The skill of gift giving is one that almost every adult is going to need to develop at some point. If you have friends, family, coworkers or even casual acquaintances then you will have occasions where it will be expected you’ll give a gift or two. Some people are natural born gift givers, selecting the perfect present for everyone in their life with ease. However, many of us struggle to think of or find great gifts that will be genuinely appreciated by every recipient. Fortunately, there are a few simple ways you can help improve your gifting skills to impress everyone when it comes time to exchange presents.
While there are many simple tricks to learn and helpful tips to consider while trying to improve your gifting ability, there is no one size fits all solution. Everyone goes about purchasing presents in different ways, and learning to improve your skills in this area will likely involve focusing on different things for different people.
Present presentation
When it comes to giving a present, looks do matter. The style and decoration of a gift may not do anything to change the substance inside, but it’s an important part of gifting nonetheless. Taking the extra step to wrap your gift shows how much you care, and adds another layer of love to every gift.
Take note
Opportunities and ideas for potential presents appear all the time, if only you’re paying attention. Keep your eyes open for comments your friends make throughout the year, which may indicate things they want or are looking at. Even if there’s no holiday coming up soon, making a note for whenever the next one arrives is always a good practice.
Put them first
Gift giving isn’t about you, it’s about the recipient of the gift. When considering what presents to buy for a friend or family member, it’s important to stop thinking about the kind of gift you would want and put their needs first. Whether that means providing a gift receipt so they can exchange it or purchasing a present you don’t quite understand, your gift needs to be solely about what they want and not how you feel about it.
One of the most important things to keep in mind as you shop for gifts is that just like any skill, no one is going to be perfect at it. Cut yourself some slack and try not to put so much pressure on yourself and every gift you purchase. You’ll wind up feeling panicked and may turn what is intended to be a fun occasion for celebration into a nightmare for yourself. Gift giving is an art, not a science. There’s no formula to follow to guarantee success. Try your best and as long as you genuinely care you can’t go wrong.
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