Happy December 1! Of course, this is the day we all sit back and say, “where did the year go?” Does anyone have an answer, because I honestly don’t know? But on a more fun note, December 1 is also the first day of advent calendar season, which means people are starting to look for ideas. A lot of idea posts are dedicated to advent calendars for children, so I wanted to come here with some advent calendar filler ideas for adults.
Advent calendars are fun for all ages! I have enjoyed this tradition from my childhood up until now, as a 20-something-year-old, and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. So, if you are creating a calendar for someone who isn’t under 10-years old I have the list for you! Bonus, all of these ideas don’t involve chocolate or alcohol!
Don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate! There is nothing like a piece of delicious chocolate to bring some joy into my day. But sometimes, especially when thinking of gifts ideas for the holidays, I don’t feel like always giving everyone chocolate. It is such a common gift that I always end up with way too much if that is even possible.
No matter who you are creating an advent calendar for, I am sure you will find some fantastic ideas on this list! Creating an advent calendar can be difficult, but it can also be fun. Advent calendars are a great way to use your creativity and give some joy during the holiday season.
Bonus tip: To save even more money on advent calendar fillers, break up sets of products over multiple days. Make one purchase and it can be used for 10 or more different days!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links with Amazon. I make a small commission through these links with no impact on your purchase.
What is an Advent Calendar?
Christmas is full of traditions, and one that many families hold is the tradition of an advent calendar. I don’t know a lot about the history behind advent calendars, but you can check out this article on the Cottage Journal, talking about their origin.
The tradition, however, I have done since I was a child, and it has always been one of my favorite parts of Christmas. Advent Calendars are calendars with little doors, where each day is filled with a new gift. Some people do it for 25 days, each day of December leading up to Christmas, or for the 13 days before the holiday.
Each year, my mom would fill our family advent calendar with sweets and treats, and each morning, my sister and I would get to open up something new. It brings back such happy memories for me. The best part of the tradition is the creativity. There are so many different types of advent calendars for every interest and aesthetic. I love how unique and personal this tradition can be.
Advent calendars are a fantastic way to make December exciting for people of all ages. I was always so excited in the morning, knowing I had something to look forward to. It brought a little Christmas spirit to each day in December.
Advent Calendar Filler Ideas for Adults
1. Lip Balm
One of my favorite things to receive in advent calendars is practical stuff, and we can all use lip balm during the cold and dry winter months. Certain brands, like Chapstick, have holiday flavors that are perfect for this time of year.
This set from Amazon includes 6 different lip balms in a variety of flavors. You can include them all in one day, perhaps on Christmas Eve, or you can break it up, spreading them out throughout the month. Either way, these lip balms are fantastic. They are made from natural ingredients and are great for dry, cracked lips.
Click here to purchase from Amazon!
2. Small Hand Creams
Another practical gift in the dry winter months is hand cream. I love the small, 1 oz bottles that fit perfectly in my purse or backpack. I often forget to moisturize, so having them with me at all times is super helpful!
For more hints and tricks to avoiding dry skin, click here!
This set of 6 different scents is perfect for an advent calendar! 6 days are complete with this set!
Click here to purchase on Amazon!
3. Wool Socks
Like I have said, winter is cold. And you can never have too many warm socks. Everyone needs a good pair of wool socks for the holiday season.
This set of three wool socks from Amazon is fairly priced and comes in fantastic colors!
Click here to purchase on Amazon!
4. Tea
This one is perfect if you have a tea drinker in your life. As the weather gets cooler, tea becomes a great way to warm up at the end of the night.
This set from Twinings has all the holiday tea you might need. Some of my favorite winter teas are included in this set along with some delicious sticks of honey.
Click here to purchase on Amazon!
5. Candles
I love lighting up a holiday-scented candle this time of year. It is so cozy, with the ambiance and the scent drifting through the room. It makes me feel like I am in a Hallmark Christmas movie.
This set from Amazon has adorable Christmas-themed packaging and four yummy holiday-themed scents. They make the perfect stocking stuffers or advent calendar fillers for adults.
Click here to purchase from Amazon!
6. House Plants
Another popular gift during the holidays is house plants. Do you have a plant lover in your life? Why not surprise them with a couple of house plants in their advent calendar or stocking.
This pack from Amazon includes 6 different pet-friendly small plants. This is perfect to spread out in the month, giving one plant on 6 different days! Maybe the other days can have adorable pots for the plants!
Click here to purchase on Amazon!
7. Small Planters
As I mentioned, small planters would go fantastic with my other advent calendar filler ideas for adults! I can see it now, alternating days, where they first get a plant, and then the next day gets a pot for the plant.
This set from Amazon includes 6 adorable planters, a perfect match for the number of plants included in the set I linked above. These go with so many different decors and are the perfect size for baby house plants.
Click here to purchase on Amazon!
8. Book Marks
Do you have a reader in your life? They are sure to enjoy getting a bookmark in their advent calendar or stocking!
This set of 10 magnetic bookmarks are perfect for any book lover. They have a simple yet beautiful design and are a beautiful way to mark your page.
Click here to purchase on Amazon!
9. Stationary
Am I the only one who loves to collect stationary or office supplies? I might not always use it, but I love collecting and getting new stationery. So, if you have someone in your life who loves new notebooks or new erasers, give them some new office supplies in their advent calendar.
This set from Amazon comes with a little bit of everything and is so cute. It also comes in a variety of colors, so you can gear it to the aesthetic of the gift receiver!
Click here to purchase on Amazon!
10. Gift Cards
I know. Sometimes, giving a gift card as a gift can seem so impersonal. But it is also very useful. I have never been upset to get a gift card to my favorite store, or Amazon, where I can pick out whatever I want.
You can even get them in adorable holiday boxes right from the Amazon website!
Click here to purchase from Amazon!
Coming up with ideas for advent calendar fillers for adults can be hard. A lot of what you see in stores and online is geared towards kids. But participating in the tradition of advent calendars is for anyone of any age.
I would be thrilled to receive each one of these gifts this holiday season. For me, there is so much joy in the little things. The small candles and warm socks make me feel loved and cozy during the winter months.
For more gift-giving ideas, check out these gift guides!
Gifts for Teachers that They Actually Want
Gift Guide for Your Spooky BFF
Thanks for reading my advent calendar filler ideas for adults! Stay tuned for even more holiday fun this month!
6 Comments
I love love love the idea of tea! Especially since as soon as Dec. 1st hits all I want to do is get cozy on the couch with a warm drink and a book. I can’t believe I’ve never seen that idea before! Thanks for sharing!
Allison
https://thenutmegdiaries.com
Right?! Winter makes me want to curl up in bed with some warm tea and never leave I wish that was possible!
[…] you saw my blog post yesterday, then you know how much I love Advent Calendars. So, when I saw that Netflix released a movie about an advent calendar, I knew I had to […]
This is so well written! I agree so much with the wool socks idea – I wear mine all the time in December! They’re so cosy!
https://planebeauty.co.uk
Thank you! Wool socks are my lifeblood during the winter season! My feet get so cold if they aren’t wrapped up in warmth!
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