Even in a normal year, Christmas shopping for friends and family raises a lot of questions. “What do I get for my dad? What would my mother-in-law like? What about my girlfriend?” This year, we’ve got something bigger to worry about: How do you give someone appropriate gifts during a pandemic?
We’ve all had to deal with major lifestyle changes in 2021 as a result of the coronavirus. We’re more conscious of cleanliness and practicing good hygiene, and we’re spending more time at home. Even though the end of the pandemic is in sight, now that vaccines have started to be distributed throughout the country, it could still be several months before we can stop sheltering in place and start socializing in public like we used to.
That’s why it’s important to make sure your Christmas gift ideas are good for the COVID-19 era. Flight tickets, restaurant gift cards, and movie passes won’t be usable for a long while, so we need to pick Christmas gifts people can enjoy in quarantine.
Luckily, there are plenty of items that can make life around the house more fun and more comfortable. If you need help thinking of pandemic-appropriate gifts, check out our guide to the best COVID-safe gift ideas for Christmas 2021.
Mini Desk Vacuum Cleaner
From InnovaGoods comes an innovative product indeed: the Mini Desk Vacuum Cleaner. This miniature vacuum is great for cleaning up crumbs, eraser shavings, and more from desks, kitchen counters, car seats, keyboards, and other household surfaces. Small, cordless, and compact, it fits well on any desk, and it makes an ideal stocking stuffer. With a streamlined design that’s both attractive and practical, this mini vacuum is the perfect gift for cleaning up small messes.
Keyboard Cleaner
MECO brings us another vacuum, but this one is a step above the Mini Desk Vacuum Cleaner. At about twice the price, the MECO Keyboard Cleaner has double the function: It can clean up dry or wet messes, it’s rechargeable, and it has surprisingly strong suction, with 30-minutes of battery life. It’s ideal for keyboard crumbs, but it’s also effective for the rest of the house, your car, your desk, and more. It fits in the palm, so it’s a convenient, go-to alternative to getting out the big house vacuum for every tiny mess. Its nozzle and brush attachments allow it to access crevices and safely clean upholstery. MECO even offers a 12-month warranty on this little vacuum, so if it breaks during that time, you’re covered.
Desk Organizers
Encourage the artist in your life by giving them a desk organizer. This lightweight but sturdy, white, plastic organizer from Marbrasse is perfect for storing art or office supplies, cosmetics, toiletries, crafts, tech, and more. Made of BPA-free materials, it comes with five pieces: two cups and three stackable caddies with a total of 12 compartments. The compartments are even at an angle, so your pens don’t fall out or get stuck. If you’re looking for a minimalist, space-saving, practical desk organizer at a reasonable price, this is it. Just keep in mind you might need to order several for larger amounts of supplies.
For those in search of a more decorative gift piece, this bamboo desk organizer is ideal. You can choose from three styles, one of which can be flipped upside down to situate the largest drawer on either the left or the right. Suitable for storing any small items, this is the perfect gift for a family member who needs to organize their desk or living space—and because it’s made from bamboo, it even smells good!
Video Conference Lighting Kit
Nearly everyone works from home now, so why not get your family member a light for a top-notch video conferencing experience? With its adjustable brightness and temperature and frosted lens for soft light, Lume Cube’s lighting kit can be personalized to the user's needs. Though it runs on battery power, it can also connect directly through a computer’s USB port for an unlimited lifespan. It comes with a suction cup to attach to the back of a TV, computer monitor, or laptop. Keep in mind that the suction cup is most effective when slightly moist. Also included are a USB-C charging cable and adapter. For a reasonable price, this light gives anyone the chance to look professional in virtual meetings.
Bluetooth Beanie with Headphones
A Fulllight Tech Bluetooth Beanie is an appropriate gift for anyone who loves music, reading, or podcasts. It’s a beanie made with a simple design and thick materials to keep your head and ears warm with a style that will appeal to men, women, kids, and adults alike. It can play audiobooks, music, and more, as it can connect to any Bluetooth device, including a PlayStation. With five colors to choose from, you can’t go wrong. It even comes in a gift box just for Christmas. This simple, pragmatic hat will keep joggers, walkers, and gamers entertained during the pandemic—and it won’t break your bank.
UV Smartphone Sanitizer and Charger
A trendy COVID-19 Christmas gift guide would be incomplete without the PhoneSoap UV Smartphone Sanitizer and Charger. This excellent quarantine Christmas gift is big enough to charge your iPhone 8, Galaxy S10, and anything in between, and it sanitizes your device to keep both your hands and your phone free of germs while you’re scrolling. This charger has one USB port and one USB-C port, and it comes in five different colors. Giving this sanitizing charger as a gift is a great way to keep any phone user healthy during the pandemic.
Picking out gifts for your family, friends, and coworkers during the holidays can be a real challenge, and because of the unprecedented global pandemic, it’s even more difficult. Now that you’ve read through our list, however, we hope you’ll have an easier time finding the best COVID-friendly Christmas gift ideas for your loved ones this season. Have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a wonderful New Year!
