London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 08, 2025

A millennial therapist says this is the No. 1 gift for young people-and it's not money

A millennial therapist says this is the No. 1 gift for young people-and it's not money

A therapist asked her millennial patients what's on their holiday wish list this year. Here's what they said -and why it makes perfect sense.

Having been a millennial therapist for the past six years, I often hear people complain about how difficult it is to shop for a generation that seems to want -but already has -everything.

So for the past couple of months, I’ve been asking my 20- and 30-something-year-old patients about what’s on their wish list this year. I’ve gotten a variety of responses -money, an Apple Watch, AirPods, gift cards, essential oils, a plane ticket to Bali.

But there’s one surprising item that kept coming up: a planner.


Why it’s the perfect millennial gift

I know, I know. A planner? Really?! Isn’t that so ... cliche?

But hear me out: After countless conversations with millennials, I’ve found that what young people struggle with the most is having to choose from too many options: “I have too many choices. Which should I choose? Too many things to do. What should I prioritize? I’m worried I’ll make all the wrong decisions.”

Yes, decision fatigue is a real thing, especially in a world that overloads us with information and puts an immense pressure on us to succeed. Trying to do the right thing or attempting to do everything all at once can be stressful, overwhelming and often lead to burnout.

This is where the planner comes in, and I’m not talking about the type that only allows you to jot down birthday reminders and every single task you think you need to complete. A planner is most effective when it’s used to create order, direction and clarity about your goals and what you really want to accomplish.

For millennials, it’s the perfect tool to help untangle the complex mess of modern life.


Paper planners are still relevant

In the age of advanced technology, one might think that paper planners would have gone extinct by now. But industry research firm NPD reported that planner sales in the US increased by more than $50 million from 2016 to 2017, from $290.7 million to $344.1 million.

For millennials, [a planner] is the perfect tool to help untangle the complex mess of modern life.
Furthermore, studies have found that the act of writing things down can have a calming effect — the kind of relief you don’t get when you’re typing things in the notes section of your smartphone (while a text message notification rolls down from the top of the screen).

A millennial patient of mine acknowledged that, as a millennial, he might not seem like the “paper planner” type. But he’s actually been using one since grade school. “It’s not just about scheduling meetings and appointments. It’s about self-improvement,” he told me. “If I’m having a bad day, I can open it tomorrow and see it as a chance to start over.”

One female in her early-30s uses her planner to practice self-care; she schedules in “me time” several times a month. The sections to write down her personal goals and weekly expenses “are also ways to keep track of my life,” she said.


Picking the right planner

Thoughtfulness and personalization is key, especially if you want to emphasize the fact that you care about the giftee and want to see them succeed.

There are a variety of ways to do this. You can pencil in words of encouragement, like a quote from their favorite author or movie, for example. Last year, a friend of mine gifted planners to his team of millennial employees. In each planner, he scheduled a one-on-one coffee lunch to catch up with the person.

Here are some of my favorite 2020 planners to give to millennials this year:

1. My PA Planner ($39)

I love this planner’s daily health and wellness checker, which helps you stay on top of your health and fitness goals.

Favorite features:

Comes with a one-year subscription to MY PA’s private Facebook community (for ongoing support, accountability, tips and networking)
Monthly gratitude journal
Idea and inspiration vault


2. kikki.K B6 Personal Planner ($45)

This stylish planner comes in a vegan-friendly, croc-textured design and has a secure zip closure with internal pockets to keep all your important documents safe.

Ringed binding (so you can refill the pages and use it again next year)
Weekly tabs and dividers
Blank notepad for journaling


3. Daily Passion Planner ($35)

This planner includes a Passion Roadmap section for you to define your short- and long-term goals and break them down into smaller, actionable steps.

Lots of fun sections for journaling (Good Things That Happened, Space of Infinite Possibility, Monthly Reflections)
For each planner sold, $1 benefits American Forests, a non-profit that works to restore threatened forest ecosystems
Inspirational quotes


4. STARTplanner Hustle Weekly Planner ($62)

This one can double as a financial planner, thanks to a comprehensive section where you can break down your expenses (e.g., transportation, insurance, utilities, TV, Internet, food, phone, health, entertainment).

