16 Mother’s Day Gifts For the Mom Who Needs a Mental Break

One universal truth exists in this world and it’s that moms, for some reason, really love decorative rocks and water features. I do not make the rules but am merely an observer of this phenomenon. If you ever lose your mother in a TJ Maxx, odds are the gravitational pull of the garden decor has her somewhere in its grasp. This highly rated tabletop water fountain has a quiet, built-in pump and handy on-off switch for cleaning. This and a book on meditation or mindfulness could be a great way to *nudge nudge* her into taking some time off.

If your mom is a planner (or aspires to be) this is for her. This limited-edition planner box was curated to make it easier to start and stick with a mental fitness routine. Inside the quilted dust bag you’ll find a 90-page discbound journal with three different planner inserts, mood stickers, page flags, gel pens, and much more. Plus, it’s customizable and sustainable, so she can add, remove, or rearrange pages to fit her needs.

If I’m a writer who works in my pajamas all day, is physically tethered to my emotional support water bottle, and still manages to be perpetually dehydrated, it’s safe to assume most mothers running after their kids are probably also not getting enough water and can feel like shit as a result. Encourage your mom to take care of this basic need with an ever-trendy Stanley Cup. Not only is it handy enough to fit in her car cup holder, it’s also a status item that lets other people in the Panera drive-thru know she’s got a kid that cares enough to get her a Real Stanley™.

Recent versions of the Kindle Paperwhite are water resistant, making these ultra-light e-readers perfect for relaxing in the tub, by the pool, or on water-based family vacations. If you want to be an extra conscientious kid, go to your local library and get your mom a library card (though, she probably already has one) so she can sign into Libby or OverDrive on said new Kindle. These library-partnered apps will let your mom borrow books and magazines that sync up to her Kindle for free (a quality moms fully appreciate).

If you’re on a budget, this sleep companion, made of plush memory foam, is probably the best gift you can get your sleep-deprived mother. I personally have one and bought them for friends and family who love them as much as I do. It’s contoured so it doesn’t press down on your eyelids but completely blocks out all light. Since getting this puppy, I’m sleeping better than ever. Mom deserves the same, TBH!

This 60-minute ticker is a great tool for moms who need a visual reminder of how much time they’re dedicating to a task. It also has a “mute” feature they can use instead of a loud buzzer that threatens to wake napping babies (fair). When they do, they’ll see a colored disk get smaller and smaller, representing how much time is left.

Moms who dabble in staying ~grounded~ would love this therapist-recommended book. Like New York’s hottest club, it has everything: Exercises to help identify their values, plus simple ways to dissect and understand complex thoughts.

Look, AirPod Pros are cool and all, but you gotta get your mom a pair with bone conduction, which lets her listen to music while being totally aware of her surroundings. After all, there’s nothing more mom-like than worrying about not hearing oncoming cars or an incoming call on the house landline. JFYI: If she’s suffered from vertigo or had balance issues in the past, bone conduction may not be for her. In that case, you may want to look into these headphones, which still let her hear outside noise without the bone conduction technology.

This machine does kind of look like a Roomba, but in my book, 4.5 stars over 14,000 reviews is worth paying attention to. This futuristic foot massager uses deep-kneading compression, shiatsu techniques, and heat to soothe your mom’s feet after a long day at work or running errands. Even more exciting: It comes with a remote.

These scented shower pods encourage Mom to find little ways to make mundane tasks a little more enjoyable. Plop one on the shower floor (but not directly under the water please!), and wait for the aromatherapy to kick in.

Part of mental health and fitness is showing yourself compassion for the variety of totally normal feelings we’re blessed with as humans. And you know what? One of those emotions is rage. If your mom studied at the University of Bottling Things Up, having “permission” to vent and rage in a safe space like a rage journal can help her relieve stress and let go of any shame and guilt she might have. This tongue-in-cheek journal has prompts, stickers, mood trackers, and more. Think of it like a gratitude journal’s edgier cousin.

The delightful days of slime hauls may be over, but fidget toy culture definitely left its mark. Don’t believe me? This bestselling stress ball (or cube) is selling for $15…and, baby, it’s worth it! The NeeDoh Nice Cube is a gooey, slow-rising, squishy toy that always bounces back to its original form. It’s washable with soap and water and is perfect for your mom to mindlessly smoosh and smush when she’s on the phone with Verizon, relitigating your right to stay on the family plan as a 30-year-old. (Thanks, Ma!)

If your mom is like mine, a pair of Hokas will change her life. After years of wearing high heels that left her with terrible foot pain, she’s been able to finally go on hot girl mom walks again thanks to a pair of these chunky-but-uber-supportive-and-plushy sneakers. Snag your mother a pair in a fun color (the peach or dark blue ones are my mom’s fave) and maybe join her on a nature walk at your local park for a nice mental health break.

Speaking of mindful movement, a brief yoga flow can help your mother redirect her stress or overwhelm into a calming activity. Encourage her to get moving when she’s feeling stuck by gifting her this affordable yoga mat that comes in tons of designs, has stellar reviews, and is versatile enough for different exercises. Pair this with a Youtube yoga playlist thoughtfully curated by you and you’re all set!

This adorable 3-in-1 device acts as a night light, noise machine with seven different sounds, and a timed meditation guide for any mom who struggles to chill out before bed. By following the amount of time the owl is lit up, she can practice a 4-7-8 breathing exercise where she inhales for four seconds, holds for seven, and exhales for eight.

Has your mom watched everything on Netflix twice already? Before she dives into funny animal Youtube compilations again, maybe redirect her attention with something new and novel, like a niche streaming add-on. Encourage her to recharge and find a new comfort TV fave with a BritBox subscription, which is full of BBC programs (programmes, even!) perfect for moms that are fans of that 1995 BBC Pride and Prejudice adaptation.