Is Finding the “Perfect” Gift Making You Anxious?
Gift Giving Anxiety
It's that time of year again! The holiday season is in full swing, and you're feeling the pressure to buy for everyone on your list.
There are so many things and people to consider when it comes to holiday shopping, and you wonder how in the world you're going to accomplish it. From sticking to your budget to not unintentionally leaving someone out, it's enough to make your head spin!
Yet, anxiety about gift-giving doesn't always come from the pressure to get it all done while staying within your price range. If you find that you feel anxious about giving gifts at this time of year - or any other occasion - it's more likely due to the pressure you put on yourself not just to give any gift, but the "perfect" gift.
After all, if you're going to give someone a gift, you want it to be something that makes them happy, right? And you usually also want to give something thoughtful and memorable - something that shows you understand the person you're giving to.
Already things are beginning to feel confusing and overwhelming. Because making the recipient happy would mean giving a gift that they want. But giving something thoughtful means, ideally, not having to ask someone what they want.
Yes, you can find the perfect gift for a friend or loved one...if you ask them. But then you worry that if you do, you'll come across as unthoughtful.
In other words, it's a gift-giving riddle that you shouldn't bother trying to solve - probably because there is no such thing as perfect! Here are a few ways to manage your perfect gift-giving anxiety this year.
Stop overthinking it.
What if I choose a gift that makes them question our bond or my commitment to our friendship? What if it's too sentimental and not useful at all to them?
Obsessing about how the other person will react to a present and worrying about whether we'll be able to get inside their head can be stressful. You might want so much for your gift to symbolize something, but it leads to overthinking, triggering your anxiety. It's important that we stop obsessing about how a gift may be received and instead acknowledge the kind gesture aspect of gift-giving.
Keep it simple.
To minimize your anxiety and stress, consider sticking to the same categories or themes for gifts, but personalizing the item for each person.
For example, your theme this year can be self-care (which is always thoughtful), and your categories are candles, coloring books, and face masks. Each of your best friends gets one of each, but Becca gets the lavender candle because lavender is her favorite, and Rachel doesn't get just any adult coloring book, but the one with all the elephants!
Candles and coloring books might not be at the top of your friend’s wish lists, but they will appreciate your consideration more than your perfection.
Let go of the fear of failure.
You might have fears of not finding someone's dream gift, and it's time to start letting go of those! This fear of failure can cause you to stress about getting something just right, but it's far more likely that they will appreciate the thought behind the gift rather than be disappointed by how well you do or don’t know them.
No matter what, remember that you're caring so much speaks volumes about who you are as a person. No matter how well-received a gift is or is not, create some space to forgive yourself if you don't hit the nail on the head this year.
You can shop my Holiday Gift Ideas here!
Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as legal, financial, or medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional advice of your own attorney, accountant, physician, or financial advisor. Always check with your own physician, attorney, financial advisor, accountant, or other business or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.
