Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash " />Couple drinking coffee, sitting on stairs at home. One thing about me is that I love a trinket . Since I was around 8 years old, I’ve collected figurines of fairies, cats, and various small animals. They’ve moved with me throughout the 20+ homes I’ve lived in and have adorned many a bookshelf. I love them. However, now that I’m in my mid-30′s, I’ve found myself hoping for more practical gifts . Ones that make my day-to-day life easier, ones that feel like a little luxury at the end of a long day. Even just a really, really good blanket. It feels boring to ask for them though. Isn’t Christmas supposed to magical? Aren’t the gifts I get at this time meant to be whimsical? How whimsical can a foot spa really be? It turns out, practical gifts can often create more happiness While it is lovely to receive a beautiful piece of jewellery or a sweet trinket, they don’t often make much of a lasting impact on your quality of life. In fact, according to behavioural psychologist, Jo Hemmings, who is working in collaboration with Argos , the human brain has re-evaluated what generosity feels like in 2025. She explains: “This trend signals a sophisticated shift in how we process generosity. “It moves beyond a one-off ‘wow’ moment on Christmas morning and taps into the psychological principle of ’everyday reinforcement. When you gift an item – like an air fryer or a hair styler – that integrates seamlessly into daily life, the practicality becomes a positive daily habit. “Significantly, this creates a loop where the positive feeling associated with the gift is re-experienced daily. Usefulness, therefore, becomes the new luxury because it is the most effective pathway to sustained happiness.” Isn’t that SO GOOD? Research from Argos backs this up. In a survey of 2,000 adults, Argos and Censuswide found that 72% of Brits agree that they love it when a gift gets used regularly, while the positive feeling associated with a useful gift is estimated to last a year longer than an item used just once. So, if you’re worried like I am about asking for or even giving a ‘boring’ practical gift, just know that it will likely have a longer-lasting impact. Related... 11 Last Minute Christmas Gifts For The Cool Girl In Your Life 'Being Able To Give My Child Her Own Bed Was The Best Christmas Gift' 13 Foodie Gifts Keen Home Cooks Will Actually Use