Best Guide to Holiday Gifts for the Professional Woman

Looking for that perfect holiday gift for a professional woman on your gift list? Perhaps you need an office gift exchange for a co-worker? Or maybe a recent college graduate just starting her career? Here are a no-fail, sure to please holiday gifts.

The first step to choosing a gift for anyone, professional and career women included, is to know your price range. If it's a holiday gift exchange, that part is already done for you, as an amount is usually set. A rule of thumb in all gift-giving is to buy gifts you can afford. The amount you spend on the gift should also be commensurate with the depth of your friendship. I don't mean that you have to spend more on close friends; I mean that it's awkward to buy an expensive gift for someone you barely know or who cannot reciprocate in kind. Most people like to give reciprocal gifts; if someone spends $250 on me, I can't afford to purchase a gift in that price range, and I will feel uncomfortable giving a $20 gift in exchange.

The next step is to know the recipient's situation. Is this gift for a college student just beginning her career? In that case she will need things that the veteran career woman likely already has. It also helps to know what career this woman works in: business, education, medicine, social work, law. That will help you tailor your gift-giving. One last bit of advice about gift-giving: gifts should be about relaxation and entertainment. Avoid buying strictly work-related gifts. She may be the most Type A, OCD, driven career person you know; all the more reason to pamper her with gifts that bring pleasure, not work. Here a gifts that meet those needs:

-A sturdy, padded carry-all handbag or briefcase. This is an ideal gift for a career woman just starting out in the business world. Look for an attractive, yet functional and sturdy professional handbag with plenty for room for books, papers, digital items and personal items. Choose a bag that zips closed to protect from the elements. Make sure this case includes a padded laptop holder.

-An MP3 player with headphones. If she has a nice cell phone or other personal organizer device, give her a set of headphones or Bluetooth to adapt it for playing music files. Earphones work well for playing music from a laptop, Netbook or iPad, too. Some MP3 players are large enough to hold e-book files. If she enjoys reading, consider giving her an e-reader. You might also give her a cell phone. Professional women spend long hours driving or commuting in taxis, train or airplane.

-A spiritual or silent retreat. look into local retreat centers near to where she lives. Catholics and Buddhists both operate meditation centers. Other religions probably do as well. The benefit of a retreat, no matter what the religious affiliation, is that retreat participants spend time in relaxation, spiritual reflection and prayer. Even a completely non-religious person can benefit from the inner renewal available on retreat. Retreats focus on simplicity and are not typically expensive (about $50- $150 for a weekend).

-Day spa and massage treatment. After the daily grind, most professional women long to relax, and a day spa is the ideal way to do so. Spa Finder (click here) will help you locate, price and books local day spas. Can't afford day spa prices? Give her a DIY spa kit or spa basket. Many spa kits and massage tools are available priced under $20. Another idea would be to give her a electric foot bath and massage. These are available in pharmacies for $20-$30. Make your own spa basket reasonably priced, too. Include any combination of bath salts, eye patch, head wrap, robe, towel, slippers, foot care products, manicure and pedicure tools, loofah, natural sponge, body brush, bath pillow and tub tray. Avoid buying specialty fragrance lotions and soaps unless you know her preferences. Some can cause allergic reactions.