A millennial therapist says this is the No. 1 gift for young people

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)

My PA Planner

A millennial therapist says this is the No. 1 gift for young people—and it's not money (2024)

Why it's the perfect millennial gift

Paper planners are still relevant

Picking the right planner