The tail-end of the holiday season always brings around several opportunities for gift-giving, but it often also fills people with anxiety. How do you find a present that’s the right color, the right size, the right price, the right balance of specific-enough-to-show-you-care but generic-enough-they’ll-like-it energy? It can be equal parts stressful and exciting to go gift shopping, especially during a time where we’re constantly bombarded with new products, extravagant ideas and overachieving relatives. To make the whole experience easier (and calmer), here are five tips to narrow down your shopping list this holiday season:

1. Know your audience

The next time you see your friend or family member receive a gift, make a mental note of their reaction. What kind of a gift was it? Practical, sentimental, aesthetic or funny? Did they seem to like it or did they never touch it again? While this may seem like a bit much, reflecting on these events can help you narrow down your possible gift. In addition, try to keep track of people’s hobbies and get (or make) presents that correspond. For example, if they like painting, get them an art staple they’re running out of; or if they’re into music, get them their favorite vinyl. Knowing the kind of gift they like will make you a lot more confident in your choice and relieve a lot of anxiety when shopping. The majority of the time, we don’t pay attention to these nuances until we’re at the stores; however, reflecting on your friends’ and family’s personalities before shopping day will make the experience a whole lot easier.

2. Aim for practicality

For a lot of people, the best gifts are the ones you can use. Flowers, chocolate, and ornaments are great, but they all have a short life span. Try to give your friends and family gifts that they need practically, whether those are organizational tools or a case for their phone that’s one clumsy drop away from shattering. Giving someone a gift they can use every day is giving them a reminder of your thoughtfulness every day. Pay attention to what they say they need in conversation; it could be a passive comment about needing a new jacket or a new vase. Giving someone something you know they want and will use is the best way to have a fool-proof gift idea and show that you listen to what they need. Plus, it personalizes itself; since it’s specifically tailored for their use, there is no fear of it being too generic and looking like an afterthought.

Here are a few examples of practical gifts:

(hover over each star for an example, and click to go to the product listing)

3. Personalize with care

If your receiver doesn’t love the functional gifts and prefers to go for something more traditional and holiday-like, try to personalize them in some way. A great way to personalize gifts is to make them a basket of things specifically tailored to them, whether it’s full of their favorite candy or favorite stationery. Or, try adding a handmade element to your gifts; you can paint their name on it, add a hand-crafted element or card, or base it off of an inside joke (think the Teapot from The Office). This shows the person you care, so even if the gift itself isn’t the most extravagant, the thought put into it is. When in doubt, go handwritten; it makes it that much more special. You don’t have to be an artist to make a handmade gift because imperfection just adds to the personal touch of it all. Just make sure to steer away from overly personalized gifts to the point where it makes them unusable. For example, don’t get anything engraved with their name or initials unless you’re a hundred percent sure they’ll love it; those sorts of permanent additions can leave you in an awkward situation. Here are a few examples of personalized gifts:

4. When in Doubt, Ask

If you truly can’t come up with a gift idea, ask them! The element of surprise isn’t nearly as important as making sure they’ll be happy, especially if you find yourself in doubt. If you’re doing something like a Secret Santa or gifting in a large group, try using tools such as Elfster or DrawNames to assign gift-givers to recipients. These apps also allow users to make wish lists, which is a really important tool for anyone anxious about gift-giving. You can also ask your friends and family to make physical wish lists and leave them all in one place for everyone to use. Another tip is to have “favorites” wish lists or inspiration lists rather than just gift ideas. For example, you can ask friends to note down their favorite clothing store or color so that you have a good idea of what they like, but the individual gift itself relies on you. This method keeps a bit of that surprise element in because they don’t exactly know what they’re getting, but it provides the security of knowing it’s something they like.

5. Don’t Stress Out

Remember, gift-giving is a fun activity. At the end of the day, no one is going to judge you if your present isn’t the most extravagant or expensive. As cheesy as it sounds, it is the thought that counts – often, a heartfelt card can end up being more meaningful than the latest technological marvel or the newest line of clothing. Don’t feel pressured to “outdo” yourself from last year or other people, because at the end of the day, it is just a present. Shopping for presents should be a fun and relaxing experience and a way to share your thoughtfulness to members of your family and friend group, so make sure not to overthink!

As stressful as gifting can be, it’s also one of the most heartwarming parts of the holiday season. Keeping the receiver and your motivation in mind can make the experience a lot more fun!