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.

 

每到圣诞节的时候，无论我们做了多少准备，提前购置了多少礼物，我们总是到最后一分钟的时候才选出最恰当的礼物。

 

According to the latest survey, we undo¹ all our good work as Christmas draws closer, worrying that our original, carefully planned, gift choices might not cut the mustard².

 

据最新的一项调查显示，随着圣诞节临近，我们会否定之前做的准备工作，担心我们之前精心挑选的礼物不会达到预期的效果。

 

The behavior has been termed 'gift creep³', and if find yourself doing any of the following, you're probably a sufferer:

 

上述这种行为被称为gift creep（礼物累加），如果你发现自己有以下症状，说明你就是“礼物累加”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 luxury⁴ chocolates) on top to soften⁵ the effect.

你的圣诞采购已经结束，但你每次出去还是会买一些额外的小东西。你担心某人会不喜欢你已经买好的礼物，所以你又加了一个礼物（比如高档巧克力）来增加礼物的吸引力。

 

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

圣诞节有朋友来访之前，你会环顾一下家里，看还有没有什么别的礼物可以送他们。

 

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

把所有礼物都包装好以后，你担心礼物的大小和数量都不够大。

 

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

你会计算购买礼物花钱的总数，然后尽量按金额平均分配礼物，以免让自己显得小气。

 

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

你之前已经给某人买了礼物，后来又忘记你已经买了，最后送了人家两件礼物。

 

The solution? Stay focused and ignore the last-minute hype. Chances are you chose the original presents in good faith and the recipient⁶ will appreciate them.

怎么才能避免这样的情况呢？集中注意力，忽略最后时刻的那种不安心理。事实可能是，你心怀美好的愿望选了礼物，收到礼物的人会喜欢这个礼物的。