Russians named the main reasons for anxiety when choosing New Year's gifts

Experts from SOKOLOV and the Scandinavian Health Center have found out why choosing a New Year's gift, even for loved ones, often turns into a source of anxiety and who is most worried about it during the holidays. The results of the study were reviewed on December 25 by Izvestia.

According to the survey, 81% of respondents admit that they like to please their loved ones, but almost one in five doubts their abilities and tries to avoid difficult choices. Only 55% believe that they are good at choosing gifts, 40% rate their skills as average, and 5% explicitly say that they are often mistaken. At the same time, women are noticeably more likely than men to worry about the recipient's reaction and doubt that they have made a good choice.

The main source of stress turned out to be a limited budget — 27% of respondents face this problem. Another 23% are afraid that they will not like the gift or will be unnecessary, 17% are lost because of the too large assortment, and 15% worry that they will not guess the style, color or size. Experts note that women are more likely to worry about the visual impression and taste of a gift, while men often postpone the purchase until the last moment.

In addition, the study showed that 56% of Russians choose gifts in a hurry. About 30% make a purchase five to seven days before the holiday, and another 26% make a purchase one or two days in advance. As a result, one in four turns to friends or relatives of the recipient for advice, 23% choose universal options such as certificates or sweets, and 13% prefer to give money.

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The most difficult categories to choose were children's gifts, clothes, as well as cosmetics and perfumes. Jewelry causes stress for 10% of respondents: 31% are afraid to make a mistake with the size, 28% doubt that they will guess the style, and 24% admitted that they are lost due to the abundance of options. At the same time, Russians worry the most when choosing gifts for their closest ones — the partner's parents, their own parents, and the other half.

Clear guidelines help to reduce anxiety levels. Some participants set a tight budget in advance, while others use ready-made collections of ideas or choose online purchases to calmly compare options.

"Stress reaction in the pre—holiday season is a norm inherent in human nature. Every choice causes anxiety due to responsibility, and the lack of time increases it. To alleviate the condition, plan purchases in advance, set a budget and, if possible, clarify the wishes of your loved ones. Then the process will be pleasant, not stressful," concluded Anatoly Kaplun, a neurologist at the Scandinavian Health Center.

On December 22, Alexander Shushunov, head of the Scooter Impulse Goods marketing department, told Izvestia how to quickly choose a gift that would be appropriate and pleasant and at the same time fit into the budget. According to him, the most affordable but pleasant token of attention can be purchased by spending up to 500 rubles. The basic categories work well in this range, such as useful household items, sweet gifts, tea and coffee, and small holiday packages. Such gifts are popular precisely because of their accessibility, versatility, and lack of "commitment.": nice to receive, easy to give, suitable for both colleagues and friends.

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