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It’s that time of year again. Have a graduate student on your holiday shopping list and need a last-minute gift idea? Our GradHackers have a few suggestions for you:
Patrick Bigsby: No one would ever confuse me with a fitness enthusiast, but I do like to be active, or at least fidgeting. But, like a lot of grad students, I spend a lot of time at a desk, in meetings, in class, or another environment where doing anything other than sitting quietly earns you funny looks. Fortunately, I’ve discovered hand strengtheners and found a way to burn my excess energy sitting in a seminar while also (hopefully!) turning my hands into freakish vise grips. I like the models with individual finger resistance so I can feel the burn in my pinkies. This is a great gift for grad students who are always trying to squeeze in an extra workout or have a lot of nervous energy to burn.
Anne Guarnera: One of the biggest mistakes that I made in my first two years of grad school was to abandon the practice of reading for pleasure. While I enjoyed most of the literature that I read for my Master’s, reading exclusively for school stole the fun out of the activity. Then I discovered Audible.com, which revived my reading life. Now, even in a particularly intense season of life, I’m generally able to read 1-2 “fun” books a week, using my Kindle Paperwhite and Audible’s Whispersync service. So for grad students who love literature (and especially for those who are studying it!), consider an Audible.com subscription. If you need some specific book recommendations, perhaps start with: Dracula (read by Tim Curry!), Middlemarch, Jane Eyre, and Yes Please.
Heather VanMouwerik: My struggles with back pain are well-documented here on GradHacker. Thankfully, I am mostly out of the woods and feeling much healthier. Part of the credit for this goes to my trusty backpack, which allows me to carry a lot of books without tilting to the side and throwing out my back. It took me forever to find the perfect one: a professional bag that had a protected pouch for my laptop and built-in organization and that was comfortable. After several false starts, I fell hopelessly in love with the Soho Women’s Backpack by Ogio. Most backpacks are designed for men with their straight lines and broad shoulders, but this one has curved shoulder straps which get thinner towards the base, which are designed to be comfortable on women. And they are! Although it is a bit pricey ($110), I have used mine everyday for more than a year and it still looks pristine. So, I say, give the gift of a healthy back and give your favorite grad student a new backpack!
Shira Lurie: Wireless headphones are my new obsession. I recently purchased this pair by SoundPEATS (if you’re worried about sound quality, you should probably spring for a more expensive pair). Not having to worry about a cord seems like a small thing, but I have found it endlessly liberating. I can keep my phone in my bag or jacket while commuting, I can walk around my office with ease, and I can pause, change songs, and answer calls without unlocking my phone. This particular pair is also noise-cancelling, which is great for blocking out departmental gossip and other distractions while working on campus. Whether the grad student in your life has an iPhone 7 or not, wireless headphones are perfect for anyone who wants to blend action and convenience in their audio experience.
Natascha Chtena: Even though eating healthy is very important to me and I generally love to cook, sometimes I get tired of all the food prep, dishes and cleaning. Other times, I just don't have the time to prepare an elaborate meal - something I'm sure most grad students can relate to. Enter the Instant Pot, a magical (quite literally) kitchen gadget that does the job of a slow cooker, electric pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, sauté/browning pan, and warming pot. With the Instant Pot you can cook dry beans in 55 minutes, lasagna or a whole chicken in 20, a frozen (yes, frozen) chuck roast in 40 minutes and you can rest assured that everything will be cooked to perfection. You just throw everything into the pot, press a button and viola, you have one great meal! Yes, it's pricey but it's the perfect kitchen gadget for your time-strapped grad student.
Danielle Marias: As my defense date neared, I devoted the majority of my time to my dissertation and less time to staying connected to friends and family. A great gift for the disconnected, stressed grad student would be a gift certificate and/or plans to grab coffee or dinner to catch up. Grad school can feel isolating so any effort to connect with loved ones is welcomed.
Graduate students: what would you like to get for the holidays this year? Let us know in the comments!
[Image provided by Flickr user Gilberto Gonzalez and used under a Creative Commons license]
