This post is a collaborative post. As always, all opinions and ideas are entirely my own.
The holidays are upon us! While they bring a lot of
togetherness, happy memories and festive cheer, they can also bring some
not-so-welcome things – such as the pressures of gift-giving and the massive
tide of consumerism from Black Friday onwards…
Quite often, a well-intentioned gift is actually the source
of a lot of stress, both for the giver and the receiver. Knowing someone well
enough to really understand what they’d like, feeling the burden of getting
someone a gift solely because they bought you one, or the pressure of
delivering a magical experience, all adds up to a great deal of negative
feelings around what should be a celebratory merry time of year.
More and more of us are now finding the solution to this
holiday stress is giving experiences as gifts. Experiential gifts can be super
thoughtful, highly rewarding to give and help put the magic back into a
wonderful time of year. Whether it's finding no service fee tickets to that
must-see show, doing something different like a cookery class, or even
receiving something homemade like a book of vouchers for help around the house,
you can give and gain some wonderful memories! And what could be more in the
holiday spirit than that?
A Gift That Lasts
Plenty of people really enjoy the act of gift-giving -
finding, wrapping and passing on the perfect item for a loved one. But even if
you enjoy that part, dealing with what comes after - the paper and toys on the
floor, the additional clutter, and if you have kids, the endless supply of
small plastic parts everywhere - can be much less fun. Everyone knows how
quickly the joy of the latest must-have toy or gadget can fade. As proven by
the popularity of decluttering experts such as Marie Kondo, most of us are
beginning to feel a little overwhelmed by how much stuff we own. The average home in the U.S. owns over 300,000 items! That is a lot of stuff that rules our
lives and may no longer give us the joy it originally did.
Experiences for All
Extensive research published in the Journal of Psychological Science has shown in empirical terms what we already knew - that experiences
give us more lasting happiness than material possessions. Experiences also
provide a wonderful opportunity to strengthen bonds with friends and family
members, with the anticipation of the event providing almost as much happiness
as the event itself - truly the gift which keeps on giving. Encourage the wider
family to get in on the act as well. Things like annual memberships to zoos or
science centers, tickets for a big sports match, or even a weekend away can
give extended family members a chance to bond, as well as giving a truly
memorable present.
Call it a Millennial Thing
There have been countless reports on millennials and how
they want to be wowed by experiences. They don’t need materialistic things
(except for the latest camera phone so that they can post their experiences on
the gram). They want to do and live with loved ones. Take a hint from the
millennials and scrap the wrapping paper products this year. Surprise someone
with a coffee gift card with a required catch up attached to it. Nothing is as
great a gift as your time.
The Who’s of Whooville were on to something when they
realized Christmas could still be without the materialistic things. “And the
Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling,
how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came
without packages, boxes or bags.” Don’t let the pressures of the season get to
you by trying to find that one thing for that one person. Find an experience
they can enjoy with loved ones and give them the gifts of memories that will
last a life time.
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