Easter baskets conjure up images of chocolate bunnies, plastic eggs and weird, multicolored, drugstore socks no one would wear in their lifetime. Skip the sweets this year and keep in mind these little additions that make a big difference during this stressful time in the semester. Whether gifting or receiving, these gifts will put a smile on any student’s face.

Gift cards

Most college students are struggling to keep money in their bank accounts until tax refunds arrive, so a gift card is a perfect addition to any Easter basket. A gift card could mean a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks, 1015 W. Lincoln Highway, or one to Rosati’s Pizza, 930 Pappas Drive, for a deep dish cheese pizza to accompany a late-night study session.

Pampering products

Relieve stress with soothing products such as face masks, lotions and scented candles. Freshman nursing major Allison Richardson said she’s asking her mom to add face masks to her basket to help her get through finals.

“There’s a definite correlation between how stressed I am and how much I break out,” Richardson said. “Something as simple as a face mask really helps my skin and relaxes me.”

Toiletries

One of the most irritating things to wake up to is an empty shampoo bottle and a tube of toothpaste squeezed down to the last drop. Travel-size toiletries are a cute addition and big help to students, providing daily essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste and deodorant.

Trace Engelkes, senior corporate communication major, said he appreciates these little yet extremely helpful additions to his Easter basket. Many college students don’t have the energy to remember every time their shower needs replenishing.

“[I] always used to get a swimsuit in [my] baskets,” Engelkes said. “A swimsuit and toiletries were a great thing to get when summertime rolled around.”

Chocolate Bunny

A chocolate bunny is the staple of any Easter basket worth digging into. Chocolate is suggested to keep the brain healthy and improve cognitive function, according to a 2016 study by the Nutritional Physiology Research Centre at the University of South Australia. Munching on those chocolate ears may prove to increase test scores as students roll into finals.