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Of all of the tasks men tend to get wrong (and there can be plenty of them), one of the most glaring among them is something I like to call “gift blindness”. It’s something that afflicts many of us, just in time for the holidays; right when we can least afford it. Part of the reason it happens is that the rush of the holidays creates a kind of pressure to find something perfect that almost never ends well.
If you want to avoid a quizzical stare (or worse)when your wife, girlfriend, or significant other opens a present from you on Christmas morning, your best bet is to follow these simple guidelines to gift-giving that will help even the most hopeless among us pull off their first ever Christmas miracle. If that sounds like the perfect gift to you, read on.
Don’t Wait, Start Early
The biggest problem most hapless gift-givers face is that they wait until the last minute to begin looking for something to purchase, which leads to a rushed, thoughtless gift. When it comes to Christmas, that’s inexplicable, since it lands on the same date every year and it never comes as a surprise. That means that you have the opportunity to keep your ears open all year round to gather clues about the wants and needs of the person you’re shopping for. If you do this, you can keep a running list of ideas that will be ready and waiting for you when the holidays roll around.
Stay True to Your Relationship
If you’re shopping for someone you love, you should already have a pretty good idea of their likes and dislikes. One of the biggest mistakes many shoppers make is that they’re shopping to impress, rather than with the actual recipient in mind. When choosing a gift, it’s meaningless to purchase something expensive and flashy if the person who’s receiving it is understated and low-key. If you get that wrong, it’s almost as if you’re telling your partner that you don’t really know them – turning your gift into an ill-considered disaster.
Keep it Classic, but Unique
Sometimes, the best gift idea is something you may consider to be cliché, like jewelry. You might shy away from it because you feel like it makes it seem as though you put little effort into choosing what to purchase. In reality, those gifts are popular for a very important reason: people like receiving them, so you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. The good news is that the internet makes putting your own spin on a classic gift easier than ever. For example, you can create your own customized diamond earrings for your partner at DiamondStuds.com. That way, you’ll be buying a gift that’s sure to please, but also shows that you took the time to make it unique.
It’s Great to Communicate
Although it may sound controversial, the best way to make sure that your partner will love the gift you buy them is to ask them in advance what they want. That’s controversial because many people seem to believe that it’s somehow offensive to be so direct when approaching the task of gift-giving. In the context of a healthy relationship, though, it should just be another part of the solid communications that should be taking place already. Besides, studies have shown that people appreciate gifts more when they’ve asked for them in advance, so you’ll have science on your side, too.
Relax and be There
Believe it or not, the best gift you can give to your wife or significant other is to not let the holidays overwhelm you and just be there to share the joy of the holidays with them. The moments you create together are far more likely to stand the test of time and make a much better symbol of your love than anything you could ever buy in a store. That’s the real takeaway here for those struggling to find the perfect present – in the end, what you choose to buy as a gift is but a tiny reflection of how you feel for the person you’re spending your life with, but what they’ll really value is the person that you are and the feeling of love they feel knowing that you care to make the effort. Translation? Relax, and have a Merry Christmas.
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This content is sponsored by Andrej Kovacevic.
Photo: Getty Images