The Intentional Art of Gifting

Practical gift ideas that are thoughtful and affordable

Photo by Kira auf der Heide

Gift giving is engrained in our culture and is a universal act of generosity shared all over the world and throughout history. For some people, gift-giving is a joyful experience of providing a unique token of appreciation, whilst for others it can consume a lot of time and energy and even stir anxiety fussing over the 'perfect present' - tis the season to be anxious!

But let's remember that as the saying goes, it's the thought that counts. We need to find comfort in our own good intentions and ask ourselves about what the holidays actually mean to us. For me, it's spending quality time with my family and giving back to my community. What do these holidays actually mean to you? Presence or presents?

A Conversation

It definitely helps to put some parameters around the expectations when it comes to gift giving. Don't be afraid to have the conversation with your family and friends, and take into consideration each other's economic situation, cultural background, personal values and any other factors you think may influence the gift or whether it's even necessary to gift.

For example, my friend who is of Chinese heritage and I don't give each other presents because it wasn't a big part of her culture growing up. We instead go out for a nice meal together and share an experience which we both enjoy.

Whilst chatting, straight up ask them what they need. My brother and I are pretty open to letting each other know what brands we're into and products are on our list so we can both give and receive practical presents.

Alternatives

If you're accustomed to giving lots of presents or expensive items and it's not within your means this year, have a think about alternative gift ideas that are more cost effective. A colleague of mine recently purchased a property and was feeling overwhelmed about the mortgage as his girlfriend's birthday was approaching. He would usually buy her a voucher for a spa day (lucky gal!) so I suggested that he have a look on Groupon for a cheaper alternative. You'd be surprised how many gorgeous 5-star day spas you can get for up to 40% off (if you visit outside their peak).

Intentional Gifting

If you intend on purchasing a gift for someone this year but don’t know what to buy them, do not, I repeat DO NOT just go to the shops and browse aimlessly for a present. Not only will you buy something they probably won't appreciate, but you're more likely going to spend more than intended and feel frustrated in the process. The idea of intentional gifting is putting some thought into it, thereby adding benefit for yourself and the recipient.

Photo by Kira auf der Heide

The Gift of Experience

In our consumer driven society, we're led to believe that our wellbeing and happiness depends fundamentally on obtaining more goods and material possessions. Although consumerism is a phenomenon that fuels economic growth, it's actually leaving us feeling more empty and disconnected than ever before.

Dr. Thomas Gilovich's research concludes that people derive more satsifaction from experiential purchases than material purchases. There are a number of reasons why this is the case. Experiential purchases enhance social relationships, form part of an individuals identity through the experience, are evaluated more on their own terms and evoke fewer social comparisons compared to material goods.

Therefore, give the gift of experiences and enhance the wellbeing of your recipient. There are so many experiences to gift, including restaurant vouchers, spa treatments, art classes (paint and sip), event tickets, or a handmade voucher for a weekend away or personalised activity. I love gifting theatre tickets to my mum and we make a day of going to a musical and sharing a meal together.

Conscious Consumerism

More millennials are shopping in ways they believe makes a positive social, environmental or economic impact by buying ethical products, avoiding unethical companies and sometimes not purchasing at all. Have a think about your values as well as those of the recipient when choosing a gift for them.

Last year for Christmas, I gifted my brother an adopted koala (not literally of course). He was devastated (like the rest of us) of the effects of the bush fires, so I wanted to give him a present that aligned with his values. I gave him a box with a fair-trade toy koala inside, and once he saw the adoption certificate he was stoked.

Handmade

Another thoughtful gift is anything handmade. It does take more effort, however creative play is proven to enhance our wellbeing and improve mental health. Immersing ourselves in an activity is a form of mindfulness allowing us to tap into our state of flow (also referred to as being in the zone). Accessing this flow state of consciousness relieves stress and anxiety, and helps lesson shame, anger and depression. When we focus on something that is slightly challenging an/or fun, we create new neuropathways, increasing connectivity in the brain.

Clinical social worker, Laurel Healy, says that "Increased connectivity, especially in the left prefrontal cortex of the brain, makes us more emotionally resilient in a way that is similar to what occurs when we meditate. The release of dopamine brings an enhanced sense of well-being as well as improved motivation,”.

I love making gifts because I genuinely enjoy the creative process and my unique present is more memorable for the recipient. Recently I baked granola and popped it in a recycled jar for a friend's birthday. It's simple but he really appreciated the time I'd spent making him fresh homemade granola. I also know that my parents really appreciate handmade gifts (unless they don't and they're just being nice). No, seriously I brought my dad to tears one year when I made him a calendar with photos of his family and close friends. That was the best feeling for both of us.

