With all that’s happened in 2020, we’ve all slowly (but surely) have started adapting to what is called the ‘new normal’. Of course, the term ‘new normal’ itself isn’t exactly new. In fact, the term has been used in relation to the financial crisis of 2007-2008, and the aftermath of the 2008–2012 global recession. But, as you can see from the previous examples, the term has only ever been used (largely) in a business and economic sense.  

With the COVID-19 pandemic – which was declared a global health emergency by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 30th January 2020 however, the term has gained a little bit of an upgrade. One that encompasses the change in human interactions and behaviour in society. 

As the pandemic continues to progress, more and more people find themselves practising social distancing, self-isolating, or in quarantine to recover. It’s an overwhelming and isolating time for many, but as the saying goes;

‘Out of the fires of desperation burn hope and solidarity.’

Even through these trying times, human beings have found increasingly creative ways to stay connected. From scheduling regular calls to friends and family to playing co-op games online, the pandemic has shed the light on just how important social connections are to our personal health.   

Additionally, as the holiday season approaches, more and more people are eager to showcase their thanks and appreciation to the ones who have helped them pull through this difficult time. In this blog, we will be exploring some of the popular gift ideas for the upcoming holidays – with respect to proper gift-giving etiquettes that should be observed during the pandemic. 

1) Personalised Gift Boxes

There’s more to gift-giving than simply purchasing the most expensive thing you see and slapping a bow on it. In fact, a lot of people judge the value of a gift not by how much it’s worth, but by how it’s presented by the gifter. This is where personalised gift boxes come in. 

Personalised gifts boxes have seen an increase in popularity and are highly valued by the recipient. Unlike your typical gifts of chocolates and accessories (which can be easily forgotten over time), a personalised gift box filled with an array of thoughtful customised gifts will be treasured forever and can be taken as a heartfelt token of love, appreciation and care. 

Furthermore, as the items inside the gift boxes can be adorned with precious pictures from special moments or occasions shared between you and the receiver, it will also allow the receiver to take a trip down memory lane and relive the moments that once made them smile. 

Not only can it evoke happiness for the person who receives it – especially if they’ve been stuck inside with nowhere to go due to the pandemic, but a personalised gift box will also go a long way to show people just how much you care about them. 

See here: Personalised Gift Boxes from Pixajoy

2) Custom Posters

A good poster can make all the difference when it comes to interior decor. Not only are they a cost-effective and fun way to add colour to any given living space, but a personalised poster can also tie together a room and remind the receiver of a special moment in time. 

The best thing about personalised posters is the sheer customizability – it all depends on your creativity. If your friends or family love to travel, why not make them a custom travel poster featuring a photo or a collage of photos from their most recent trip. It’ll serve as a great reminder of all the wonderful things that they’ve experienced on their past adventures and can also be something of a ‘motivator’ for their next trip (once the situation allows for it). 

See here: Personalised Poster from Pixajoy

Additionally, if your gift receiver happened to have welcomed a new addition to their family, you can also opt to give them a unique keepsake in the form of a personalised, illustration poster of their child – a thoughtful gift that will bring a smile to any newborn parent’s faces. 

The Miracle Baby Poster is one of those ‘make you cry happy tears’ kind of gifts. Featuring a minimalist design, the illustration on the poster can be customised to the baby’s actual length at birth – making it 100% unique.  Best of all, the simple yet elegant design of the poster also makes it easy for the Miracle Baby Poster to blend into any kind of aesthetic. 

See here: Personalised Miracle Baby Poster from Pixajoy 

3) Personalised Postcards

Sometimes, it’s really the thought that counts. Instead of showering loved ones with big gifts, sendings them something small but meaningful for the holidays works just as well. Take, for example, personalised postcards. These small, unassuming pieces of art cards can seamlessly capture a moment in time, reminding people of the place that they’ve been and serve as an excellent reminder of the gifter’s personality.

