< Previous50 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CHRISTMAS ctober will doubtlessly feel too early for some to talk about Christmas and yet it’s also the month where most people start being aware of the need to go shopping for Christmas presents. Research suggests that November and December are the most common times for buying, but October is when people start planning what to buy – at least for those they care about more intimately. Some people struggle with gifts and what to buy someone, especially when there are so many social rules over it. What you buy a family member may differ from a friend, and buying for a new parent-in- law can feel like an even bigger challenge. Too little and you can come across arrogant or cheap, too much and it’s trying too hard. Obviously, everyone wants to give gifts that will be loved and appreciated, but how do we go about that? Given the deep emotional, religious and cultural aspects of Christmas and the giving of gifts, it shouldn’t be a surprise that a lot of psychological research has been conducted on the subject. While this covers a wide range of topics from how giving gifts stimulates dopamine, one of the more nuanced and important studies was into how to pick a gift that will create the greatest sense of happiness in the recipient. The results were particularly shocking because they highlighted that the gifts most positively received and remembered were not those that were big experiences like holidays, but instead everyday items that were found to be “useful” by the recipient. In the study, researchers found that recipients expressed greater and longer senses of pleasure when given gifts that they both a) liked and b) could see a long-term use for. Romantic gestures like a trip away would produce a short and noticeable rush of positive sensations, but they would also fade quicker and be completely forgotten after (or sometimes by) the time of the trip itself. Conversely, gifts that were used more regularly such as clothing, jewellery and even shoes produced longer periods of satisfaction in the recipients. These effects continued long after the gift giving, likely representing the constant reminders of the gift whenever a person would wear or use the item. Does this mean that one-off experiences and romantic evenings out are pointless? No. The research showed that positive emotions did spike during Christmas perfect The One of the most stressful parts of Christmas is choosing gifts for people. That starts for many in October, and the indecision can be crushing. OLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 51 CHRISTMAS these events; however, they probably should not be the only gift given, as the memory of them fades faster. Combining them with other items that a person can use repeatedly gives the greatest chance of giving both a temporary spike and a lasting sense of happiness. The focus should be on useful and appreciated items, things a person can use, and if these relate to the individual’s hobbies and passions then all the better, because that shows an awareness and interest in what they love to do. Choosing gifts for someone else’s passion can be difficult, however. If the hobby is relatively simple, like an enjoyment of Taylor Swift music, then it’s easy to buy them some albums. If they have hobbies that seem more esoteric to you – such as wargaming, videogames, equine, or even art – then it can be more difficult. Good advice when dealing with complex hobbies like this is to take some photos of things they already have and then take them to someone who runs a store on the hobby. They will know a lot more about it than you do and can give advice, and by taking pictures of what they already have, be it games, fishing tackle, golf clubs or anything else, you can give the clerk the material to see 53 Á © stock.adobe.com/luckybusiness52 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CHRISTMAS f !emimotnaP t cef-rruP nilkcubhsawS ,laciret-ssiH w eNehT Chris Moreno in association with the Grimsby Auditorium S29D2029DS29D20S7 f ds RichareithKectore oodoapherae achlannne MacL A rre enoe eeeWritten & Directed by Chris Mor Associate Poducer ChoreogrThomas W Musical Dir BOOBBFFCCCCJJSSBBSJCCFBO$ ! g n , & e E m m e r d a da SIR l L H L A C SO iaia M R F E F !! o l ooll AA‘ f r f S t a S oll A l ll G l NADNIT o RISLEAM dd n a m e ralluup o p y p B a c k b d e m a caMET n LNALHCATOLRAH EGDOHEU C S m present 02424 <:@ ! !-* !,* 024024 f rr a t e e r t nn oii aannoo rroo & CC tio S t r e e t S tt t slllleBwoBBy TTOAMA a E B N r f Sun 29 Dec 20un 29 Dec 2Sun 29 Dec 2-Sun29Dec20Sat 7 at 7 ==FOF9<?KKKEFJI<GE@K@J@M !bl%^if%dl`ifk`[lXXYjd`i^ *''''*''*' JJ<::88J<C8JGLFI> *''''*''*'<:@==FOO9F & p 8 Sat 7 f nerrawzttiiFyF SKRALCSO d N d tatRnReeu RPENNAI Q TSS Q E lluuddA dnatS 30.9 30.9 8 N2 A rsrseaea5 y5y15 (35(3ddlliihh10 C10Ct £t£d£l :teeiciddard T 1 )ati & S £ rr k: (F30..m t0atr nu pm s & Srhuh 0p (( o 7 o 4pmm tsn) ember T ce 0am oember tvoo N1 D d £l£ r 2c a- s) 42024 s) yehlgruB gnihopps y a toEnj rias FChrisstma t ae y encxpeeri gical g e mmyluar r he ooB isaaotor ssnanI hguBr na t vAd lAdu xixlF A le inek onl epheedu o hehsnuuse fdueRyerTeH e hor ee d tlCle s for tS hhhitionwiacotAngCommite n e coldro he a ht oSte,souy HeshLin nrkia mf er hlt y | Fg onkiebooe pl 05.. onl £ nc dilh C51££lt :teeiciT d k 7 g 0 iceall HoaHsp YJ39EPeirhE LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 53 CHRISTMAS Woolliss & Son Butchers –– AWARD-WINNING LINCOLNSHIRE BUTCHERS –– LOOKING FOR A TOP QUALITY BUTCHERS IN LINCOLNSHIRE? Look no further, we have a proven track record when it comes to providing top quality cuts of meat and home made pastries at a competitive price. We are proud of our locally sourced produce and our 5 star hygiene rating. 