Best gifts for a divorce: practical and compassionate gifts for tough times
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Divorce. Messy, stressful, not the happily ever after that most couples envisaged when making their marriage vows.
But it’s a conclusion that’s increasingly common in the modern world, with rates rising by nearly 10 per cent after the first Covid lockdown. They have since come down but it’s still a scenario that’s commonplace in every pocket of the country.
There is something to be said for the couple brave enough to acknowledge when things are irrevocably broken and decide to call time on a relationship that’s making them deeply unhappy.
As a friend, the main thing is to be there in their time of need: brewing rounds of tea, offering a shoulder to lean on, and helping with practical tasks like collecting and organising their things.
On the other hand, you may know someone who’s quite pleased to see the back of their imminently former other half. Whether they want to crack out the fizz or mark their fresh chapter in some way, showing up for them will be appreciated.
Of course, it’s not always possible to drop what you’re doing and rush to their side, especially with a busy schedule of your own to see to. That’s not to say you can’t let them know you’re thinking of them with a delivery to help make their new life easier. We give gifts to mark practically every other major chapter of life; why not divorce too?
Things like a frozen food bundle to make sure they’re eating well, gym or spa days for much-needed pampering or stress-alleviating and sleep-promoting products can stand in to show compassion and support when you can’t be there in person. When in doubt, a great bunch of flowers rarely fails.
Whether you’re stuck for ideas on what to give someone who is going through the chrysalis of divorce or has just had their decree absolute granted, don’t worry.
We’ve rounded up thoughtful and helpful gifts alongside a couple of lighthearted options to help shine a little light on their day.
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Aeyla - The Mela Weighted Blanket
Best weighted blanket for: anxiety
Sizes: 190x100cm
Weight: 4 - 9kg
If you’re after a weighted blanket that feels soft to the touch, they don’t come much softer than the Mela Weighted Blanket from Aeyla - a product which has won the ES Standard’s best weighted blanket title for the last four years running.
Measuring 190 x 100cm and available in a choice of weights from 4 - 9kg, the Mela Weighted Blanket comes in two designs - the All in One (with a permanently attached cover) or a blanket with a removable cover that secures using ties and a zip.
We tested the All in One where one side is made from 100 per cent cooling cotton, and the other an insanely soft quilted fleece. Of all the blankets we tried, this was the one that had the most instant ‘ahhh’ moment - where as soon as we put it over our lap, we wanted to snuggle up and relax. It’s pretty much like an ‘off’ switch after a busy or hard day.
The Mela Weighted Blanket is filled with glass quartz pellets which are ‘anti-rustle’ meaning you can find your perfect sleeping position without the noise of the beads moving around inside.
An ethical choice too, Mela is Oeko-Tex certified (free from harmful chemicals or synthetics) and for each order, the brand protects five trees in the rainforest through its partnership with charity 1Tribe.
FieldGoods
FieldGoods was created to fill your freezer with ready-to-go meals packed with flavour. The brand stocks creative combinations to stick in the oven on those nights you can’t face whipping up culinary delights. FieldGoods has done the hard work for you with no shortage of flair.
The range includes Aubergine Parmigiana, Pork and Fennel Ragu, Lamb and Apricot Tagine and Goan Fish Curry – meals that would traditionally take hours to cook but can be on your table in 30 to 40 minutes. These are not microwave meals, although there are some available that cook in less than 10 minutes. They do require placing in the oven but what you lack in speed, you make up for in handmade, nutritious dishes, each of which is adorned with the name of the chef on the packaging and a beautifully illustrated design.
We were particularly fans of the new parent gift bundle to treat tired members of the family to prep-free food.
Prices from £7.25 a portion.
Bloom & Wild
Mark the closing of a chapter with beautiful blooms to raise their spirits. Bloom & Wild, famous for its letterbox flowers, also offers gift subscriptions for influxes of kaleidoscopic colour on the regular.
Picked from a network of trusted and responsible growers, the blooms come in 100 per cent recyclable packaging minimising the effect on the environment.
Each delivery includes easy-to-follow arranging tips so they can start enjoying their bouquet as soon as possible. We like their current collab with Liberty with arrangements inspired by the department store's iconic prints. Choose delivery via Royal Mail or a premium courier with updates along the way.
Options from £19.
