product recommendations to fill out your list. Today’s recs were chosen in the spirit of connection, joy, and rest, or what we like to call “healthy celebration.” And if that doesn’t resonate, at least stick around to enter our final giveaway of the year at the end of this email. It’s another goodie. We also want to wish a very happy first day of Hanukkah to everyone out there celebrating! Here’s a peek at the products we’re featuring today: • [Compartes 10 Piece Signature Truffle Gift Box]( • [Mau House Oyster Bottle Opener]( • [Wax Buffalo Moscow Mule Candle]( • [Brightland Olive Oil - The Duo]( • [Birthdate Co - The Birthdate Book]( • [Sophie Lou Jacobsen Piano Cocktail Set]( • [Clevr Latte Starter Kit]( Stay sharp, Ginger Wojcik Newsletter Editor, Healthline Written by Ginger Wojcik December 18, 2022 • 5 min read [Make the holidays about connection, in whatever way feels best for you]( what’s got us buzzing [Make the holidays about connection, in whatever way feels best for you]( Stress is about as ubiquitous during the holidays as a Mariah Carey high note. Sometimes the only thing more stressful than spending multiple days with family is spending multiple days cooking with family. Before you pull your drapes and swear off the whole ordeal, we want to make the case for a powerful health aid: [friendship](. We’re not just being sentimental. [Research]( has found a strong link between time spent with close friends and life satisfaction. On the flip side, long-term loneliness [is associated]( with a truly staggering number of chronic health issues, including heart disease, hypertension, depression, anxiety, and more. And to be clear, prioritizing friendship doesn’t mean forcing yourself to go to parties or endure hours of small talk. The benefits of friendship come from true connection; from being accepted for who you are in this moment. If your biological family makes you feel less than, remember that a [chosen family]( can offer you all the love, support, and acceptance you need to feel whole. On that note, we have a gift idea for fostering connection, heartfully endorsed by fellow Wellness Wire editor Morgan Mandriota. [We're Not Really Strangers]( is a “purpose-driven card game” that’s skillfully designed to get you to open up and connect with others on a deeper level. tl;dr: The holidays can be rough. And if family brings you down, remember you can still get the benefits of connection by spending time with a chosen family of people who love and accept you exactly how you are. great finds The gifts on our list this year [Compartes 10 Piece Signature Truffle Gift Box]( [Compartes 10 Piece Signature Truffle Gift Box]( If you need a fancy gift that isn’t crazy expensive, these chocolates are it. They taste phenomenal too. [SHOP NOW]( [Mau House Oyster Bottle Opener]( [Mau House Oyster Bottle Opener]( I’m obsessed with these iridescent handmade bottle openers. No one would be mad about getting something this beautiful and functional. [SHOP NOW]( [Wax Buffalo Moscow Mule Candle]( [Wax Buffalo Moscow Mule Candle]( This artisan candle company makes a line of cocktail-themed candle scents. I’ve been burning this Moscow Mule for weeks, and can’t get enough. [SHOP NOW]( Holiday Stories You Need What we’re reading next [] [Gifts for the skin care nerd in your life.]( We polled dermatologists and aestheticians to find out what products earn a spot on their counter. [A tech-free guide for anyone who needs to tune out.]( Pillow slippers, paint by numbers, a box of cheese — classic goodies, no electricity needed. [DIY food baskets with a nostalgic twist.]( Do something a little different and fill a basket with food items from a different time. We’ve got plenty of inspo here. great finds The gifts on our list this year [Brightland - The Duo]( [Brightland - The Duo]( Need a gift for a cook or food-lover? Consider this set of bestselling olive oils from California brand Brightland. [SHOP NOW]( [Birthdate Co - The Birthdate Book]( [Birthdate Co - The Birthdate Book]( This beautiful customized birthdate book breaks down your entire astrological chart through illustrations and detailed horoscope analysis. [SHOP NOW]( [Sophie Lou Jacobsen Piano Cocktail Set]( [Sophie Lou Jacobsen Piano Cocktail Set]( For the lovers of art and martinis, this set of handmade glasses is sure to be a hit. [SHOP NOW]( You’re up The holidays are a mixed bag for me, my brother, and my parents. But there’s one uniting factor that brings us together at this time of year, and that’s surfing. In our corner of the world, winter time is surf season. And ever since I was a little kid, being exciting for the holidays really means being excited about having time off to surf. I can’t tell you what I cooked for Thanksgiving in 2018, but I can tell you exactly what the waves looked like that day. My parents gave us a life of surfing. And when I really think about it, I’m mowed over by the magnitude of this gift. They gave us purpose and an endless source of joy. To me, it’s an immeasurably profound gift, one that could never be matched. In the spirit of gratitude, I’m turning this question over to you all. We want to know: What’s the best gift you’ve ever received? Let us know at wellnesswire@healthline.com. (And remember, by writing in with a response, you’ll be entered into the giveaway for a cast iron dutch oven from [Staub](!) Thanks for reading! And congratulations to Susie M. for winning the [Comfort Zone bundle]( from Self Made. I hope this makes up for that doormat gift! Until next time, [healthline]( Take care of yourself, and we’ll see you again soon! [Telegram] This edition was powered by stubborn determination [fb]( [tiktok]( [insta]( [View in browser]( Did a friend send you this email? [Subscribe here.]( To see all newsletters, [click here.]( [Privacy]( | [Unsubscribe]( © 2022 Healthline Media 1423 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707