No matter if it’s the holiday season or not, we all have times throughout the year when we have to come up with a gift idea for someone. And for some people this actually creates anxiety.

You might be familiar with the following questions: What should I get? What could be useful? Is a gift card too impersonal? Will they even like it?

These are the questions that many anxious gift-givers pound their brains over and over with, in hopes of finding the perfect gift, all to see a smile form on the face of its recipient. But we shouldn’t force ourselves to find perfection when gift-giving, and the process shouldn’t ever be so nerve-racking.

Gift-giving is best when simplicity is involved. And there are many simple gift ideas that are always timeless hits, no matter the occasion.

If you’re tired of indecision over gift-giving, try these simple ideas for your next celebration.

Alcohol

Yes, you read that correctly. A nice bottle of alcohol is never a bad gift idea, unless, of course, the person you’re buying for is a recovering alcoholic or they simply don’t drink. But for anyone else, a bottle of fine spirits is always a welcomed gift.

The ancient Persians thought of wine and spirits as divine, and this is where most historians believe the giving of wine as a gift was born. Wines and spirits were often used as gifts in the ancient world, making this idea truly timeless and classic.

Today we have a plethora of craft wines, bourbons, gins, tequilas, and vodkas that are all great for a gift, and you can even spice up your presentation by using a custom wine bottle bag if you want to add a personal touch.

Books

Not everyone is a reader, but each individual has personal interests and ideas. And books are a great way to enhance and enrich passions and interests.

The key to buying a book for someone is to really understand who they are and what makes them tick. And in a way, getting someone a book that mirrors an interest or an aspect of their life is a sign that you know them as a person, and that you value your relationship.

Books have been classic gifts since the time of antiquity, and owning a nice stack of books today is linked to academic achievement.

Books were also known to be a gift of the affluent due to the fact that not many people were able to read back in the middle ages. In many ways, book ownership marked a higher social status, and the more books you owned was a sign of great wealth.

But the fact still remains today that knowledge is power. Giving the gift of knowledge is thus a timeless act, as books are symbolic of wisdom.

Personalized Gifts

When you personalize a gift for someone, you take the act of giving to a nuanced level. You’re not only getting someone something useful, but adding a personal touch.

If you’ve ever worked in a customer service environment, one of the first things you’re taught is to remember someone’s name, and to address them by it. Using someone’s name creates a sense of comfort and familiarity, which is a foundation of trust. And using someone’s name with a gift is no different.

For example, anyone can own a coffee mug, but a coffee mug with your name engraved, or your astrological sign, or even a phrase that you say often adds a personalized touch to otherwise ordinary gift ideas.

You can personalize just about anything through engraving or print media, from phone cases to ornate serving platters. And these are always great gift ideas that will bring out that smile you’re looking for.

Overthinking gift ideas is a common theme among westerners. But gift-giving doesn’t have to be the chore that so many people get anxious over. In fact, gift-giving should be a pleasant experience. And the best way to approach any gift idea is with simplicity.