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
Often considered the book about heartbreak, Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity does so much more for the soul than merely providing riotous laughter. A treatise on the healing power of music, record shop owner Rob wages a Scott Pilgrim-esque internal battle following his most recent break-up. But instead of metaphorically fighting ex-girlfriends to win the love of another, Rob’s on a redemptive journey to figure out exactly what it is that has consistently gone wrong.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
Since the publication of her best-selling memoir Everything I Know About Love and the immense popularity of her weekly ‘Dear Dolly’ column, Alderton has made a name for herself as a veritable Queen of Broken Hearts. Beloved for her acerbic wit which is somehow capable of pulling you close for a warm embrace, in Good Material, Alderton taps into the straight male experience of heartbreak and in turn reveals its devastating – yet ultimately, somehow always retroactively hilarious –universality.
OTO CBD Sleep Drops - 1500MG CBD
While OTO’s CBD Sleep Drops might be designed to help you snooze, they’ll help you calm down throughout the day, too. Perfect for nighttime (especially if you’re an anxious sleeper or struggle to settle down for the night) or when you’re winding down in the evenings, these high-powered drops have a refreshingly minty flavour and promise no grogginess the following morning.
Pure OTO’s CBD is also infused with soothing lavender, calming butterfly pea flowers and fresh field mint curated to help you doze off.
Diptyque Paris Roses Large Candle
There’s nothing more luxurious than an extra-large candle from Parisian fragrance house Diptyque. The beloved fresh and ethereal rose-scented candle is available in multiple sizes, but only the large option is realised in this gorgeous porcelain vessel.
The White Company Electronic Diffuser
With a pared-back two-tone ceramic and wood natural design, The White Company Electronic Diffuser is easily adaptable to any interior and delivers a subtle scent of calming or reviving aromas into your home.
There are four time settings so you can determine how long you want the fragrance to last and after that determined time, it will turn off automatically. Pair with the brand’s beloved fragrance oils in the Seychelles, Lime & Bay or Nourish aromas.
Style points also go to the Textured Ceramic Electronic Diffuser with its herringbone design.
Wild Food-Grown Magnesium Supplements
Magnesium has some key benefits for the body, including promoting healthy bones and teeth, aiding muscle recovery, reducing tiredness and relaxing the body. Coined ‘nature’s tranquiliser’, magnesium is said to help calm frazzled minds in order to promote better mental health.
You will need to take 4 capsules a day, so this supplement is a little more of a commitment, but one that plays dividends. Take four capsules a day; two in the morning after breakfast and two in the evening 1-2 hours for a better night’s sleep and calmer days.
Vitabiotics Feroglobin Liquid 200ml
It can be easy to have an endless pot of tea or coffee on the go when you’re working from home, but all that sugar and caffeine adds up. For an energy boost that won’t make feel wired, try adding a spoonful of Feroglobin to your diet. As well as pepping you up, the iron minerals and B vitamins will give your oxygen and blood levels a little push too. Suitable for vegetarians.
This Works Stress Mood Manager
This Works is an absolute go-to for any anti-stress product. Simply spray this serene fragrance onto your skin to reduce tension and anxiety. Notes of ylang-ylang, neroli and patchouli, created through fMRI brain imaging technology, restore ease to an anxious state of mind.
The Body Shop Boost Uplifting Hair & Body Wash
A hot shower can work wonders, relaxing muscles and giving skin a hydration injection. Upgrade your morning wash with The Body Shop's formula which sings with zesty citrussy notes that will put you in a sunshine state of mind.
The Mindfulness Puzzle Book By Dr. Gareth Moore
Resist the temptation to remain glued to a screen all day and into the early hours. Treat your eyes (and mind) to a break with the help of this beautiful colouring and puzzle book, aimed at adults. Designed to help you de-stress, it's a great way to help you press pause on real life, if only for a little while.
Drowsy Sleep Co Silk Sleep Mask
- Best for: a sound muffling and hypoallergenic
- Material: 22 momme, pure mulberry silk
- Strap: Velcro
The Drowsy Sleep Co puts comfort at the forefront to make sleepless nights a thing of the past. This mask has a calming cloud-like feel with super soft padding over the eyes that acts as total blackout to light pollution, while also muffling out sound. It is made from 22 momme pure mulberry silk - a fabric that is hypoallergenic, lightweight and breathable.
Atlantic Blankets Hug in a Box® Gift Set - Wool
When you can't wrap them in a huge hug in person, allow Atlantic Blankets to offer a helping hand. Its gift set includes a snuggly herringbone wool blanket available in a wealth of colours (we like the kelp green for its lifting benefits), a mood-boosting candle and some Cornish chocolate too.