London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jul 19, 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
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
×