29-31 Mercer Row, Louth LN11 9JG. T: 01507 603230 E: orders@woolliss-butchers.co.uk W: woolliss-butchers.co.uk Festive orders now being taken what your recipient already has, and what they’re missing from a collection. Going this extra mile shows a willingness to step outside of your comfort zone and engage with the hobbies of a loved one, which is also typically associated with stronger feelings of satisfaction in relationships. Everyone wants to involve the person they love in their hobbies, after all. It’s possible to go too far on this aspect, however. A study by Galak showed that there was a tendency in people to want to give unique gifts, which often led to much agonising and the eventual purchase of things the recipient wouldn’t want. There was also a strong urge to buy different gifts for different people in a desire to not appear unimaginative, even when the gift-giver knows multiple people would appreciate the same gift. Though this likely isn’t intentional, it could be seen as a self- centred desire to be seen as a unique and interesting giver of gifts, which shouldn’t be the point. The point of gift giving is to make the recipient happy. Therefore, if you know people will be happiest with the same gift, give them that gift. Don’t worry about how you will look, and instead focus on how the recipient will feel. The same © stock.adobe.com/Di Studio 55 Á54 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY CHRISTMAS PON PR S:NSORED BY YYROUDLLINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 55 CHRISTMAS 17 Market Place, Louth, LN119PD info@striacroft.co.uk 01507 604029 www.striacroft.co.uk Family Jewellers Established in Louth Since 1979 Large selection of Diamond, Gold & Silver Jewellery Nomination Retailer Agents for Citizen, Iron Annie, Zeppelin, Lorus & Kronaby Watches Pre Owned Rolex & Omega Watches Jewellery & Watch Repairs. goes for price here as well, as multiple scientific studies show there is no correlation between money spent and satisfaction. Obviously, a good product is better than an inferior one, but luxury does not necessarily dictate the degree of pleasure the recipient feels. One of the simplest ways to please someone, however, is to simply ask them what they want and give them that. It may come across as unimaginative, and you’re welcome to surprise with an additional gift, but if someone gives you an indication – outright says what © stock.adobe.com/Sebastian Gauert 57 ÁPennells Lincoln Newark Rd, South Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 9NT Tel: 01522 880033 Pennells Cleethorpes Humberston Rd, Cleethorpes, N E Lincs, DN36 4RW Tel: 01472 313600 Pennells Sleaford London Rd, Silk Willoughby, Sleaford NG34 8NY Tel: 01529 304970 CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS | GIFTS | LIGHTING | TOYS & GAMES | FOOD OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK * *excluding New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, & Boxing Day For more information visit: www.pennells.co.uk Explore our magical Christmas displays & see what each of our Gardeners Restaurants has to offer!LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 57 CHRISTMAS they want! – then it’s best not to ignore that. Communication is key and it’s a sign of trust that they ask for it, so do your best to provide. Elizabeth Dunn, renowned psychology professor, says, “People want to be creative and surprise the recipient, but the better gift will be whatever they say they want.” Another researcher, Galak, agreed with the hypothesis, saying, “The simplest way to make a person happy is to give them what they want. It’s not an answer most people like because good gifts are supposed to be a surprise – even though science has disproven this!” That key final line from Galak is important when it comes to selecting gifts. There are a lot of old customs and rules of gift-giving that stem not from reality but from marketing and advertising. Brands have pushed for years the idea of buying perfumes for women, shaving gear for men, and the latest toys for children. Many of the “rules” of gift- giving that we take for granted have been created and marketed by companies because they support you buying what they produce. One such rule is the idea that a good gift should come as a surprise – but, as Galak says, repeated studies into the subject have proven this simply isn’t the case. Not all surprises are good. In fact, very few surprises are. Even when you see a video online of a person being “surprised” with a new puppy, it’s worth keeping in mind that they’ve likely had dogs in the past, wanted a new one, and communicated that in some way to the other person. Don’t try and surprise your loved ones with your gifts, and don’t take the act of gift-giving as a challenge to prove how amazing you are compared to your friends. Instead, focus on giving gifts that people will feel genuinely happy to receive, even if they’re not a surprise and don’t stand out on their own as the most expensive or unique of presents. Christmas isn’t a competition or a chance to show off. It’s a celebration of the love we have for one another. © stock.adobe.com/Sebastian Gauert58 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY COUNTY MOTORING Limited runs, expensive models and new releases – sometimes it’s about looking at dream cars. LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 59 COUNTY MOTORING Mercedes-Maybach SL 680 Monogram Series In keeping with the brand philosophy, the Mercedes-Maybach SL offers a holistic sensory experience. The contours of the brand-specific, chrome-finished radiator grille are illuminated, as is the finely integrated MAYBACH lettering. The distinctive bonnet bears an upright Mercedes star and a chromed fin running front to rear along its centre. To further enhance the exclusivity, the obsidian black bonnet is available upon request with the Maybach pattern incorporated in graphite grey uni. Inside, sustainably tanned, crystal white nappa leather creates an exceptionally exquisite ambience. It features on the door panels, the centre console and on the brand’s signature comfort seats. The seat upholstery has a new floral design. The space behind the seats is also finished in white leather. The galvanised seat backrests and silver chrome trim provide a striking contrast. The fully digital instrument display and the electrically adjustable centre display incorporate the Maybach-specific start-up animations and display styles. Further brand hallmarks are the steering wheel, the stainless-steel pedals and the stainless-steel door sill trims. Next >