The holiday season can be a downright whirlwind with the stress of trying to find the right gift for your loved ones, budgeting how much to spend, shopping, and the list goes on and on. Gift-giving in your relationship can be an opportunity to allow your partner to feel seen, show appreciation, and create long-lasting memories. Read through this blog to explore how you can shift your perspective from focusing on the price tags and the pressure of finding the “perfect” gift to the priceless emotional value behind the intentional gifts you can give your partner this holiday season.
Tips for Intentional Gift-Giving:
1) Understand How They Receive Love and Appreciation
To understand what gifts might resonate with your partner, I encourage you to first take a look at how your partner prefers to receive love and appreciation in your relationship. Do they value intentional quality time with you enjoying shared hobbies? Do they prefer for you to acknowledge your appreciation for them with kind words? Maybe they place priority on physical intimacy and touch, such as through a warm embrace or a kiss on the forehead when they need it most. Understanding your partner’s needs can be a great place to search for ideas for meaningful gifts that will have a great and meaningful impact.
2) Reflect on Shared Memories or Values
Think back on moments or conversations you have had with your partner that might highlight their interests, values, hopes, and needs. Have they mentioned a hobby that they enjoy and want to reignite their passion for? Did they express a desire for more date nights or more experiences rather than physical items as gifts? Have they mentioned a memory that they hold dear and treasure with you recently? Looking back on conversations with your partner and taking a moment to actively listen to what they are expressing can be a great place to brainstorm for gifts that will be more thoughtful and considerate for your partner this year.
Examples of Intentional Gifts:
- Experience Gifts: Instructor-led cooking, pottery making, or candle-making classes. Tickets to a concert, play, or sporting event. A membership for something related to your partner’s hobbies, for example, a book subscription, yoga studio membership, etc.
- DIY Gifts: A curated playlist with songs that remind you of your partner. A date night box with items handpicked to create a new memory or tradition with your partner. A handwritten recipe book with your favorite dishes or treats you and your partner enjoy making. A custom spice blend tailored to their favorite type of cuisine.
- Sentimental Gifts: A custom painting or drawing that signifies an important memory, a handwritten love letter, a framed photograph or album, or a piece of jewelry engraved with a special date or quote that is meaningful.
- Practical But Thoughtful Gifts: A high-quality item to support your partner’s hobby (like a new graphics card for your partner who likes to play pc games or a new paint set for the artist in your life). A cozy blanket or robe in their favorite color or embroidered with a special saying or phrase. A custom water bottle.
The best gifts do not have to be over-the-top extravagant or expensive…they simply need to have intentional thought and effort poured into them. An intentionally chosen gift signals to your partner that you listened to their wants and needs, took the time to consider them and wanted them to feel understood and seen. This holiday season, I encourage you to focus on the connection that your gift will foster with your partner and lead with your heart – not just your wallet.