If you’re busy – and the truth is that most of us really, really are – gift giving can turn into a very stressful thing to do, and it might even end up just sitting in the back of your mind until it’s actually urgent. The problem is, if you do that, you’ll panic and buy something that’s just not appropriate, or too expensive, and that’s going to be bad for you and a shame for the recipient. Plus, even if you want to choose something a bit more thoughtful, you just don’t have the time or energy to wander through shops or browsing sites to find it. 

The good news is that there are some things you can do to help you so that even if you are busy, you can still give great gifts that the recipient is actually going to appreciate. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more. 

Have A List Of Go-To Ideas 

Busy people don’t really need hundreds of ideas – they need a few good options they can pull from when they need to buy or give something. It’s a good idea to think of some gifts that can suit everyone, like a nice blanket, a good-smelling candle, a book you’ve enjoyed, a plant that doesn’t need a lot of taking care of, and so on. When you’ve already got a good list of easy things you know you can get hold of and that won’t cost too much, you’ll never have to panic because you’ll never be starting from scratch when it comes to thinking of gifts. 

Of course, even when you’ve got this kind of list, you’ll want to choose items from it that feel personal, so don’t choose at random – go through the ideas and find the one(s) that will work best for the recipient. That way, you’ve saved a lot of time, not been so stressed, and you’ll still be able to give the kind of gift someone will really love. 

There Will Be Clues 

People unintentionally reveal gift ideas all the time – they’ll make a comment about running out of something and needing to buy more, for example, or they’ll talk about a hobby they love, or they’ll mention some kind of frustration they’ve got (that a small, handy gift might be able to solve…), and so on. 

That’s why it’s a good idea to be aware of all this, and to set up a place to write the ideas down when you hear them being talked about. It could be an app, a scrap of paper, or a Word document you’ve got saved on your desktop, but whatever it is, if you make a note of these little clues by people’s names, it becomes a whole lot easier to buy them a gift when the time comes. 

Have A Gift Drawer For Emergencies 

If you’re someone who has a bit of a habit of remembering birthdays and anniversaries at the last minute, having a little stash of ready-to-go gifts is really going to help. True, they might not be as personal as if you remembered ahead of time, but they’ll be better than nothing – and you can think of something else for next time now you’ve remembered. 

You’ll want to have items that have universal appeal, and that won’t expire (so food isn’t a great option), and things like stationery, soft scarves and gloves, a quality notebook, or some nice frames for photos can do the trick nicely. 

Don’t Underestimate The Power Of Personal Touches 

Even the simplest of gifts can become a lot more memorable with a small bit of personalisation, which could include a handwritten note, for example, a printed photo of a time you had fun together, or perhaps just a little message about why you choose the gift and why you thought they’d like it. Busy people tend to skip this part because they think it takes time, but it genuinely doesn’t, and it makes the biggest difference. 

People remember the feeling of being thought about, not the price of the gift, so that’s what you need to bear in mind too. 

Think About Practical Gifts 

There’s this idea (and incorrect idea, as it turns out) that practical gifts aren’t special, but busy people really do appreciate things that make their lives easier, and they’ll use the thing – maybe every day, maybe once in a while – and when they do, they’ll probably think of you, so that’s a good thing in itself. 

Practical gifts might seem boring at first, but if they’re going to improve someone’s life, even in the smallest way, then they’re actually the best gifts, and, in the end, truly thoughtful. 

Use Flexible Gifting Options To Save Time 

Sometimes you’re just far too busy to go to the shop or you’re not sure what someone would really want to use, even if you are keen to give them a practical gift. So if you could be a bit more flexible with what you give them, would that solve the problem? The answer is usually yes.

For example, when you purchase gift cards online, you can get rid of any guesswork completely, and still be able to give the person something they’ll actually enjoy. The key is to add a little message explaining when you chose that brand or how you hope they’ll treat themselves, and then you’ll have ticked all the boxes and not been the least bit stressed about it, no matter how busy you might be. 

Keep Birthdays And Important Dates In One Place 

Half the stress of gift giving comes from forgetting when events are happening, so it’s wise to set up one digital calendar with all the birthdays, anniversaries, and celebrations on it. You can even add reminders a week or two before (or whenever you want to start shopping for gifts) so you can pick something calmly. Just don’t put the reminder too far ahead in case you think you’ve got a lot of time and then just forget again. 

And make sure the calendar entry and reminder repeat every year, and you’ll always be on top of things, which is definitely going to make gifting less stressful.