Despite two in five shoppers saying they worry about buying a friend or loved one the ‘wrong’ present at Christmas, new research reveals that the vast majority (96%) of people value the thought behind a gift rather than the gift itself.
With this in mind, Boots UK have teamed up with Psychologist Honey Langcaster-James to take a closer look into exactly what it is that makes a thoughtful gift. She says: ‘We’ve all been there – searching online at the last minute hoping the perfect gift will just appear. It’s important to remember that no one knows your relationships better than you do, so trust yourself to do the thinking.’
Thoughtful gift inspiration
A gift that is chosen with thought and shared with love helps deepen and celebrate relationships – not just at Christmas, but all year round.
‘Giving a thoughtful gift that means something about your bond with someone is a great way to strengthen your connection, and highlighting the importance of your special relationship can have great psychological benefits to both you and the recipient,’ says Honey.
‘Social psychology teaches us that one of our deepest emotional needs is to experience significant ongoing relationship bonds which make us feel loved, cherished and safe, and giving a thoughtful gift at Christmas is a great way to celebrate these connections.’
However, we all know how tricky deciding on the ‘perfect present’ can be – especially when you’re looking for something that is original or unique to your relationship. Honey says: ‘A good gift is one that conveys you have held the receiver of the gift in mind first and foremost – not one that costs a lot necessarily.
‘The aim of a thoughtful gift is to give the most joy possible to the one on the receiving end and whether you’re on a tight budget or not you can choose something that’s significant to your relationship.’
She adds: ‘What makes gift buying and giving so stressful is not having a clue what to get someone and having to browse around the shops at the busiest time of the year looking for ideas and fighting over all this year’s must-have purchases.
‘The way to get around this is sit down with a list of the people you need to buy for and use my top tips for choosing a truly thoughtful gift. That way you’ll have the idea of what you want to get someone well before you hit the shops so you can target the specific stores you need.’
Check out Honey’s thoughtful GIFTS acrostic to help you generate inspiration for a present that will hit the thoughtful spot this festive season…
Good times… Think of the happiest times you’ve shared, such as a particularly hilarious night out or an embarrassing event you always laugh about. Could you give a gift which brings back the memory?
Intimate moments… Was there a time you really felt connected or shared a moment that was particularly special between you which could be represented in a gift?
First impressions… How did you meet? Is there a gift you could give that is significantly connected to when you first met or started your relationship?
Times and place… Consider whether there is an important or significant time, date or place that you could base your gift upon.
Shared secrets… Is there a gift that is significant, meaningful or funny for your loved one to receive but which no one else could ever possibly understand without you explaining it?
You can maintain the ‘gift-giving glow’ throughout the year by not only giving thoughtful gifts on birthdays and anniversaries, but also at times when someone you love is in need of a little pick up, perhaps they’ve had a stressful day or are going through a hard time.
They needn’t be big or expensive, and can be a great way to invest in your relationships and build lasting memories.
