If you’re struggling to pick Christmas gifts for your family this year, science might be able to give you some answers. According to this video from BrainCraft, one study found people get a boost from environmentally friendly gifts and charitable donations in their name. You could also try buying an experience – such as tickets to a concert or rugby game – as looking forward to an event can prolong happiness. Another option is to use the ‘Ikea effect’ to your advantage, which states that people (and kids above the age of five or six) place more value on something they at least partially construct themselves. So, giving a gift that requires some assembly might actually lead the recipient to value that item more.