Is your brain rotted? Are you holding space? Do you like your suitcase? Were you Brat and did you do the Apple dance? Do you constantly ask, 'who is this diva?!' Have you decided to delete your mental health so you can focus more on social media?

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, congratulations: you’re not unhinged and extremely online. But it is highly likely that you know someone – a Gen Z niece, a ‘you girls keep me young’ millennial, a podcast listening cousin – whose phone is permanently attached to their being (physically, mentally and spiritually), whose screen time is out of control and who really, truly needs to go and touch grass. Maybe that person is you! Maybe, that person is me...

Whoever it is in your life, help them put down their phone, fight the brain rot and exist in the real world for a bit, with one of these tangible gifts.

Agaric Fly Incense in ‘Deep Forest’ and Makarori, $25 each for a pack of 15, from Kiosk

Help them bring a little bit of nature home with these incense from Melbourne brand Agaric Fly and sold locally at homeware store Kiosk. They have a range of scents, but try Deep Forest - which smells of fern, paw paw and wet concrete - or Makarori - seaweed, oakmoss and earth - will help them unplug and be at one with the planet.

Art Grounds paper making kit, $75

What's more offline than handmaking your own paper?

The Important Flowers planner, $70, from Lamplight Books

A pink linen-bound diary by Sofia Coppola?! Your iCal simply can’t top this loveliness.

Ars secateurs, $65

There’s just something about getting out into the garden on a sunny day and cutting shit. I’m obsessed with these Japanese secateurs which come in a range of colours (mine are lilac) and sit in the hand, and your smartphone pinky, beautifully.

Kowtow foliage tee, $139

If they can’t get to the forest to unwind, let them wear it instead.

A ticket to a show, like Laneway, from $205; An Evening with David Sedaris, from $50; or a night of dance with the Royal NZ Ballet

Gifting an experience is a classic move, and there are heaps of great shows in early 2025 to choose from. Because nothing gets you out of your own head, and off your phone, quite like gathering with 1000+ other like-minded people in a heaving crowd. Bonus points if it's for an outdoor festival like Laneway.

Lettuce x Rachel Mayne puzzle, $52

Force them to focus their mind and use their hands in other ways by starting or adding to their puzzle collection. This one features an intricate flower garden artwork by Auckland painter and clinical psychologist that’s detailed enough that it would take a decent chunk of time and dedication to complete. Bonus: Lettuce puzzles’ click-factor is endorsed by Ensemble’s resident jigsaw expert Rebecca.

A restaurant voucher

Like most industries, hospitality has been hit hard this year by reduced consumer spending, high inflation and the general stink vibe. So buying someone you love a voucher to their favourite restaurant – or one they have talked about wanting to visit — means you’re supporting a small business and encouraging them to get off their phone, out of the house and have some real life conversations.

If you’re after inspiration, two owner-operated options: Gemmayze Street in St Kevin’s Arcade won Viva’s Restaurant of the Year, while Forest on Dominion Road won Metro’s top award (both are fantastic and Ensemble approved, too).

Acme ‘Bobby’ mug, $21 to $32

The best mug out there, according to me. The ‘Bobby’ is sturdy and holds 300ml of liquid, so you can sit and make tea time last for a while (as it should). Karen Walker’s collaboration with the Wellington-brand comes in a range of chic muted colours this year.

It’s Book O’Clock tote bag, $45, from The Open Book 

Nobody needs another tote bag but this one features a prescient reminder – and would make a thoughtful gift packed with a physical book or two. Like one of these:

Rivals by Jilly Cooper

A surefire way to get a TikTok addict who has obliterated their attention span to put down their phone and focus? Reading smut. This 1988 literary classic is a must-read for those who enjoyed this year’s Disney TV adaptation, and if they really get into it, they’ll have all of the other Jilly Cooper Rutshire Chronicles to make their way through.

‍Past the Tower, Under the Tree, $45

If their tastes are a little more… cerebral, this 216-page pocket-sized book features 12 essays about “learning in the community” – encouraging us to think about teaching, education and life lessons beyond the traditional lecture halls and classrooms. With contributions from Edith Amituanai, Dominic Hoey, Areez Katki and many more, think of it as the charming opposite of a surface level TikTok explainer, Instagram carousel or other online hot take.

Organic Vegetable Gardening: A month-by-month guide to growing your own food, $45

We love Xanthe White, the clever landscape designer and author behind this handy book that will softly encourage those with texting thumb rather than a green one to get outdoors and start growing (also a great gift for those who lost their jobs this year).

Kacey Musgraves’ Deeper Well on vinyl, $71

This album instils an instant introspective mood that makes you feel like all your troubles are being blown away by the wild power of nature.

Caitlin Snell bow dog lead, $139 

Encourage meandering, phone free walks outdoors with this one-off accessory from one of Ensemble’s favourite designers. It’s described as an ‘editorial’ piece so would really only work for small, chill and very well-behaved dogs.

A candle that smells like grass

Like Sybs’ Full Bush, $30 (blue sage, fresh grass, vetiver, french lavender and sandalwood) or Crushes’ Fresh Cut Grass, $25 (“fresh and green”). A fancy and expensive option is Boy Smells’ Farm to Candle Herbaceous, $90 (basil leaf, peppery mint, grass, eucalyptus and ginger root).