Helping people create ease at home is what I do for a living. This holiday season, I’ve been thinking less about stuff and more about support. What if our holiday wishlists were full of things that actually make life lighter?
I’m sure you’ve already noticed that Christmas marketing is well under way, kicking off that cycle where we skip Thanksgiving and go straight to Black Friday. This is the season where marketers wish us to equate love and care with spending and stuff.
Another, better way to show how much we care is to talk with the people in our lives and share that we want to give them something that truly creates ease for them—something that adds to their joy or lightens their load.
Many of us suffer quietly under the weight of all the unfinished tasks in our lives. We have lists of things that “should” get done but in the face of more pressing priorities, never quite make it to the top. I can’t be the only one wishing someone would just take care of some of these items on my list for me or make space for me to do them myself.
What if someone did? What if we gave and asked for gifts that eased our burdens or enabled us to spend our time in joy instead of obligation? The only way any gift-giver in your life would know what could truly help is if they ask, or if we tell them!
Why I’m Asking for Services, Not Stuff
In this phase of my life, I am all about services as gifts.
As a toddler mom, I don’t need another candle; I need a clean refrigerator. I need gutters that actually work. I need an unexpected hour to myself.
This season, I’ve been thinking about what it would look like to create a wishlist not of things, but of support. Because what many of us really crave isn’t more stuff—it’s more space. More peace. More ease.
The Gift of Ease: Service Ideas to Add to Your Wishlist
A “service gift” could absolutely be pampering—like a massage, pedicure, or facial—but it could also be taking care of an errand or project you haven’t had the time or energy to do yourself.
We’re all stretched thin these days—our time, money, and energy are in such limited supply. So, ask for (or give!) the gift of a burden removed and a task completed.
Here are a few service gift ideas to consider:
Beauty & Personal Care
In the midst of a busy life where all of my priorities are competing for my limited budget and time, it is so easy for me to put off getting a haircut.
Haircut, blowout, or color appointment
Facial
Manicure or pedicure
Lash lift and tint
Home Services
These are the ever-present mental burdens we see throughout our days at home and in a flash we register that we’re not taking care of them, recognize we haven’t the bandwidth or budget to take care of them, and then carry on with the mental burden of an unaddressed task.
Carpet cleaning
Window or power washing
Gutter cleaning
Dryer vent cleaning
Minor home repairs
Yardwork
Everyday Ease
You know the nights when you just wish someone else was responsible for getting all your laundry done or making sure the bathroom is presentable? Ask for it!
Grocery delivery or meal kit subscription
Prepared “heat & eat” meals from a delicious local restaurant or service
Laundry or wash-and-fold service
House cleaning service (one-time deep clean or recurring visits)
Appliance cleaning service
Professional organizing session (hi, that’s me! But only give these if discussed ahead of time!)
Personal Style
Personal stylist or shopping session
Tailoring or bespoke clothing
Color analysis
Makeup education session
Piercing appointment
Car Care
As I type this, my car is MONTHS overdue for a wash. I’ll wash it eventually, but I would be incredibly grateful to receive a mobile handwash – one less errand I have to coordinate!
Car wash
Detail service
Repair or maintenance (Ever have an overdue oil change?)
Health & Wellness
Acupuncture
Massage
Sauna or bathhouse visit
Head spa
Tech Services
Digitization services (photos, home videos, slides, etc.)
Personal tech support session (think GeekSquad help with that one stubborn issue)
Classes or workshops to teach new tech skills
Password organizer setup and instruction
Pets
Walking
Grooming
Petsitting
Boarding
Low-Cost or No-Cost Service Gifts
Sometimes, the best gifts just require time, thought, and care. Many of the above could be given or received for little to no money, but here are two additional idea to explore asking for or gifting.
Babysitting – for a date night, nap, solo errand run, or taking kids out of the house for some alone time at home)
Post-holiday cleanup – taking down lights, putting away decorations, tree disposal, vacuuming
A Note on Thoughtfulness
Of course, not every service gift fits every person. Some people would be thrilled to receive a cleaning service or have a home project taken off their plate, while others might interpret it differently.
It’s not exactly a gift of ease if I have to drop everything to prep for carpet cleaners who show up unexpectedly. When in doubt, make sure the gift is truly wanted and can be scheduled at the receiver’s convenience.
The goal isn’t just to do something for someone—it’s to give them back a bit of freedom.
How to Ask for These Gifts
If you’re the one making a wishlist, take a few minutes to reflect on what would truly make your life lighter in the coming months. Ask yourself:
What tasks do I keep putting off because I don’t have time or energy?
What experiences actually make me feel rested or cared for?
What would make my daily life easier?
Write your answers down somewhere, ideally somewhere easily shareable. Start an email draft or a note on your phone that you can easily send on to someone asking for your wishlist. Then, be specific when you share your wishlist. Instead of saying “anything is fine,” try:
“Honestly, a gift card for a cleaning service would make my whole month.”
“If you’re looking for ideas, I’d love a massage or a grocery delivery gift card.”
Give—and Ask for—Ease
This year, let’s shift the focus from more stuff to more support. Thoughtful service gifts remind us that care doesn’t always come wrapped in a box. Sometimes, the most meaningful gifts are the ones that free us up to breathe, rest, or simply be.
Because at the end of the day, that’s what most of us need.
Kelley Jonkoff is a home organizer and founder of Unfolde Home Organizing. She helps people make space for what matters—less clutter, more calm, and a whole lot more ease.