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The experts have spoken, and apparently they all want nice socks!

Doctors and other medical professionals deserve all the best gifts. That's especially true now, a few years into the pandemic, but they've always been some of society's most essential workers. So of course, you want to give them a gift they'll truly love. We tapped doctors, physician assistants, and other healthcare workers to give us some insight on the best gifts for doctors. And despite the fact that socks have long been seen as a boring holiday gift, multiple people in the medical field said that a nice pair of compression socks is actually a great gift idea for doctors. Who knew? In addition to socks, there are a ton of thoughtful gift ideas for medical professionals on this list. Some, like eye masks, blackout curtains, and heated blankets, will help them rest up so they're ready for the next shift. And then there are the gifts that will help them relax and unwind, like a food delivery gift card or some aromatherapy shower steamers.

If you're looking to buy a thank-you gift for your doctor, there's no need to spend tons of money. A thank-you note with some kind words is more than enough. But if you do decide to show thanks with a gift, something small like a hand lotion or bag of coffee is perfect. But of course, if you're shopping for your friend or family member who just happens to be a doctor (not *your* doctor), then feel free to spoil 'em! These gifts are the perfect thing for any med school graduation, and many can also be purchased at the last minute.

Here are the best gift ideas for doctors that you can shop now.

Dr. Fatima Daoud Yilmaz, a Clinical Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology shared that one of the best doctor gifts she's gotten has been "a sleep mask with contoured eye cups for when I have to sleep during the day after a night shift. This one that I got lets in ZERO light."

Another useful gift Daoud says she has recieved was a high-quality tumbler to keep her coffee the right temperature between surgical cases. "When I was gifted a Yeti tumbler, this came personalized with my name on it which was really nice," she said.

Daoud also suggests this car seat coat hanger as a useful gift for doctors, so they can hang their white coat up at the end of the day without worrying about it getting wrinkled.

Doud says that compression socks are great for comfort when she's working a long hospital shift. "Bonus points if they have a cute medical design in them." Several other medical professionals Woman's Day contacted for this piece also recommended compression socks as a gift idea for doctors, so rest assured, this gift is truly a winner.

Kathryn Werner, PA-C, has practiced psychiatry as a PA for the last 15 years and says this hand cream helps with the dryness of washing hands. It's made with soothing honey, moisturizing almond oil, and nourishing cocoa and shea butters.

Another gift Daoud recommends is a heated blanket for the "universally freezing cold" on-call rooms at the hospital. "This was the biggest game changer in making what little shut-eye I get in the hospital most restful," she shares.

"It’s sometimes hard to feel put together and confident in scrubs or a boxy lab coat," shares Werner. "Medilita lab coats and Figs scrubs make me feel really put together and confident!"

In addition to having a slimmer fit, FIGS scrubs also come in a variety of fun colors and can be customized with embroidery.

This specialty coffee from BLK and Bold will power them though a long day in the hospital or clinic.

Dr. Betty Choi, pediatrician and author of Human Body Learning Lab, shares that she and her husband (who's also a physician) think a Peloton bike or treadmill would be a great gift idea for any doctor. "For working parents with intense schedules, finding time to exercise can be challenging," Choi says. "Peloton makes it so much easier by providing a wide variety of classes with fun and diverse instructors. My husband often takes the HIIT classes with Alex, and I love intervals with weights rides with Ally and Emma."

"I love DRMTLGY products, and putting on my vitamin C drops, face and neck cream, and retinol lotion has been a calming self-care ritual for the morning and evenings," Choi shares.

Choi also recommends Bose noise-canceling headphones as a good gift for medical professionals. "These comfortable headphones are perfect for tuning out background noise so you can focus on catching up on notes, writing, and other important tasks," she says.

Choi shares that she and her husband like to watch games or shows to unwind as a break from work, so a subscription to a streaming service like Disney+ might be just the thing for the doctor or medical professional in your life.

This stethoscope carrying case comes in a ton of fun colors and is perfect for carrying their stethoscope, pens, pulse oximeters, and other essentials. Plus, it's less than $15, so it's an affordable pick.

If you're looking to splash out with your gift this year, this is something that's sure to be appreciated. "In addition to tracking physical activity and sending reminders about important appointments and phone calls, the Apple Watch also gives peace of mind with its EKG and Health App features," shares Choi.

Choi says that both she and her husband are big fans of these socks. "So cozy and comfortable! They also give a little more arch support compared to the average sock. My husband and I are both big fans," she shares.

Another gift Choi recommends is a cozy pair of Ugg slippers. "I've been wearing my Ugg slippers for more than 10 years," she shares. We have a feeling the non-doctors on your shopping list also wouldn't mind a pair of these!

Any doctor or medical professional is sure to appreciate the gift of delivery after a long shift. Because sometimes, you just really don't wanna cook.

Curtains might seem like a strange gift, but if your doctor is working the night shift (meaning they're catching up on sleep during the day), good blackout curtains for their bedroom are priceless. One happy reviewer says of these curtains, "I work night shift and was utterly impressed with how easily I was able to sleep during the day."

If the doctor you're shopping for happens to be your spouse, they might appreciate a silicone version of their wedding ring. Constant hand sanitizer and bodily fluids can wear down a metal ring (not to mention, stones often catch on disposable gloves). But these flexible silicone rings are the perfect thing for your husband or wife to wear at work — the real ring can come out for special occasions.

A bottle of their favorite vino wrapped in this cute bag that looks like a doctor's white coat is sure to be appreciated.

Many people in the medical field have been rocking these headbands with buttons on the side to hold their mask in place without tugging at their ears. Genius! "With 12 color options I won't have any problems matching them to my scrubs for the day," shared one reviewer.

If they like to unwind after a long shift with a nice hot shower, these aromatherapy steamers are the perfect way to add some relaxation to their routine. And at just $16, you might be tempted to grab another set of these for yourself.

This set of affirmation cards gives them short-and-sweet reflections or gentle directions, such as "I may be the only human touch my patient receives today" and "I will do something to fill my wellness tank today." They can display these cards at their desk as a reminder throughout the day, slip one in their pocket, or choose one to reflect on while they meditate.

These adorable personalized ID tags fit onto their stethoscope. It's a good way to add a personal touch to their daily routine (and make sure they don't lose their stethoscope, because they definitely aren't cheap!)