Giving presents can feel like a lot of pressure. One might think they know someone inside and out . . . and still have no idea where to start. This uncertainty might lead to ghastly gifts that result in historical disappointments. After enough “failures,” one might even take out the sharpie and right on their name tag, “bad gift giver,” accepting their lifelong label.
Friends, let the sharpie dry out. Throw the sticker in the can. The chance to have good gift giving days has not disappeared yet. Here are 3 simple steps to improving the presents you purchase or make. Remember: While gift giving does not need to be complicated, it does take effort and thought! Okay, and now, proceed.
1. Plan Year-Round.
Some of you might have just exited out of the page. Plan for presents all year long? That seems like too much thought and time.
Do not stress—this does not mean you need to sit down with a piece of paper each day and routinely rewrite the plans for the upcoming birthdays and holidays. That’s a more active planning. Instead, I am referring to a more passive planning, at least until the event gets closer.
Imagine you pass something in the store and your significant other says, “Oh, I really like that. I want one of those one day.” Or, maybe you’re talking to a family member on the phone and they say, “I really like to do this, but I don’t have this item for it.”
In these moments, your metaphorical planning paper should unfold. Take a mental note, or when the person looks away, take a literal note and put it in a place they won’t see (perhaps in a vague note section on your phone). Months later, when the event arrives, you may have multiple things on that note you can refer to. You’ll want to subtly verify that the person still wants or needs the item, but if you keep in touch with them, you will likely already know. This will help you to give a gift that the person will enjoy, not only because they wanted it but because you remembered that they wanted it.
2. Buy/Make Ahead of Time.
So, you’ve successfully found the perfect present(s). You decide to make something, but you push it off. Time runs out, and you only have half an oven mitt to hand over. Or, you go the other way. You know just what to buy, and you don’t worry about time; you have Amazon Prime, and they can deliver things by the next day for free. Easy. Easy until you hit confirm purchase and find the item has been backordered. Easy until the shipping does not have an option to deliver the next day, or even the next week. Easy until the uncontrollables of time interfere and you end up with nothing to give until the special moments have passed.
While it might seem too early, I recommend beginning to buy one month ahead of time (if you are making something, research how long it will take to make and add an extra week or two into the plan for crafting the item). This will help in multiple ways.
First, you can estimate costs and filter out the items that do not fit in the budget. Second, you can get a better idea of what items will take longer to ship, what items the stores usually run out of, and what items are almost always available on demand (e.g., candy). Finally, once you have everything bought/made (perhaps, even a week ahead of time), you have more time to put thought into other elements of the gift, such as wrapping and other personal touches. The extra effort to ensure the gifts arrive on time will make the day more enjoyable for the present receiver and the day less stressful for the present giver.
3. Add a Personal Touch.
All gifts can be personal, whether handmade or not. As mentioned before, thinking ahead about the present(s) can make a real difference in this area. However, when all else fails, not much can beat the words from a friend or a loved one.
With each gift, or with each array of gifts, I recommend giving a note. Whether you write on a Hallmark card with a funny punchline, a fancy card with a blank inside, or a piece of folded up lined notebook paper, it does not matter. What matters is the sentiment. Tell the person something you love or like about them, tell them why you’re happy to give them that gift or spend that time with them, and especially, let them know they are cared for. I believe that this adds more to a gift than special wrapping or anything else can.
It’s Time to Begin.
Now, you have my three tips for giving gifts. It takes thought, and that takes effort, but in the end, it’s worth it. It’s worth it to let someone know they’re thought about. It’s worth it to let someone know they’re worth the effort. It’s worth it to let someone know they’re loved.
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