According to dictionaries, gifts are something that is ‘voluntarily transferred’ and ‘does not imply compensation’. Of course, that’s just the simple version of the gifts as a concept. The reasons people give gifts is because we believe that by doing so, we will be able to establish a relationship with another person – and not just the romantic kind! It could be friendship, mentorship, professional relationships and so on.
In fact, giving gifts has been noted to be an important part of human interaction. In short, you can even say that the act of giving and receiving gifts can help people form a stronger emotional connection with the people they care about or want to get close to. So if you find yourself wanting to get close to someone or if you’re in a particularly giving mood, here are 10 reasons why you should get someone a gift that doesn’t involve holidays or other major special occasions.
One of the reasons people give each other gifts is because it’s the version of the ‘language of love’. Not all of us were born with a ‘silver tongue’ and even someone who is in possession of high eloquence cannot always express their love in words. That’s where gifts come in.
A thoughtful gift can have the same effect of a thousand beautifully crafted words. It can show the person you’re giving a gift to that you treasure and value the relationship that you both share – be it a romantic or platonic one. In addition, personalised gifts – such as photo books, framed prints and even photo pillows, are a great way to showcase the best moments in your relationship and to foster a stronger emotional bond with your giftee.
Giving a gift to your friends who are going away for college, to a coworker who is retiring or to a family member who is planning on moving abroad is just one of the many ways to show gratification. Giving them a personalised gift will make your relationship with them all that much stronger and in addition, it will give them something to remember you by. Furthermore, they will also appreciate the fact that you took the time to find or create something special just for them.
Pro Tip: People like to feel special and appreciated – especially by someone who they care about or hold in high regards. That’s why people appreciate personalised gifts more than generic ones. If you’re looking for some pocket-sized, thoughtful and easy to personalised gifts, you can opt to get something like photo prints, story tag cards or mini layflat photo books.
Another reason to give someone a gift outside of designated holidays and birthdays is simply to show your appreciation for those you care about and hold in high regard. You may even want to give someone a gift as a means to reward them for achievements or exceptionally good behaviour – for example, rewarding your children with a new storybook for learning how to read or getting your sibling a new tumbler for accompanying you to the gym.
Additionally, you can even get gifts to showcase your appreciation to your boss or coworkers. For example, you can get personalised notebooks or calendar cards for a work friend who helps keep everyone well organised and on top of their tasks or a personalised mug for your boss or work superior who is always helpful and willing to guide you through problems you might be facing.
In short, you can give people who have touched your life in some way a gift to showcase that your appreciate them – their effort, guidance and presence in your life – regardless if it’s a special occasion or not.
Have you ever heard of the phrase; ‘One good turn deserves another’? In layman’s term, the phrase means ‘if someone does you a favour, you should take the chance to repay it.’ When it comes to gifting, people are not only excited and grateful to receive gifts, but they are also encouraged to pay it forward and be generous too.
By giving people gifts, you’re not only making yourself out to be a generous person; but you’re making the recipient of your gift a grateful person. A 2010 study has shown that when people are on the receiving end of such generosity, it encourages them to be more generous as well; which is great for building bonds within their personal network and community.
Essentially, the act of giving encourages others to give as well – and this does not only apply to our loved ones! Even strangers are affected when they receive generosity and empathy from others – it makes them feel happy, loved and trusted. Plus, the world could do with a bit more happiness and random acts of kindness!
Giving a gift to someone outside of a holiday or special occasion can also be a good way to show people that you’re the kind of person who pays attention to the needs of others. For example – giving your siblings a new personalised mug after they complain about breaking their favourite one a while ago, or surprising friends with a bunch of new throw pillows when you catch wind that they’re thinking of updating their home decor.
By giving people these little out of the blue gifts, you’ll be able to endear yourself to your friends and family and make them feel loved, appreciated and listened to – a feeling that has been described as the ‘psychological equivalent of finally being able to breathe air’. The feeling of affirmation one receives when getting a gift can also help to stimulate the feelings of happiness and solidify the bond between two (or more) people.
Human beings are genetically wired to desire praise and appreciation. Whether it’s your kids getting a high score on a test, your sibling finally landing a job or a coworker having managed to help solve a problem, the more you acknowledge their efforts and achievements, the better (and happier) they will be.
When you’re getting people gifts to recognize a job well done, always keep in mind to get them something specific. Generic compliments like ‘ good job’, ‘fantastic work’ or ‘well done’ is nice to hear, but nothing beats giving them an actual gift and complimenting them on something specific that they did to get the job done.
For example, if your child received an MVP award for their club activities, instead of telling them ‘good job’ or ‘keep it up’, why not delve a little deeper. Compliment their actions – the move they used to score a goal or their dedication in training. Couple your compliments with a thoughtful yet practical gift – like a personalised tumbler or a tote bag for them to carry around their gear.
