At this busy time of year, what many of us need most of all are experiences that allow us to soften, relax and unwind.

We have put together a list of gifts that inspire relaxation, as well as some suggestions centred on thoughtfulness and connection. As we all know, it’s the thought that counts — and gifting your time or creativity can be the most precious gift of all.

In honour of the 12 days of Christmas, we give you 12 ways to gift mindfulness this December.

1 gift an experience

Presenting a loved one with the gift of an experience is a fantastic way to practise generosity while creating memories.

Gift certificates can be purchased for specific immersive experiences — from Renew and Spa or Replenish packages in the Day Spa to Glamping packages that offer a night away in nature.

Or, you can simply select a monetary value so your recipient can choose their own experience.

2 gift connection with others

Research shows that social connectivity is the number one indicator for health and longevity. Whether it’s your mother, romantic partner or best friend, we could all do with spending some more quality time with the people we care about.

For an experience that facilitates connection, we suggest gifting a Day Spa voucher — or go all out with Glamping, Graze and Spa for Two.

3 gift your time

Sometimes, the most profound gift we can offer someone is our time. This might come in the form of help with gardening or mowing the lawn, bringing over the ingredients to bake a cake, organising a movie night, working on a puzzle together, creating a beautiful foot bath experience for them — you name it!

With our free downloadable template, you can offer up your time to your loved one. All you need to do is personalise the template by filling in the blank.

4 make them a yummy snack

Our Food and Beverage team has devised a recipe for a healthy snack that tells your beloved just how much you value them (and will keep their energy up during the silly season).

**Apricot and peanut bliss balls **⁠ ⁠Makes 12-14 ⁠bliss balls⁠

⁠ Ingredients:⁠

225g dried apricots⁠

225g unsalted peanuts⁠

265g desiccated coconut⁠ (set aside a little bit extra for rolling)⁠

1 heaped tbsp rice malt syrup⁠

Pinch of salt⁠ ⁠

Method:⁠

1. Blend peanuts in a blender until smooth (may take up to five minutes) and pour into a large stainless steel bowl.⁠
2. Blend apricots in a blender until a paste-like consistency forms. ⁠
3. Add all ingredients to a bowl and combine. ⁠
4. Using a tablespoon, scoop the mixture and roll into ball.⁠
5. Roll in desiccated coconut.⁠
6. Store in fridge for three to five days.

5 make a donation

For the person who has everything — or for those you know will appreciate a conscious gift — donating to charity in someone else’s name can make an excellent, meaningful gift. Of course, it’s also a way to recognise those in our community that have been struggling in various ways.

There are plenty of organisations in need of donations. Some of our favourites include:

Mental Health Australia This national non-government organisation represents and promotes the interests of over 120 Australian national and state organisations such as Beyondblue, headspace, RUOK? and Lifeline.

Mentis Assist Mentis Assist is a not-for-profit mental health organisation that provides specialist support for people living with a mental illness, homelessness, family violence and substance abuse in the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne area.

Musculoskeletal Australia Musculoskeletal Australia (or MSK) is a consumer organisation that represents over 7 million Australians living with arthritis, osteoporosis, back pain and over 150 other musculoskeletal conditions.

Living Culture Living Culture helps educate the local community about First Nations culture on the Mornington Peninsula (Boon Wurrung/Bunurong land).

Children’s Ground This Indigenous-led organisation works to provide resources for children in First Nations communities in Australia.

Foodbank Australia Foodbank fights food wastage while providing food relief for vulnerable Australians.

Greening Australia This organisation is working to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss across the country by planting trees, among many other initiatives.

Free to Feed Free to Feed helps refugees, asylum seekers and new migrants in Victoria find their feet through employment opportunities and support with physical and mental health.

6 cook them a delicious dinner

There are few things more enjoyable than having a nourishing meal cooked for you. We’ve gone ahead and created a downloadable template you can personalise to convey your promise to cook for your loved one while they put their feet up (candles optional).

7 give them something green

Gifting a plant shows you’ve been thinking about your giftee well in advance of the actual gift-giving moment.

Sunflowers planted in early December will grow quickly enough to make a gorgeous (and tall!) Christmas day gift. Plus, you can thank them in the card for being your sunshine, or helping you grow — or whatever plant-themed message you’d like to slip in there!

8 be their babysitter (or petsitter)

For parents with young children, having someone volunteer to look after their kids while they go out for dinner and a movie with their friends or partner is often the holy grail of gifts. It’s really not just one gift but many: it comprises quality time, relaxation and fun.

Download our free template for a fancy way to present your babysitting offer this Christmas.

9 share a moment together in a private sanctuary

Our Glamping, Graze and Spa packages include private bathing barrels on your personal deck, overlooking the peaceful lagoon and native environment, your choice of 90 Spa minute treatment, plus geothermal bathing across the entire site, and towel, robe, locker hire and more. It’s the ideal gift if you’re wanting to offer both reconnection and relaxation.

10 provide your talent

With many of us feeling the pinch of cost of living pressures, it’s never been a better time to get creative with your gift-giving. You might have skills in macrame, photography, painting, flower arranging or jewellery-making, for example. Or, you might take the time to make a delicious homemade relish or gorgeous potted plant. These items don’t require a large financial outlay, and they make heartfelt, memorable gifts.

11 set a time to meet at sunrise or sunset

In our very digitised world, there’s something deeply exciting about being invited to enjoy a sunrise or sunset with someone you care about. Your Christmas gift this year might be arranging to meet your loved one at a designated spot to watch the sun come up or go down — where you’ll be waiting with coffees or a picnic.

12 send them a relaxing playlist

At Metung Hot Springs, we’re experts when it comes to curating a relaxing environment. You can recreate that feeling at home (or while driving around in Christmas shopping traffic!) by downloading our Relaxation Playlist. Or, you could create your own playlist filled with songs you think your recipient would enjoy — for old-school mix-tape vibes.