Sometimes my whole family is home by then, which means I’m banished to my bedroom, wrapping gifts on top of my bed. From an ergonomics perspective, this is a perfect recipe for neck, shoulder, and back pain: lots of bending, reaching, repetitive cutting and taping, usually done late at night when I’m already tired.
Over the years, I’ve learned a few lessons the hard way. Here’s my best advice—based on my ergonomics education, not my personal practice. It’s not too late for this year!
Avoid wrapping whenever possible
I’ll say it plainly: gift bags are an ergonomic intervention. Bagging is faster, involves far less gripping and awkward posture, and reusable bags are a bonus for the environment.
Another great “avoidance strategy” is having items wrapped at the store. Less cutting, less taping, less bending over a pile of paper on the floor.
Create a comfortable wrapping workstation
If you wrap gifts on the floor or on a bed, you’ll spend a lot of time bent forward at the back and neck. If you’re in for a wrapping marathon like I usually am, you’re basically asking Santa for neck pain.
Whenever possible, use a work surface just below elbow height. A kitchen counter or island often works well.
One small change that makes a big difference: keep tape, scissors, tags, and pens on a separate nearby surface. Force yourself to return them there after each use. Otherwise, they disappear under wrapping paper, and you end up repeatedly reaching and digging to find them.
Now is not the time for cute slippers or sock feet – supportive footwear will save your feet, legs, and back.
Good lighting helps too—both for posture and for making sure gifts are labeled correctly. We’ve all opened at least one gift that wasn’t meant for us.
Space it out
Wrapping doesn’t have to be a back-pain-inducing endurance event. If I wrapped gifts as I brought them home, the task would be much easier. Even if I can’t bring myself to do that, I could at least give myself enough time on Christmas Eve to take breaks.
I’d tell you to recruit some help with wrapping, but I’m of the mind that everything should be a surprise to everyone. So I get it if wrapping is a solitary endeavour for you too.
From an ergonomics standpoint, fatigue matters. The later it gets, the more likely I am to rush, lose my tape, and make mistakes on the tags. A few short walking, water, or stretch breaks can go a long way.
Nifty gadgets that actually help
If you like handy devices, there are a few that can make wrapping easier on your hands and shoulders:
- Paper cutting tools reduce repetitive gripping compared to scissors.
- Tape dispensers allow one-handed use and reduce awkward hand positions.
- Wrap dispensers and gift-wrap cutters hold the roll steady and let you cut a straight line without wrestling with the paper.
From our team to yours, all the best for a wonderful holiday!