The holidays are upon us, which can mean you’re soon going to be swimming in wrapping paper. Wrapping gifts doesn’t have to be a super frustrating or stressful occasion, though. Read this week’s Liv Northgate Blog for information on this tradition and for ways you can ease the stress while you shop here in Gilbert, AZ then take it home to your apartment to wrap it up.
Why we wrap gifts
It seems kind of self-explanatory that we wrap gifts to build anticipation as the recipient of a gift wonders what they’re about to get. But did you know that historians believe wrapping gifts in paper started not long after paper was invented thousands of years ago? Be grateful for the tape and wrapping paper we have now. People years ago wrapped gifts in tissue paper or heavy brown paper sealed with wax or string — or before that, a handkerchief or a napkin. We’ve come a long way since then! Use these tips to get your gifts wrapped this year.
How to minimize stress while wrapping
One key to minimizing the stress that comes with wrapping gifts the night before they’re to be opened is to start wrapping now. It’s much easier to wrap one gift a day than it is to do twenty in one night. Regardless of how much you plan, though, you might still feel overwhelmed with all you need to wrap last minute. So ask others for help. You can set up stations in your apartment so one person can wrap another person’s gifts, while the second person does the first one’s gifts.
It’s also easy to forget if you’ve wrapped a particular gift as you look at your growing mound of wrapped packages. So make a list of what you’ve wrapped and who it’s for so you can keep track of your purchases and ensure none get lost, never to be enjoyed.
Don’t forget that some people are literally paid to wrap gifts. If you’re buying gifts this month at a store, ask if they offer complimentary gift wrapping. Some stores even have stations where third-party groups, like firefighters or non-profit charity groups, offer to wrap your gifts and only ask for a small donation in return (if that!). That can take a lot of stress off your shoulders and help you save on your supplies.
How to wrap for peekers
Stay one step ahead of anyone who loves to peel back a corner of (or completely undo) their gift’s wrapping paper by first putting the gift in a box (a cereal box or other snack box works great), then wrapping. If you want, use extra tape or even wrap a gift multiple times to ward off the peeking. Put the gifts in an obscure place where you don’t think the peeker can get to if you’re worried about them finding and opening the gifts prematurely.
We hope these tips and information on gift wrapping has helped your chore become less of a chore and more of a fun holiday tradition. Let us know in the comments if you have any suggestions for wrapping gifts. Thanks for reading!
