Some people don't want more stuff. They want to learn a language, read more, sleep better or finally pick up the camera they bought years ago. These gifts help them do exactly that, and most of them start right on January 1st.
Most picks are digital and can be delivered instantly by email (look for the ⚡ badge). We've added a few physical tools for better sleep, focus and recovery, too.
MasterClass
MasterClass Annual Gift Membership
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Why it's a great gift: Learn from the best in their field: cooking, writing, photography, leadership and more, for a whole year.
Blinkist
Blinkist Premium 1-Year Gift
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Why it's a great gift: Big ideas from 9,000+ nonfiction titles in 15-minute summaries. A daily reading habit that actually sticks.
Babbel
Babbel Lifetime Gift (All 14 Languages)
$239 on Babbel's site, November 10, 2026
Why it's a great gift: The resolution that lasts for good: lifetime access to all 14 languages.
Babbel
Babbel 12-Month Gift Subscription
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Why it's a great gift: A year to get conversational before next summer's trip.
Skillshare
Skillshare Gift Membership (3, 6 or 12 Months)
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Why it's a great gift: For the creative learner: illustration, design, photo, video and freelancing classes.
Headspace
Headspace Gift Subscription
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Why it's a great gift: Better sleep and less stress are the self-improvement gifts most people never buy for themselves.
Rakuten Kobo
Rakuten Kobo eGift Card
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Why it's a great gift: Let them build their own reading list for the new year, on a Kobo eReader or in the Kobo app.
Everand
Everand Gift Subscription
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Why it's a great gift: Turn the commute into reading time with ebooks and audiobooks in one app.
Storyworth
Storyworth (one year of stories + printed book)
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Why it's a great gift: Weekly writing prompts that become a printed book. A reflective project for a parent or grandparent.
Hatch
Hatch Restore Sunrise Alarm & Sleep Machine
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Why it's a great gift: A sunrise alarm for a calmer morning routine. Great for anyone building better sleep habits.
Loop Earplugs
Loop Quiet 2 Earplugs
$19.95 on Loop Earplugs' site, November 10, 2026
Why it's a great gift: Soft earplugs for deep focus while studying, reading or working in a busy home.
Therabody
Theragun Mini Massage Gun
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Why it's a great gift: For the new-year fitness plan: a compact massage gun for sore muscles after workouts.
Our gift-giving tips
- Match the gift to a goal they've mentioned out loud: a trip, a hobby, a reading challenge.
- Longer memberships often cost less per month. Check the options on each brand's gift page.
- Add a personal note with a small promise, like 'I'll practice Spanish with you every Sunday.'
Questions & answers
What is a good gift for someone who wants to learn something new?
An online learning membership like MasterClass or Skillshare, a language course from Babbel, or Blinkist for nonfiction book summaries.
Are these subscriptions automatically renewed?
Gift memberships are usually prepaid for a fixed period. The gift pages of the brands explain what happens when the gift period ends, so check before you buy.
Prices shown were checked on each brand's website on the date given and may change at any time, especially during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Where we couldn't verify a price, we show "See price".
