Roots and Branches

We are, amazingly, already almost to the end of 2025, and deep in the season where people give gifts to others and plan out things like the next year’s goals and professional development for themselves. 

Here’s my guide to help you pick the perfect last-minute gift for a group, a friend, or for you (or whoever):
Be sure to scroll to the bottom for lots more ideas, and to email me if I can help you pick something perfect!

Recently, I wrote this gift guide for the Guardian on gifts for entrepreneurs: While the bulk of my writing attention no longer goes to writing commerce round ups, I enjoy writing these because they actually feel meaningful and useful.

I also wrote this Guardian piece on gifts for curious cooks, which resulted in me and my online courses being featured in their newsletter. 

That feature got me thinking about gift pairings beyond the kitchen, and specifically tying together classes and experiences for creative professionals and entrepreneurs.

Here are some ideas for you this gifting season, or as self-gifts to set yourself up for a creative year. 

Tip for last minute gifts: You can get instant access to many online courses and subscriptions, including mine, then surprise them with physical gifts later. Or, get a last-minute online class or subscription to supplement your physical gifting. 

Group gifts

Combined gifts can be a low effort but high reward way to care for your friend group, your employees, or whatever other group of folks you love (or just work with). If you know your friends love getting together to cook, why not get a cooking class or a private group lesson? 

Or book a weekend wellness retreat and bring in a couple favorite folks (like your favorite yoga teacher or nature guide) to lead activities.

Or run a corporate workshop on building play and pleasure back into the work day.

I’m always happy to help make suggestions for these kinds of group gifts (and to point you in the direction you need if I’m not able to serve you). 

I’m in a unique position where I do culinary work and mindfulness and meditation programs, along with the kinds of support work that helps people connected to big ideas and creating new things.

That makes for some pretty fantastic holistic retreat days, and I actually love designing virtual retreats: Either where I’m present coaching you, or just give you a framework to run with.

So if you have a work retreat coming up, or you and some friends want to rent a cabin and write for a weekend but want a little more depth to add to the experience, I can absolutely help. 

(As an aside, since I have a registered corporation I can, in most cases, also invoice employers or register as a vendor so you can use employer-allocated funding to pay for coaching programs, group wellness sessions, or to offset the cost of me designing your retreat).

I’m always happy to talk with you about this: Please reach out if that’s something of interest!

Self-paced classes: Perfect for last-minute gifts or as an affordable, meaningful add-on to a physical gift to unwrap

I love giving self-paced classes because they don’t tie my giftee into a certain schedule, or make them feel obligated to attend something live if they’re short on time.

They’re also good for bundling with other classes or other gifts.

If you decide to get one from me, I’m always happy to write and send a custom gift email: Just let me know in the order comments, or email me their details. 

I can’t speak for others, BUT many of the coaches and course creators I know are happy to accommodate with custom messages too, so it’s something worth asking about in general, if that’s of interest.

So what kinds of gifts do you pair with things like online classes?

The possibilities are endless (and if you want help, leave a comment or email me and I’m happy to share ideas), but here are a few good starting places:

-A journal and a pen: For writing out ideas, taking notes, etc. 

-Gifts that help them live the lifestyle they’re dreaming of, and that tie into what the class will help them learn: 

If they’re wanting to devote regular time to creative work, why not a nice planner (I’m trying a Moleskine one this year), or stuff to help make their workspace cozy and pleasant to be in (my entrepreneur gift guide above has some good ideas for that).

If they’re hoping to scale their professional success or income, why not a gift that helps them feel like that success has already arrived?
Anything from a pass to an airline lounge to relax in before their next trip to a fancy dinner out, or even something like a really good smelling candle that makes their space feel more luxurious. 

This is less about dropping tons of money on a gift, and more about giving something meaningful that resonates with the next stage of success they’re stepping into. 

If you want ideas for bundling gifts for your favorite creative (or ways to bundle gifts for you that make that class you just bought even more impactful), email me below or leave a comment. I’m happy to help!

Here’s where I’d start if I were looking to deepen into that journey during this season:

🔮Pleasure Practices for Creatives: Simple, powerful ways to weave deeper pleasure and receptivity into your creative practice.

🔮Career/Shift: An energetic and meditative playground or exploring transition (career or otherwise) and making your unique map for the path ahead.

🔮Intuitive guidance sessions and energy work/coaching combination sessions: Remote, powerful guidance sessions give you a literal guidebook for where you’re at in your creative practice, shared through energy work and intuition.

🔮Creating a Container for your Book or Next Project: The real practical, nuts-and-bolts ‘how to’ of starting or completing a creative project

🔮Metamorphosis: A simple, self-paced course for tapping into your own rhythms to design a creative practice that works for you: Rather than one rooted in how society says you’re ‘supposed’ to work.

Take 20% off any of them, and get instant access to classes when you sign up (and again, email me to get a custom welcome email sent to them). Use the code CREATE at checkout!

Gift certificates for 1:1 support or group workshops: Deeper, personalized support that shows your giftee you’re serious about their work (and their thriving)

I love giving private sessions as gifts: Sometimes these are private experiences like massages or wellness packages, but sometimes, often, they are things like energy work sessions or coaching with a professional who’s aligned with my loved one’s goals and interests.

If they already have a massage therapist, energy worker, personal trainer, writing coach, etc. that they love, contacting that person and asking for a gift certificate or offering to pay for a session is a simple and meaningful gift.

Many folks also have a calendar you can book through (here’s mine), so you can see what kinds of appointments are available for immediate booking, when, as you plan.

If you don’t see the type of class or appointment you hoped for on their calendar, don’t despair! An email and a request for what you need (whether virtual or in-person) opens the door to the perfect gift.

You could also pay for some or all of a group program or full-day experience they’ve been eyeing or that you KNOW would relax, refresh, and inspire them.

I’m excited for this one, which I lead, and for this one, which I take part in, and other ideas include a coaching or wellness appointment package, or a full day session (anything from paying for a spa day at your local Korean spa to a full-day coaching or planning session).

Many practitioners are happy to help you pick the perfect fit from their offerings that fits your price point, and in some cases offer a package discount (my standard is 10%-20% off for 3 or 5-session packages, with more discounts for more sessions). 

As always, it never hurts to ask! And the earlier you do, the better able folks are to help you, or to help you find another practitioner if they aren’t the best fit (but hey, even last minute, they may be able to help!)

If you want to really give a gift that will transform their (or your) life, consider something like a longer-term 1:1 coaching program or multiple planning sessions for getting their project off the ground, or wrapped up (I offer this one-year program, and this program for burnt out creatives, but also custom-create packages for people all the time). 

Yes, it’s an investment: But if you have the capital to do so, you’re showing your loved one, or yourself, that the work they’re here to do is worth investing in.

And that in itself is a massive gift that will pay off immediately, and help them dedicate serious effort to their work, too. 

What last minute gifts are you buying this year? If I can help, shoot me an email (julia@root-kitchens.com)