Since time immemorial, the act of giving a gift has been a way for people to show love, gratitude, acknowledgment, and so much more to those that matter most to them. Indeed, gift-giving has generally been associated with positive emotions and the feelings of wanting to care for another person or a group of people.
The gesture itself can be something as simple as buying a pair of socks for someone, baking them some cookies, or giving them a card. But there are times when it can also be an extravagant gift, like a piece of jewelry or other luxuries in life. That said, what exactly you give someone may depend on the situation, occasion, and relationship you have with said person.
However, it’s not always easy to think of a gift. It’s very common to overthink what you could possibly offer your loved ones. But it’s not at all impossible to give the perfect gift, especially when you put your heart into it. Here are a few things to remember when brainstorming what to give someone for a special occasion or to just randomly show that you care for them:
Make a List and Check It Twice
There are times when you may only have one recipient to worry about, like birthday celebrations or anniversaries. But there are also times you may have a lot of people you want to show appreciation to, especially with holidays like Christmas.
Fortunately, lists are a great way of keeping things on track. Whether it’s on paper or a digital application, keeping a list can help you stay organized with your planning and gift-giving activities. Listing your recipients’ names along with notes on possible gift ideas can help you plan ahead and have a visual representation of said plans, making them somewhat more tangible.
Pro-tip: Don’t forget to keep track of your recipients’ special dates on a calendar. Here, you can note down each person’s birthday as well as any meaningful life events, such as wedding anniversaries.
Ask Yourself a Few Questions
To figure out what the perfect gift would be for a certain recipient, it’s good to ask yourself some questions. If the answers don’t immediately lead you to the perfect gift, that’s okay. The answers you come up with can at least provide you with a little more information. Here are a few probing questions you can ask yourself:
- Why do you want to give this person a gift? Is there an upcoming relevant event or is it a random act of kindness for someone important to you?
- Who is this person to you? How much would you spend for your friends, your family, or your significant other?
- What do you want to tell them? What is the message of your gift?
Asking questions about your relationships, their interests, and how much you’re willing to give will help you determine your gift. It will also give you a better understanding of what your gift symbolizes.
Really Know Your Giftee
When choosing a gift, remember: it’s all about who you’re giving it to. So, the gift must suit the recipient’s interests. Knowing that you pay attention to the little things will really show your recipient that you put a lot of thought into your gift and got it specifically for them.
For example, someone who doesn’t particularly appreciate physical gifts, but may have told you about a stressful week they had, may appreciate gift cards for services that can help them unwind.
Another thing to consider about your receiver would be their present circumstances. If you’re not sure about what they’re into, then their particular needs may be a good starting point for gift ideas. From there, you can think outside the box and add a little twist to make the gift more personalized and appropriate for the receiver. Practicality is always good, but remember to add a little special something to make it more meaningful whenever they use your gift.
How to Learn More About the Little Things
There’s always something new to learn about a person, no matter how long you’ve known them. Because of that, it’s important to pay attention to your loved ones whenever you have conversations. It’s during these times that you get the opportunity to know more about them, such as what inspires them or what they cherish. They may even share a fond memory they have of some moments you’ve spent together. You may be surprised at what they remember!
This is also the time to learn about what they dislike. You may even be able to subtly ask them about any allergies or health issues they may have. All this information that you gather will influence your decision when the time comes to buy them gifts.
Another way of gathering ideas for what to give someone would be to browse social media. This can mean either passively scrolling through your newsfeed to see what your giftee is up to or actively looking at their recent posts. It’s very easy to save any posts they’ve shared so that you can use them for future reference.
Last, but not least, you can learn more about your recipient through good old-fashioned connections: their loved ones. Much like the internet and social media, we’re all connected through other people. It doesn’t hurt to ask for a little help while brainstorming some gift ideas. So, reach out to them and ask them what they think the recipient would like. They may know something about your giftee that could prove helpful during your search for the best present.
Looking for the perfect gift may be a difficult task given all the different possibilities you can choose from. It can be so overwhelming that you may even find yourself overthinking what to get your recipients. But always remember that, at the end of the day, this is a gesture of appreciation for your loved ones. As long as you really put your heart into it and carefully consider all options before making a final decision, know that your giftee will appreciate all your efforts.
