特別的日子為很在意的人準備了一份禮物，可是那個日子越臨近，你就越擔心選的禮物不夠好、怕對方不喜歡，然后又開始搜尋購買其他你認為對方可能會喜歡的禮物。這種狀態就叫gift creep。

It doesn’t matter how much we plan ahead and shop early when it comes to Christmas, we can't resist picking up presents right up until the last minute.

每到圣誕節的時候，無論我們做了多少準備，提前購置了多少禮物，我們總是到最后一分鐘的時候才選出最恰當的禮物。

According to the latest survey, we undo all our good work as Christmas draws closer, worrying that our original, carefully planned, gift choices might not cut the mustard.

據最新的一項調查顯示，隨著圣誕節臨近，我們會否定之前做的準備工作，擔心我們之前精心挑選的禮物不會達到預期的效果。

The behavior has been termed ‘gift creep’, and if find yourself doing any of the following, you’re probably a sufferer:

上述這種行為被稱為gift creep（禮物累加），如果你發現自己有以下癥狀，說明你就是“禮物累加”心理的受害者之一：

? You’ve finished your Christmas shopping but still buy little ‘extras’ every time you go out. You worry someone won’t like what you’ve bought them, so you add another gift (like some luxury chocolates) on top to soften the effect.

? 你的圣誕采購已經結束，但你每次出去還是會買一些額外的小東西。你擔心某人會不喜歡你已經買好的禮物，所以你又加了一個禮物（比如高檔巧克力）來增加禮物的吸引力。

? Before someone visits at Christmas you look around the house to see if there’s anything else you could give them.

? 圣誕節有朋友來訪之前，你會環顧一下家里，看還有沒有什么別的禮物可以送他們。

? After wrapping all your gifts you feel anxious that the size and number of parcels looks a bit on the small side.

? 把所有禮物都包裝好以后，你擔心禮物的大小和數量都不夠大。

? You tot up how much you’ve spent on people and try to even up the numbers so as not to appear stingy.

? 你會計算購買禮物花錢的總數，然后盡量按金額平均分配禮物，以免讓自己顯得小氣。

? You buy a gift for someone, forgetting you've already bought them something, and end up giving them both anyway.

? 你之前已經給某人買了禮物，后來又忘記你已經買了，最后送了人家兩件禮物。

The solution? Stay focused and ignore the last-minute hype. Chances are you chose the original presents in good faith and the recipient will appreciate them. (Source: bt.com)

怎么才能避免這樣的情況呢？集中注意力，忽略最后時刻的那種不安心理。事實可能是，你心懷美好的愿望選了禮物，收到禮物的人會喜歡這個禮物的。

相關閱讀

新媽媽禮物 push present

層層包裝的“套娃式禮物”

過節“轉禮”?regifting

什么是“圣誕節綜合癥”？

（中國日報網英語點津 Helen）

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