Financial overview and goals section
Vacation planner (packing lists, attractions, restaurants, things to do and buy)
The whimsical design adds a nice touch

5. Workspacery Refresh Weekly Planner ($39.95)

To make your giftee feel extra special, you can customize this planner with a name, company name, short phrase or fun quote (up to 14 characters per line).

Gratitude notes section
Strategic goal-planning framework
Intentional space highlighting weekly action steps


6. Dailygreatness Vagami Self-Leadership Planner ($99)

This planner is reusable and made of vegan leather, so you can save money and the planet.

Self-leadership focused questions
Comprehensive goal-planning system
Weekly, quarterly and yearly growth check-ins


7. MochiThings Planner S ($22.95)

This compact planner comes in a variety of beautiful colors and includes yearly, monthly and weekly planning sections.

Favorite features:

Small and portable (fits anywhere)
Attached bookmarks, pockets and even a pen holder
398 pages of dated daily note pages
Tess Brigham is a San Francisco-based psychotherapist and certified life coach. She has more than 10 years of experience in the field and primarily works with millennials and millennial parents.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
OpenAI Launches GPT‑5, Its Most Advanced AI Model Yet
Embarrassment in Britain: Homelessness Minister Evicted Tenants and Forced to Resign
President Trump nominated Stephen Miran, his top economic adviser and a critic of the Federal Reserve, to temporarily fill an open Fed seat
The AI-Powered Education Revolution: Market Potential and Transformative Impact
Chikungunya Virus Outbreak in Southern China: Over 7,000 Hospitalized
French wine makers have seen catastrophic damage to vines that were almost ready to be harvested after the worst fires in more than 70 years burned through the south of the country
US Lawmaker Probes Intel CEO’s China Ties Amid National Security Concerns
Brazilian President Lula says he’ll contact the leaders of BRICS states to propose a unified response to U.S. tariffs
Trump Open to Meeting Putin as Soon as Next Week, with Possible Trilateral Summit Including Zelenskiy
Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau spark dating rumors, joining high stakes world of celeb-politician romances
US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow to seek a breakthrough in the Ukraine war ahead of President Trump’s peace deadline
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Karol Nawrocki Inaugurated as Poland’s President, Setting Stage for Clash with Tusk Government
Trump Signals JD Vance as ‘Most Likely’ MAGA Successor for 2028
US Charges Two Chinese Nationals for Illegal Nvidia AI Chip Exports
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
U.S. Tariff Policy Triggers Market Volatility Amid Growing Global Trade Tensions
Tariffs, AI, and the Shifting U.S. Macro Landscape: Navigating a New Economic Regime
Representative Greene Urges H-1B Visa Cuts Amid U.S.-India Trade Tensions
U.S. House Committee Subpoenas Clintons and Senior Officials in Epstein Investigation
Sydney Sweeney Registered as Republican as Controversial American Eagle Ad Sparks Debate
Trump Accuses Major Banks of Politically Motivated Account Denials and Prepares Executive Order
TikTok Removes Huda Kattan Video Over Anti-Israel Conspiracy Claims
Trump Threatens Tariffs on India Over Russian Oil Imports
German Finance Minister Criticizes Trump’s Attacks on Institutions
U.S. Proposes Visa Bond of Up to $15,000 for Some Applicants
U.S. Farmers Increase Lobbying Amid Immigration Crackdown
Elon Musk Receives $23.7 Billion Tesla Stock Award
Texas House Paralyzed After Democrats Walk Out Over Redistricting
Mexican Cartels Complicate Sheinbaum’s U.S. Security Talks
Mark Zuckerberg Declares War on the iPhone
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
Tesla Seeks Shareholder Approval for $29 Billion Compensation Package for Elon Musk
Nvidia is cutting prices on its RTX 50-series graphics cards after sales slowed and inventories piled up
Ghislaine Maxwell Transferred to Minimum-Security Prison Amid Ongoing DOJ Discussions
U.S. Tariffs Surge to Highest Levels in Nearly a Century Under Second Trump Term
Matt Taibbi Slams Media for Role in Russiagate Narrative
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
×