Love and Chronic Illness: How to Nourish Romantic Relationships at Every Stage
Would you like to pamper your sick friend but don’t know what gift you should get them?
Finding the perfect present for the people you love can be a challenge in itself, but chronic illness can make the search even more complicated. What do you buy someone who can’t do a lot of things or suffers from sensitivities?
It depends of course on your friend’s illness, situation and interests. But many ‘spoonies‘ love to receive something soothing and indulgent, whether that’s a wellness gift, practical items to deal with the daily discomfort or entertaining goodies to beat the boredom.
Some helpful things to keep in mind when choosing presents for your sick friend or family member:
- Think ‘low energy’. A great spoonie gift doesn’t require a long setup or complicated instructions. Instead, focus on presents that support comfort and ease.
- Sensory-friendly is usually a win. Avoid strong scents, bright lights or loud noises, unless you know they’re safe. Many chronic conditions come with sensory sensitivities.
- Practical presents don’t have to be boring. For many spoonies, gifts that remove pain points in their daily life are more than welcome.
- Small luxuries are a big deal when you’re sick. When someone’s living with discomfort every day, budget-friendly items like a silk eye mask, audiobook gift card or DIY hot chocolate mix can make sick days a little easier to bear.
For inspiration, have a look at these 36 comforting spoonie gift ideas for any budget.
This blog post contains some affiliate links to resources you might find useful, at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.
36 Comforting Spoonie Gifts
Wellness Gifts for Your Sick Friend
1. Help make sick days in bed a little more comfy with cute pajamas, cozy socks, an eye mask or a total body support pillow.
2. A self-massage tool relaxes tight muscles, stimulates a healthy blood circulation and de-stresses from head to toe. For even more pampering, you could include an aromatic massage oil.
3. Introduce your friend to a restorative yoga practice or an online spoonie yoga class.
4. Get creative and turn a regular self-care routine into a luxurious experience with homemade Aromatherapy Shower Steamer Tablets. You could also get home spa items like fragrance-free shea butter, unscented lip balm or a gentle face mist.
5. Bring light into the darkness with a beautiful scented candle.
6. Meditation and breathing exercises are science-backed strategies to manage pain, anxiety and insomnia, so consider gifting your friend a subscription to a mindfulness app like Headspace.
7. Ease your sick friend’s discomfort with an electric heating pad or cherry pit pillow.
Beat the Boredom at Home
8. Reading serious literature might be too hard when you’re ill, but a collection of short stories or beautiful poetry will provide a happy distraction.
9. Give a ‘Movie Night in A Tin’. Crowd pleaser!
10. Bring an entertaining solitary activity that can be done seated or lying down. You could get craft supplies like adult coloring books, beads or chunky wool for knitting, buy (3D) puzzles or board games you can play solo,
11. Make an uplifting playlist that your sick family member can turn to on bad days.
12. Want your chronically ill friend to have something to look forward to all year round? Consider giving a monthly subscription, like a magazine or craft boxes.
13. Create a ‘boredom buster’ goodie bag, filled with fidget tools, brain-teasing origami puzzles, markers and playful sticker books.
Handy Gadgets That Make Chronic Illness Life Easier
14. It’s nice to have something to drink by your bedside when you’re sick. That’s when a small tea pot (not too heavy) or a fruit infuser water bottle comes in handy.
15. Much to my own surprise, a multitasking bed tray is one of the most used gifts I’ve ever received. You can use the cushion padded lap desk to eat in bed, place your laptop on or use it to write/color/craft on the couch.
16. Cute and useful: a fashionable pill and vitamin organizer clutch.
17. Medical planners can be powerful tools to help chronically ill people to track, organize and tackle their health issues in an efficient way.
18. It’s a splurge but kitchen tools that help your friend put a nourishing meal on the table when they’re running low on energy is an ultimate spoonie gift. The Crockpot turns cooking into an effortless chore and clean-up is a breeze. I’m also a big fan of the KitchenAid blender – you can make a lot more than smoothies with your blender!
19. Noise-cancelling ear plugs or headphones make a helpful spoonie gift for anyone struggling with sensory overload.
20. Help your friend stay connected and entertained with long charging cables, cable organizer clips and/or bedside caddy for easy storage. A practical gift, but possible game-changer when someone’s stuck in bed and can’t reach.
A Boost of Positivity for Tough Days
21. The right story at the right time can transform your life. Bring feel-good fiction or a motivational memoir to lift their spirits.
22. A daily planner can help spoonies set priorities, manage their energy and put what truly matters on the agenda. I personally love the Happiness Planner to put positive intentions into practice.
23. If your friend spends a lot of time in bed, brighten up their room with beautiful pillow cases or inspirational art.
24. Gift a digital photo frame to remind your sick relative of happy memories you’ve shared.
25. Writing down 3 positive things that happened each day is one of the most effective ways to boost your mood. That’s why a 5-Minute Journal can be an easy and accessible way to support emotional wellbeing through tough times.
26. Brighten sick days with a gift card for streaming services, including a list of must-watch movies, series or documentaries to lift their spirits.
Edible Treats as a Healthy Spoonie Gift
27. Who doesn’t love a DIY package for hot chocolate?
28. If your friend is into healthy eating, why not surprise them with a matcha starter set, a selection of health-boosting spices or infused oils?
29. A bowl of nourishing soup is the ultimate get-well-soon dish. That makes homemade soup mix in a jar a perfect spoonie gift!
30. More cozy in a cup: buy a cute mug with good-quality tea, honey and lemon. Or even better, treat your chronically ill friend to a new health-boosting tea delivered to their doorstep each month with an artisan tea membership.
31. Make a car package for energy crashes. Think instant miso soup or noodles, electrolyte packets, healthy protein bars and tasty crackers.
32. Bring inspiration for nutrient-rich meals with cookbooks for healthy foodies.
Thoughtful Presents That Don’t Cost Much
33. Make a coupon book. You could offer rides to doctor’s appointments and therapy sessions, help with cleaning, laundry and running errands, or your babysitting/dog walking services.
34. Create a curated list of ‘comfort content’, whether that’s a soothing playlist, daily meditations, inspiring TED-talks or the right book for every mood.
35. Bring freezer-friendly home-cooked meals that are easy to reheat. There’s nothing more comforting than knowing you have a warming chili, lasagna or curry waiting for you when you’re too exhausted to cook.
36. And most importantly: include a handwritten card, sweet notes or a collection of ‘Open When’ letters to remind your chronically ill loved one they are not alone.
Whatever present you end up buying, your family member or friend will be so happy to know you were thinking of them.
Which comforting spoonie gift will you surprise your sick friend with?
If you enjoyed reading this article, you might also like 33 Best Ways to Support Your Friend in Need and 28 Fun Things to Do When You’re Bored and Sick at Home.
