5 Things Mainers Over 50 Should Do When Wrapping Gifts

There are some things that become more challenging after a certain age, and wrapping gifts is one of them.

Maine Holidays Mean Wrapping Colorful Gifts

The holiday season is here and, with it, the need to deal with fancy paper, bows, ribbons, and more.

I remember when I was a teen, my Dad would give me his gifts for my Mom to wrap. He couldn't do it, he said.

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Now as a more mature person myself, I think I understand some of the frustrations that he had. I can still wrap a present pretty well but there are challenges now that I didn't face in the past.

Gift Wrapping Over 50 Takes Some Planning

To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, I put together a few ideas of things Mainers over 50 (or maybe even 40) should do when getting ready to wrap their holiday gifts.

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1. Wrap Gifts Immediately. If you wait, you have to hide them. And if you hide them, you run the risk of forgetting where you put them. Or, for that matter, whether you bought them at all.

2. Use Several Tape Dispensers and Scissors. When wrapping a number of gifts, I suggest using at least two or three tape dispensers and scissors. If you still with just one of each, you'll spend more time moving the paper around while you try to find them, than actually wrapping the presents. With two or three or each, your chance of finding one increases exponentially.

Wrapping Gifts at a Table Saves Time and Prevents Back Pain

3. Wrap Your Gifts at the Table. When was the last time you sat on the floor for 30 minutes and then tried to get up? If you found yourself struggling to your feet or rubbing your back when you did, I suggest wrapping your gifts at the table. Sit in a comfortable chair. You'll thank me later.

4. Keep Your Glasses Handy. While you may not need your readers to wrap the gifts, you will need them to write the tags. So keep them on your head, around your neck, or in a secure location where you can lay your hands on them easily.

5. Consider Using Gift Bags. Let's face it, gift bags are easier to use, and they're very pretty. Add a bow and some colorful tissue paper inside, and they can be downright festive. And you can spend your evening sitting on a comfy couch watching Hallmark Christmas movies instead of wrestling with paper and tape.

Happy Holidays!