With the ability to feature both images and text, personalised postcards are relatively easy and cost-efficient to make. You can make dozens of them and send them out to everyone on your holiday list – ensuring that no one feels left out. Handwriting a message to address each person is also a great way to show people that you care. After all, the act of making a postcard, crafting a message and sending it out by post involves a lot of thought and work. 

The receiver will no doubt be touched by the level of dedication shown to have the postcard delivered and will cherish it all the more – even if the only thing you’ve written on the back of the postcard was a message to check in on how they’re doing! 

Plus, there’s just something about snail mail that feels a bit more special than the usual “checking in” text message or emails.

See here: Personalised Postcards from Pixajoy 

 4) Activity Journals

During the pandemic, a majority of us are stuck indoors and oftentimes are left separated from friends and family. While quarantine and self-isolation are necessary to curb the spread of the Covid-19 disease, it can also wreak havoc on one’s mental health.  

“We are not meant to be alone,” said Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a psychology professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, who has joined a team of international researchers to study how quickly the forced isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people.

Human beings, when left isolated are more prone to bouts of depression and negativity. Lonely and alone, they’re often left with negative, sometimes scary thoughts which can lead to both mental and physical decline. 

One of the ways to help curb this is to keep the mind active and focused on the positive things in life. If you want to get someone a gift to help cheer them up and take their minds off all the bad things that have been happening around lately, try giving them a fun and meaningful activity journal – like a Gratitude Challenge Book. 

This book helps to remind people of all the wonderful little things that life has to offer, boosts their creativity, raises their self-esteem, lowers their stress and can help them regain proper focus so that they can continue with their day to day life feeling unburdened by negative thoughts. 

In addition, this book is also a great way to interact with kids to help teach them how to be confident, thoughtful citizens as well. 

See here: Personalised Lifestyle Book: 30 Days Challenge by Pixajoy

5) Custom Framed Prints

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. A framed print is a rather sentimental gift – perfect for conveying how much you adore and cherish your friends or family members. Not only are they a simple and stress-free gift option, but you also have the ability to make them as cheesy, romantic, goofy or aesthetic as you’d like. 

Choosing photos of your shared experiences – like for example:

• Pictures from your travel trips
• Cafe hopping snaps
• Theme park adventures
• Goofy photos from high school or college 
• Photos from previous holiday events

By framing these moments and giving them as gifts, it will allow for the receiver to constantly look back and remember all the good times you’ve spent together. Something that will undoubtedly make them smile and look upon your gift fondly. 

See here: Personalised Framed Prints from Pixajoy

6) Money

Giving and receiving money as a gift is a delicate business; but if you’re really stuck on what to give someone for the holidays, it works in a pinch.

“That’s [money] the one gift that people are definitely going to use,”  – Elaine Swann,  lifestyle and etiquette expert | Founder of The Swann School of Protocol,

While money can’t always replace a thoughtful gift, there are times when cash money is the most appreciated gift you can give or receive. 

Of course, when it comes to giving money, there are some rules of thumbs to follow so it doesn’t come off as tacky! For example, if you’re planning on giving cash as a gift, don’t just hand someone a bunch of bills. Instead, use a money packet so that it’s more presentable

For the extra creative, you can also choose to use personalised money packets so that you don’t lose out too much on the thoughtfulness factor.

See here: Personalised Money Packets from Pixajoy

And that concludes our list of 6 Popular Gift Ideas for the Holiday Season: Pandemic Edition. All in all, shopping for gifts during the holiday season this year doesn’t have to be a stressful event. With a personalised gifting website like Pixajoy, you can get all of your holiday shopping done within minutes. 

With plenty of customisable gifts to choose from, you’ll have a ton of freedom to explore fun, meaningful and thoughtful ways to turn your camera roll into amazing gifts that will be cherished forever.

Interested in creating personalised gifts? Check out our latest promos or explore our website for inspiration.