It's holiday season, which means it's that time of year to show your friends and family how much you love them. And in our culture, that typically means gift giving. For some people, this is the best time of year. They thrive off of finding thoughtful gifts for others, no matter the price or size. For others though, gift giving is stressful. They cringe at the thought of showing someone their love via a nicely wrapped package. There's a lot of pressure to give the perfect gift, and they just don't want to be a part of it.

My mother is one of the former people; she truly enjoys finding thoughtful gifts for her loved ones. After observing her my entire life, I finally found the formula of giving a thoughtful gift. Because even if every gift you give can't be the best, you can at least show that you put a lot of effort and thought into it. Since they do say, it's the thought that counts.

Pay attention throughout the year

Whether it's your mom, dad, significant other, or best friend, you tend to spend a lot of time with them. And you know that come Christmas time you're going to be scrambling around for a gift. So throughout the year, pay attention things that they say they like or want, and take note of it. I even have a secret board on Pinterest titled "Boyfriend Ideas," which feature crafts and gifts that I come across that I eventually want to gift him.

Ask them

Simple, right? Some people won't have an answer for you, which is fine, but if there's something that they really want or need it's great to go right to the source.

Know what type of gifts they like

Do they prefer experiences over things, or does a gift need to be tangible? Do they find gift cards to be lazy or a kind way to fill a need? It's all personal taste, so find out theirs.

Think about their favorite hobbies and interests

Sports, video games, movies, shows, books, etc. Find a general theme and go searching for a gift within it. It doesn't even need to be super obvious, like a jersey for a big football fan. One year I gifted my friend a Shakespearean insults mug; she was an English major in college, works in publishing, an Anglophile, and is an avid reader. Etsy and Pinterest are both great sources to search and find unique gifts for fans of all interests.

Think about what's new in their lives

Is there a new home, new job, new car, or new city in their lives? Is there something you can give to fill a need there, like new tea towels or a mug for their desk? Perhaps if they're feeling homesick you can give them something that represent their home state or hometown, like these candles or necklaces.

Buy ahead of time

I'll be honest, this is where I tend to go wrong. I will do all of the above - making notes, searching Pinterest and Etsy, brainstorming - but since I'm so indecisive, I wait until the last minute when it's too late to order the gift I originally wanted. Go shopping in November and if you think you're going to get something personalized, try to do it in October. It might seem a bit excessive, but you're guaranteed to have your gift come in time for the holidays. And if you're putting all this thought into it, you want to make sure you can give it to your loved ones on time.