Personalised

Personalised goods truly make the recipient feel special. From custom made jewellery to a monogrammed diary, personalisation makes any gift truly intentional. I highly recommend finding an artist on Etsy and ordering some personalised art. Our family loves the Simpsons, so I found an artist who could turn family photos into Simpsons couch gags and the results were amazing! It's so cool to see how we'd all look as Simpsons characters and my dad thought it was priceless.

Values-based

At the root of intention are our values. Have a think about what your recipient is trying to cultivate more of and what products/activities they enjoy. For example, my partner values health and fitness, so in the past I've gifted him a surfing lesson, table tennis paddles and balls, a home chin-up bar, sports towel and foam roller. He appreciates simple and practical gifts that will enhance his wellbeing.

Subscriptions

Honestly, you can get a subscription for anything these days. It's a very smart move by companies to ensure multiple purchases, but it's also a great gift idea especially for consumable goods. One of my friends hates doing the grocery shopping, so I purchased her a monthly subscription for nutritionist-approved pantry staples and snacks, that gets delivered straight to her door. I'm also considering purchasing a meditation app for my brother this year (also so he can get off my account).

Quality Products

What do you have that you absolutely love and adore? I love high quality natural skincare and also beautiful lasting jewellery (hint hint nudge nudge haha). Gifting tried and tested quality products that have provided you with value is the essence of intentional gifting, knowing that they will love, need and use the product. I gifted my dad a voucher for Athletes Foot last year, so he could finally purchase some quality sneakers to stay safely active in his older years. They're not cheap shoes so we only paid for half of them, however he's certainly got his money's worth from all the steps he does in them.

Vouchers

As mentioned earlier, vouchers are good for when you want to give someone the gift of choice. If you know they love a brand, or activity, or you know the things they value, a gift voucher can end up being a very thoughtful and intentional gift. I gifted my friend a Merivale voucher for his birthday this year because he loves a long lunch. Who doesn't love a long lunch?

Perishables

Food, plants, flowers and candles are the go to gift for when you don't know what to get. Everyone loves at least one of those things or a hamper with them all. It can still be an intentional and personable gift when you consider the recipients favourite foods, colours, flowers, scents and brands. P.S. I love donuts, soy candles and sunflowers.

Words

Usually we open the card first, but I think we should save the best for last! My favourite part of the gift giving experience is gifting 'words of affirmation'. Can you guess what my love language is? I know that other people find this the most challenging part of the process and may even avoid the card all together, but I believe that it enhances the gift giving experience tenfold. Dr. Lynda Shaw's research shows just how important it is to send and receive greeting cards. The process of writing a thoughtful message activates the frontal lobe that processes our thoughts and memories. Handwritten cards are intimate because they express emotion and reveal personality thus deepening our connections. Equally, time is the most precious thing we have to give, so if we spend time choosing, writing and sending a card we are making our loved ones feel valued and worthy.

Time

There's nothing better than spending quality time with loved ones. My heart goes out to families who are still unable to get together, and it's awful that we still can't see each other. If we have learned anything over the past couple of years, it's how to appreciate slowing down and soaking in the company of our friends and families. Connection nurtured through quality time lowers levels of anxiety and depression, heightens self-esteem, develops greater empathy, strengths trust in humanity and as a result we are more open for people to trust and connect with us.

When National Geographic conducted a study on the longest-living populations of the world, the common thread that ties world centenarians together is a sense of belonging and connection to each other. “Time is the most precious gift you can give to someone, because if you give someone your time. It's a part of your life that you will never get back.” ― Gloria Tesch.

Photo by Kira auf der Heide

Pro Tips

I was purchasing some gifts for my family on The Iconic during the Black Friday Sales period and did a quick Google search to find the exact same item for $50 less on another website. I sent them a link to the website in the chatbot and they were able to send me a discount code to price match the item! #moneywin!

Keep an ear out for potential gift ideas for your loved ones all year round. I'll write a note in my phone and save it to a list of gift ideas I've created in Notion and refer back to it when I need to organise a present.

Regardless of what presents you'll wrap this year, it's the intention that counts. So relax into the process, create memories and have fun! I literally gifted my brother a lump of coal last year which was hilarious. I'm sure he'll remember that one for years to come.

For a full list of gift ideas, download issue 02 of The Journal for free!

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