Christmas can become a stressful time for mums. From buying presents for the family to baking Christmas treats and decorating the house, it’s often mums who do a lot of the work when the holiday season rolls around.
If you are a working mum yourself who’s looking to send a few thoughtful presents to the fellow hard-working mummas in your social circle, then let this guide provide some inspiration. And if you’re the grateful child of a hard-working mum, then trust us – you can demonstrate your appreciation for your mum by giving her something special this Christmas season. While it can be hard to decide what to get given the sheer number of options out there, we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll give you 7 Christmas gift ideas that are both thoughtful and practical, whether you’re thinking about what to buy for your own mum, or you’re planning to ‘accidentally’ send it to your kids or partner. Keep reading to learn how to make this year’s holiday season extra special for busy working mums.
1. A diary or planner
For mums who have a knack for goal-setting, why not make sure she can start the next calendar year off right by buying her an annual planner? Whether for planning key annual dates, organising weekly work and family appointments, or journaling to set goals and practice self-care, any mum can benefit with enhanced organisation by using a 2025 diary. So if you know what kind of planner is sure to pique your mum’s fancy, why not do the honour of treating her to her next annual compendium?
Admittedly, this gift idea takes first position in this guide because of its elegant simplicity. Life can get extremely busy, especially for working mums spinning multiple plates. A diary planner with added mindfulness prompts and journal space can help by offering an outlet to physically set down thoughts and feelings at the end of the day.
Having a reason to sit back and reflect can even help with boosting mental health. In this regard, your mum’s new 2025 diary could be foundational to her wellness and self-care routines in the new year.
2. An elegant watch
Watches are a mainstay on our wrists, not to mention high-fashion items that pull an outfit together. If you want to get mum a truly special Christmas gift to help her celebrate the festive season, there are few more elegant choices than a stunning wristwatch.
Depending on your mum’s style, you could go with an analog or even tasteful digital wristwatch. And with the sheer number of wearable fitness trackers available on the market today, this gift could also play a great role in ensuring your mum’s set up to reach all her health and wellness goals in 2025.
If your mum isn’t one for connected tech, however, then treating her to a stunning analog wristwatch surely won’t go amiss. Wristwatches come in beautiful stones such as quartz, diamond, silver and even gold if you’re after something higher-end. The great thing about watches is that they combine practicality with elegance. A watch can help a busy working mum keep track of time while also acting as a staple jewellery accessory.
3. A new book to get lost in
If your mum is a certified bookworm, books make for a simple yet thoughtful gift. There are countless titles out there, so even if she’s ‘read everything’, you’ll still be able to find something unusual and relevant to her interests. While it’s great to get something from her favourite author if you know who it is, a biography of a famous figure they follow or a classic novel is always a safe option if you don’t.
You don’t need to limit yourself to print books, either. While it would be nice to have something physical to wrap, you can also give e-books if she’s more of a Kindle person. In fact, a Kindle can be the perfect gift for mums who do the daily school run or are also tasked with transporting their kids from school to their extracurricular commitments.
Another fantastic thing about gifting books as a Christmas gift is that they’re relatively inexpensive, so even kids can afford them. If you’re looking to teach your children generosity, encourage them to buy mum a book, and explain the value of learning about others and the world around us from stories.
4. Quality surround-sound headphones
For a mum who’s a techie and loves listening to music or podcasts on a morning commute or winding down from work, a pair of quality headphones is a great gift. Headphones help create a private space away from household and workplace noise; something that’s incredibly precious when there’s always others dashing round!
Earphones make for a great gift because you can spend however much your budget allows you. From simple models to designer headphones, there’s a wide range of choices on the market.
Headphones are the perfect Christmas gift choice for anyone who knows a mum who enjoys private time and relaxing to music, audiobooks and podcasts.
5. A stylish recipe binder
If your mum is a keen chef, but always has ripped out magazine recipes, handwritten cards or jotted-down notes on the back of an envelope scattered around, a stylish recipe binder can be a tremendously helpful and stylish addition to the kitchen. When mum comes home from work and wants to make something quickly without any fuss, binders can organise a seemingly endless pile of stray recipes.
A cooking binder can also provide a place to store original recipes and pass them down more easily to future generations. If you’re looking for a gift that’s both thoughtful and practical for mums who love to cook, a recipe binder is a great choice.
6. An indulgent breakfast tray
Do you know a mum who deserves (and needs) that extra Sunday sleep-in or a little extra pampering? If so, a breakfast tray can be a wonderful surprise gift on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning, or indeed any morning over the festive period where a well-earned lie-in can be made even more relaxing.
If it’s mum who often gets up early and prepares breakfast, a thoughtfully prepared tray is a great way to say thank you this coming Christmas. When it comes to festive-themed dishes you can make, there’s no shortage of options. French toast, eggs benedict and fruit bowls are all classic choices you can’t go wrong with, but if you want something truly special and festive you could put on your chef’s hat and spoil mum with grilled prawns or fresh oysters.
7. A personalised self-care package
If you have (or are!) the type of mum who does so much but never seems to take any time out, why not give something as a reminder to look out for number one, outside of working hours and family caregiving duties?
A Christmas gift that’s growing in popularity is a self-care package. It could be anything from a hamper of favourite chocolates and sweet treats to a box full of scented goodies. You can get more indulgent and pay for a day at the spa, a luxurious restaurant dinner, or a high-adrenalin outdoor activity for a real feel-good experience.
Self-care packages are extremely versatile gifts, so get your mum something you know she’ll love, and something you know she wouldn’t ever think to buy herself.
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With Christmas only a few months away, now is a great time to start planning for gifts. Take this year as an opportunity to show your mum how much you love and appreciate her by getting something extra special, whether it’s a brand new pair of headphones, a mindfulness journal, a well-considered book, or something else on our mum-friendly gift-giving guide!