Similarly, if you’re planning to give something to a coworker, try to be as specific as possible. For example, if your coworker likes to travel and has amazing multi-tasking skills, why not get them personalised, travel-themed calendar, notebooks or tote bags so that they can keep on top of their tasks while admiring photos of potential travel destinations.
Pro Tip: If you reward people with compliments or gifts for a job well done, they are more likely to continue to be meticulous in their day to day activities and tasks.
A trip to the amusem*nt park, an impromptu vacation or even a simple picnic in a scenic meadow can make for an incredible gift. Not only are you spending quality time with your loved ones, but you’re also helping them to make memories that they will cherish for a lifetime.
Quite often than not, people dream of just taking a day off and going out to do something fun and exciting – maybe aerial yoga, skydiving, bungee jumping or the likes. But usually, there will always be something holding them back.
By going out of your way to give your loved ones a day they’ll never forget, you’re basically presenting them with a gift that will become a part of them – solidifying your bond.
Pro Tip: If you want to ensure that your friends or family also have a momento to remind themselves of the time you spent together, be sure to take lots of photos and turn them into stylish prints, mugs or even photo books.
You may not realise it, but giving people a gift can subtly influence their behaviour for the better. What most people don’t realise is that the act of gift-giving offers a unique opportunity to showcase your support for a brand, company or government initiatives or even a cause that is near and dear to your heart (or your loved one’s heart for that matter).
For example, getting personalised tote bags or reusable tumblers from a company that uses ethically sourced materials can encourage your loved ones to be more conscious of the environment.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for other inspiring, eco-friendly and lost lasting gift selections, might we suggest browsing through Pixajoy’s range personalised products, such as the photo books, photo mugs or Deluxe Notebooks. Made using ethically sourced materials, these stylish personalised items will last for up to a lifetime and will also be able to influence the receiver to make a conscious choice to preserve their memories and properly appreciate their daily moments of happiness.
When it comes to people, you’re going to have to accept the fact that everybody makes mistakes.No one can claim to be perfectly faultless. Not your friends or your family members or even your favourite actors – not even Miss Universe is free from making mistakes. As a general rule, no normal person goes out of their way to hurt others on purpose – sometimes all it takes is a thoughtless comment, a sudden bout of clumsiness or even a difference in options that somehow escalated a bit too far.
In any case, you might have experienced a situation whereby you feel immensely guilty for accidentally hurting someone – be it their feelings or physically hurting them in some way. If you’re not a person who is good with words or if you’re a person who believes that actions speak louder than words; giving a gift is a good way to offer someone an apology. In doing so, you’re showing the other party that you feel truly remorseful for your actions and that you are willing to spend time, money and effort to make things right between the two of you.
Pro Tip: Some of the more popular apology gifts include customised jewellery, mugs, pillows and prints. By giving personalised products, you’ll be able to remind the offended party of all the good times you’ve spent together.
Who doesn’t love getting a surprise gift out of the blue? The unexpectedness of the gift will surely be a pleasant surprise and could potentially make your friend’s or family member’s day (maybe even their week).
As you might have noted throughout the article, gift-giving is an important part of human interactions. It’s a way to express your feelings when words aren’t enough. Additionally, you can also choose to give someone a present for no other reason than to make that person happy – the true essence of gift-giving.
Can you imagine the look that would steal over across your friends or family member’s faces when they receive a surprise gift on what was supposed to be an ordinary day? Their expressions would no doubt shift from confused to surprise before settling on an expression of utter glee and delight. Their eyes would light up and the smile that they’ll give as they thank you will undoubtedly leave you feeling warm, satisfied and giddy – like the cat that caught the canary.
Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a gift for someone who is eco-conscious and enjoys writing or drawing, you can try gifting them a personalised Deluxe Notebook. Alternatively, photo pillows, prints and tote bags are also popular gift choices and would make for a great addition in any part of the home.
In conclusion, gift-giving is something that is in our blood. We’re hardwired to experience happiness when we give gifts (and when we see other people receiving our gifts and looking genuinely grateful). So it would make every bit of sense that instead of just waiting for special occasions (like weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc) or holidays (Valentines or Christmas) that we use every excuse that we can manage to think of in order to shower our loved ones with presents that we know they will love, appreciate and enjoy.
If you’re feeling rather inspired and would like to give someone a gift ‘just because’, why not visit our website (Pixajoy)and browse through our range of premium photo books, prints and gift items. Who knows, maybe in your search to find the perfect gift for someone, you’ll come across something that you might want for yourselves. A win-win situation!
