My brother used to go overboard with the tape on his holiday presents to me.
It was entirely intentional, as siblings like to annoy each other sometimes. He got a lot of pleasure from watching me struggle to open his gift.
To get him back for all those years of presents wrapped in packing tape, duct tape or both, one year I got him a gift card from Man Crates. The company is famous for sending gift cards fully encased in concrete.
While neither of us can remember what the gift card itself was for, the memory of him standing outside our parents’ house attacking the concrete brick with a hammer is a favorite.
It turns out getting a gift is fun, but giving gifts is good for your mental health.
Michael Norton, PhD, a professor at Harvard Business School, studies how decision-making affects well-being. “Gift-giving is a sign we care about the people in our lives,” Dr. Norton told Everyday Health.
That social connection created by giving a gift can contribute to a person's overall happiness. In addition, Norton’s research shows that spending money on other people can lead to more happiness long-term than spending money on yourself. Unrelated research has shown that giving makes people feel good because the brain responds to giving by releasing dopamine and endorphins.
Sometimes it’s the thought that counts, but sometimes it’s the actual gift. Unfortunately, some people aren’t very good at thinking of good gifts for their loved ones.
We rounded up a few tips to help ensure your friends and family are as excited about their gift as you are to give it. Ask Questions On one of these quiet, rainy fall evenings, sit down and think: What does your sister enjoy doing? What do your parents need to be more comfortable as they age? What new interests do your kids have that you want to encourage them to pursue? Is there something your loved ones really love eating or drinking?
Thinking about your recipient's interests, needs and wants early in the shopping season will help guide your Internet research or your purchases in local shops. It will also help you avoid making a last-minute, rushed purchase that falls flat.
If you're still struggling with a gift idea, you can always ask someone for ideas! Asking your giftee's significant other, children or friends for ideas can be a useful way to find out what they need. Did anything recently break that they used a lot? (Caution: A vacuum cleaner is rarely a good gift, even if you're replacing one that recently broke.)
Have they mentioned needing anything? Have they seen something in a store that caught their eye? Do they have a favorite restaurant or a new hobby? A person’s family and friends can be your eyes and ears for holiday present research and may have great ideas for you.
Or, you can ask the person you're buying for directly! While this may be a last resort and remove the surprise element from opening a gift, it nearly guarantees your recipient will be happy with what they got.
Consider the Gift of Something to Do
Increasingly, people are giving experiential gifts instead of just physical items. A gift card to a favorite restaurant, plans for a weekend getaway, or a promised movie night or ski trip can make a good gift with great memories attached. Plus, these gifts can give everyone something to look forward to in the dark days of January.
The same guidelines apply when giving these gifts — think about what your recipient really enjoys doing or what they’ve said they would like to do and get a gift card that matches. If you can’t find the right gift card, a VISA or American Express gift card will do, but put it in a fun, decorated holiday envelope with a personal note explaining what it’s for and why!
A number of local businesses offer classes or workshops that can be a fun winter activity, and they provide gift cards for those events, too. Check out some of the gifts on the following pages for ideas from local businesses.
