The Art of Pentamore Present Procural

“Dude, I have no idea what to get my friends this year, and don’t get me started on what to get my parents. I’m stumped.”

Have you ever said something similar during the holiday season? As of writing this article, I personally was saying that when I was reminded of the holidays that are quickly approaching. So in light of the upcoming Christmas season, let’s take a look at some gifts for people with each of the five love languages. The five love languages are five different ways that most of us express and receive love. The kinds are  words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch.

Let’s look at words of affirmation, which include encouragement, affirmation and empathy. In terms of presents…understandably one might have trouble putting words in a box and wrapping it all up with a bow but there are some gift ideas for those who appreciate this kind of affection. An inexpensive idea is to hand-make a card with a note as to why you appreciate them inside — for you writers and artists out there maybe slip some poetry in there or do a drawing.

Another idea is to make them a jar of encouraging notes. You could do thirty-one so they have one for each day of the month, or if you’re feeling really ambitious and have lots to say, write 365, and they can open one every day for the whole year. Similarly, you could find them something that has a message on it, maybe a pillow that says “I love you” or a necklace with an engraved note on it. 

Second is quality time. Generally people who value this will enjoy uninterrupted and focused conversation. One great thing to do for this person in your life is to gift them an experience. One idea for the outdoorsy people is to take them on a hike somewhere they haven’t been before. You can print out a picture of the place or its location on the map and include that in a card.

You could also take them to the movies, mini golf, or bowling depending on what’s near you. You can combine it with chicken nuggets and fries or whatever meal floats their boat and hopefully doesn’t break your bank account.

For the stay-at-homer, You could consider some kind of gift basket, maybe some nail polish or some fancy face masks, and you can make it a girls’ night. Another thought is to play some board games or watch a movie. Consider making a list of questions to talk about while you do your activity. 

 One of my personal favorite ideas is to do an adventure challenge, as it creates lasting memories with your friends or family that are out of the box, nostalgic, and inspiring. The catch? You don’t know what that adventure will be until you scratch off the adventure foil — like a lottery ticket, but instead of losing five dollars, you get to do something fun. You can either get the official one online, or make one of your own. 

With gift giving, it is really the thought that counts. If you think to ask your friend or family member for a gift list, you’ll do pretty well, but some general ideas might end up being useful. First off, you don’t always have to get them something expensive or fancy; a small token means just as much. You could consider a DIY item or some socks as a possibility. 

Try wrapping a couple smaller items individually, as those who enjoy receiving gifts will love to open more little things. For example, if you got your brother some hot wheels, take them out of the package and wrap them one at a time, stretching out the present and giving you a chance to figure out the most creative way to wrap them making them all look different. 

If you want to buy some clothes for your gift recipient, make sure you first know their personal style and possibly their size. Keep in mind that size differs for different companies, so if you can get ahold of their size in multiple brands, that will help you figure out the best to get. If that isn’t possible or you don’t know their size, opt for either a really good guess and a gift receipt or an unsized item. Some ideas of this might be a tie, a scarf, or a cute accessory like a purse or belt. When thinking of someone’s style, take into account that their style might not be the same as yours or the latest trends so to get some ideas and observe what they wear. When in doubt about your clothing gift, just be sure to pick up a gift receipt so that if they can’t wear it, they can pick something they do like or need. 

Keep in mind that things that they’ve said they like that might not be on their list. While we all love getting what we asked for, it always feels extra special when someone surprises you with something they know you will enjoy.

Another idea is to get them a subscription box or magazine, that way the gift continues throughout the year. Some specific ideas might be a Masterclass, a Beauty Box, or an Adventures in Odyssey subscription. 

Fourth is acts of service. One fun and potentially low commitment idea is to make them breakfast in bed, or cook dinner once a month. 

Another idea is to give them a coupon book for chores you’ll do for them. You can put as few or as many items in, but any small acts are much appreciated. Examples can include helping with homework, doing a DIY project with them, or helping out around the yard.

You could also get them an organizer or a planner. Consider entering all the relevant birthdays and special days before you give it to your loved one, maybe even putting in some favorite Bible verses. For the one whose secondary love language is words of affirmation, include a few heartwarming entries every month.

Lastly, physical touch can be a bit tricky to think of but if you put your brain to it you can come up with some ideas. Blankets — fuzzy blankets, personalized blankets, weighted blankets, any type of blanket — make the perfect gift for your loved ones who love to cozy up. 

For your long distance loved ones, a mailable hug is a sweet idea, there are numerous ways you can execute it and you might not even have to open up Amazon. Some photo examples are included below.

Hopefully this gives some general ideas and at least gets those wheels turning for your holiday shopping! 

Citations:
www.vogue.com/article/best-love-language-gifts
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