5 unique BK gifts for the stressed-out grad student

Slide something better under your favorite scholar's IKEA furniture this year. Image via Flickr. — Slide something better under your favorite scholar’s IKEA furniture this year. Image via Flickr.

As that one friend in grad school often tells you, the pursuit of knowledge often comes at the expense of self-care. If this year’s secret Santa exchange has got you asking “What do you get for the overachieving friend who has everything (and just enrolled in grad school, so is definitely not sleeping)?” we’ve got you covered. These gifts will be sure to soothe anyone who needs a little R&R, but is too zonked out (or broke) to make it happen.

Winter break is the perfect time to uncurl them from their 16-hour post-finals sleep. Let them wake up to your thoughtful gifts for relaxation and rejuvenation from these unique vendors at Williamsburg’s Artists & Fleas, open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am until 7pm.

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Sheawa Facial Mask
The strain on eye muscles to remain awake in a grad school lecture on the history of box manufacturing is real. We advise you get the scholar in your life a luxurious and all natural face mask to give them a much needed A for effort. Choose between Activated Charcoal Powder, which removes the impurities of library air, and Pomegranate Fruit Powder, which has anti-aging benefits.

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Tamara Garvey Illustration Print

Tamara Garvey “Hang in there, bitch” Print
This one is more for next semester rather than winter break. For the straight-talking student who is motivated more by half-eaten donuts than tired cats, this wall art does double duty providing some much needed motivation while simultaneously reassuring you that, hey, we all got to eat our feelings sometimes. Probably not the best gift for the student who’s moved back home, especially if mom and dad are more apt to display Precious Moments figurines than taxidermy.

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Real Bearded Men Beard Kit Knoll
Real Bearded Men Beard Kit
Grad school can be an unfortunate time for facial hair. Without a job, your friend has probably taken the time to try one too many types of signature mustaches, or developed a really bad case of neck beard. It’s time for a subtle intervention. This comprehensive beard rescue kit contains Nature’s Breeze and The Gentlemen varieties of Beard Oil, one container of Hemp Leave-in Conditioner, and a beard comb, all in a handsome wooden box. They are made in the USA with 100% all natural ingredients, which is essential for the labor studies and/or ecology student.

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125 Collection - Namast'ay in Bed Candle $32
Namast’ay “In Bed” Candle
A scented candle for when “In Bed” really means sitting on a mattress surrounded by a clothing mountain-range, typing away on a laptop. Namast’ay candles contain 100% soy wax, lead-free wicks, and are made with the highest quality of essential oils, so the scents will really reach the nooks and crannies of space between textbooks and take-out containers. Each one burns for up to 80 hours, which is enough time for writing eight to twelve term papers, and for the panic attacks surrounding the time between them.

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Chacana Blanket $120
Chacana Blanket
When your friend is basically wearing a blanket at all times, it should at least be nice enough for other humans to see. These brightly colored Chacana blankest are made in Ecuador and will keep any academic looking snug and stylish for an impromptu late-night cramming selfie. It’s also perfect for covering the unintentional game of dish Jenga in their bedroom–just in time for cuffing season!