The holiday season is just around the corner, and that means my social media feed is inundated with gift guides! Tired of the same old teacher-themed trinkets and generic coffee mugs, here’s my attempt at what a #slowchathealth gift guide might look like. If you’re following me on social media you’ll know that I coordinate a gift giving event every December to coincide with winter break – these suggestions might be useful through Black Friday, Thanksgiving, and the gift giving season season. These are a few of my favorite things…with links to access the products or discount codes.

Travel Coffee Mug – Hands down this is the best travel coffee mug I have EVER used. I make a coffee in the morning, screw the locking lid and throw this in my school bag. The Fellow Carter Move mug comes with a  ‘your-bag-is-not-getting-wet’ guarantee and I can vouch for that! I’ve bought these mugs as gifts for family members and recently treated myself to a new one in a fresh color. These mugs keep drinks hot for 12 hours – perfect for my second coffee of the morning. Fellow offers teachers a 15% Heroes discount!

Classroom Timer – My science teacher wife swears by this timer from TIME TIMER, which helps students to stay on task and assists with classroom organization and concentration during study time. Over 2.5k 5 star reviews can’t be wrong!

3 in 1 Folding Charger – I’ve recommended many chargers in the past, and this portable one is great. It sits on my desk at work, and travels with me to conferences because it’s so versatile. It charges my Apple Watch, my AirPods and my iPhone at the same time…and when it’s not charging my devices…it’s charging my co-workers devices!

Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 portable speaker has great 360 degree sound, is dustproof, can handle immersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, can survive a 5-foot drop onto concrete, and it floats. It might be the most expensive item on this list, but storing this in your school bag means you don’t have to hunt around for the generic departmental speaker (that is banged up and probably out of power).

Sleep Mask – Everything you do, you do better on a full night of sleep, and since reading Dr. Matthew Walker’s ‘Why We Sleep‘ I have made sleep a non-negotiable. This Nidra luxury sleep mask is lightweight, breathable, contoured, comfortable and blocks light. Affectionately referred to as my ‘eye bra’, the molded cups curve away from your eyes and eyelashes with a snug, non-compressing fit around your face. Trust me when I say that this sleep mask is outstanding.

Glass Candy Jar/Student Motivator – Another recommendation from my wife who maintains that her freshman students will do anything for candy. I was never one for candy in the classroom until we had a guest speaker offer Jolly Ranchers to those who participated in discussions. I’ve never seen so many raised hands! This 2 gallon glass jar is exactly that. It’s a jar, made of glass, with a lid.

Charitable Donation – As it’s the season for giving, and with Giving Tuesday almost upon us at the time of writing this post, the organizations that I will support this month include – SHAPE America, because I believe that all children deserve quality physical education. I’ll also support Answer, because young people need high-quality sex education.

Make a donation to SHAPE America here.

Personalized Notebook/Planner – I get positive comments on my personalized books from Papier, all of the time. With space to add name or initials, in a color of your choice or fancy foiled letters, there’s a notebook to suit any style. Hardback, softcover, spiral or leather – the decision is yours. Here’s a code to give you $10 off your next purchase!

Highly Recommended Pens – Selected by Wirecutter as the best pen option, the Uni-ball Jetstream RT has quick drying, dark ink that flows smoothly and evenly. The ink is water-resistant, fade-resistant, and formulated to resist check washing, too.

Water Bottle – Perfect for your hydration goal*, and another leak-proof product (see the coffee mug above), these Owala bottles have a really cool FreeSip spout designed for either sipping upright through the built-in straw or tilting back to swig from the spout opening. With double-wall insulation these bottles keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours and are BPA and phthalate free. I love mine. My kids love theirs!

*If you ARE trying to improve your hydration, I swear by these NUUN electrolyte tablets.

Other great gifts include thank you cards, an awesome book, my favorite family card game, or a personalized music playlist (because is anyone making mix-tapes anymore?). Wether you’re embracing the joy of giving and showing your appreciation to those who shape young minds, or simply treating yourself, I wish you a good end to the semester.