6 reasons why we recommend giving experiences as gifts

What do we mean by giving experiences as gifts?

First of all, we need to clarify the difference between a material gift and an experience. Giving an experience is giving something to DO (going to the movies, a concert, traveling, skydiving, enjoying a spa day, etc.); while giving a material gift is something to HAVE (clothes, accessories, makeup, gadgets, objects). Having explained this, now we share with you 6 reasons why we recommend giving experiences as gifts:

1. They create long-term memories.

While material gifts physically last longer than experiences, they create memories that will last much longer psychologically. We believe one of the reasons is that experiences create more than one moment of excitement. That is to say, when you receive a material gift, you obviously get excited at the moment; however, with an experience you get excited at the moment, you get excited in the moments leading up to the experience, you get excited during the experience, you get excited when you talk about the experience, and you get excited every time you remember it.

For example, if you know your mom likes wine, what do you think she will remember longer, that you give her a bottle of her favorite wine or that you give her a wine tasting?

2. Experiences feel like more personal gifts

If you want to create a great excitement in the recipient, it must be a well-thought-out gift, one you know they will like. In the case of material gifts, you need to know that person very well to choose the right gift that will be memorable, and also try to find out if they already have it. In the case of experiences, with just having an idea about their personality, tastes, or preferences, you can surely choose an experience that they will enjoy, even if it is an experience they have lived before. Or even for corporate gifts where you don’t know who will receive it, there are experiences that practically everyone likes and will feel like something more personal than receiving a material gift that has nothing to do with their tastes or preferences.

For example, at a company holiday party, who hasn't received a blender or some other appliance? It’s very likely that you ended up giving it away or selling it. What if instead, you had received a gift certificate for a home massage? It’s something that practically everyone likes and they will feel it as something much more personal.

3. Anticipating the experience is part of the fun

That moment of waiting between knowing that you will enjoy an experience until you live it creates a sense of anticipation that is part of the memory that person will have surrounding the experience. Obviously, depending on the experience, that waiting period will vary.

For example, if they blindfold you to take you directly to live a surprise experience, that sense of anticipation will last the time it takes to get there. In contrast, if the experience is that you are given a romantic getaway for next weekend, the anticipation is longer and is rekindled with each preparatory action you need to take, such as packing your bags, planning the trip, etc.

4. Experiences lead to more lasting happiness

This goes hand in hand with point number 1, memories. According to psychological studies, in the long run, experiences make people happier compared to material possessions. This is partly because the initial joy of acquiring or receiving a new object fades over time as people become accustomed to seeing it every day. Experiences, on the other hand, continue to bring joy through memories, even long after the event has taken place.

For example, if you are given a perfume, you will certainly appreciate and enjoy it; however, the joy will be momentary and then you will get used to using it and it will no longer bring you that joy each time you use it. In contrast, if you are given a trip, you will feel great joy every time you remember that trip.

5. Experiences allow us to try new things

Generally, with the daily routine, we don’t dedicate our time to trying new things. Therefore, when we are given an experience, it often becomes that great opportunity we needed to take the step and finally do it. And if the experience we are given is not new to us, we will still enjoy it for two reasons: the first, that they tend to be experiences we don't do very frequently, and second, that even if it is an experience we have enjoyed before, each time it will have something that makes it unique.

For example, if you are given a ticket to a concert, you may have been to a concert before, but the experience will be totally different as it is likely that the surroundings are different, the artist is different, the company is different, the show is different, your mood that day is different, etc.

6. And one of the things we like most about experiences is that they are about LIVING them.

We are surrounded by material things that come and go, break, get lost, and are forgotten in a drawer. Experiences give us opportunities to live, enriching the mind, body, and soul. Because there are many things to DO, instead of having.

And well-being experiences are a fantastic option, as we all need that personal care, but few of us give it the priority it deserves. How many times have you heard your friends or family say they would love a spa day but don't take the time to do it? Or that their neck or back hurts...

Save them the excuse and give them quality time for themselves. It will be a conscious, sustainable, personalized gift that promotes their well-being.

How to give a home SPA experience?

Acquiring a gift certificate from Zen to Go is very easy, fast, and secure. Visit our dedicated page here to purchase your SPA gift certificate.

1. Personalize your gift certificate by choosing the card design and gift options (massages, packages, or by amount).

2. Schedule the date for sending the gift certificate, which can be immediately after the purchase of the certificate or at a later date.

3. Write the information of the beneficiary and sender, and optionally write a message for the beneficiary.

4. Choose your payment method to carry out the transaction quickly, easily, and securely.

5. Done! The beneficiary will receive the certificate on the date you scheduled, via email, to book the luxury home SPA experience offered by Zen to Go when they wish. The therapists arrive with everything needed: massage table, fresh and clean sheets, quality essential oils, and relaxing music.