Guten Pranken for April Fools

April 1 is just around the corner. Are you ready?

That’s right, it’s that time of year when we each flex our funny bones and prepare for a day of good-natured pranks. But April Fool’s pranks aren’t just for laughs. They are a way to show our friends and family how much we love them. When we plan an elaborate prank for someone, we communicate to this person that he or she is worth our time and effort.

If you want to prank your friends but need some inspiration for the big day, look no further than legendary prankster Jim Halpert.

Jim pranked his coworker and frenemy Dwight Schrute over nine seasons of the hit series The Office. But as Jim learned in the end, not all pranks have to leave someone feeling angry. In the series’ final episode, Jim becomes the Bestest Mensch at Dwight’s wedding and turns a new leaf to create a series of Gutenpranken, or good pranks. Dwight is touched and overjoyed when Jim manages to get all the old coworkers back together for the weekend of the wedding, including Michael, their former boss.

You may not be the Bestest Mensch at Dwight’s wedding, but you can still get in your fair share of Gutenpranken this April Fool’s Day. Keep reading for a list of ideas. (And remember, these should only be good surprises. We don’t want to leave anyone in tears).

Gutenprank #1: Food Pranks

Food pranks are simple: buy or make something delicious for your friends or coworkers, but wrap it in something that you know they won’t like. For example, buy your friend’s favorite candy or chocolate but give it to her in a box of Boca burgers if you know she hates the stuff.

Or buy Dunkin Donuts for your coworkers, but put the donuts in a Whole Foods bag or a bag from My Organic Market. Place the bag in the breakroom and tell everyone that you left a healthy breakfast for them there.

Gutenprank #2: Gift Pranks

This is similar to the first Gutenpranken. Again, buy a nice gift for someone, but present it inside of something undesirable, like a jumbo-sized box of toilet paper, or something outrageous, like this gag gift box.

If you’re feeling creative, disguise the wrapping so that the gift looks like an animal. For example, if you are buying a gift for someone who hates cats, use a tissue box and other objects to help you wrap the gift into the shape of a cat, as shown in this tutorial here. Then put the cat (with the real gift inside) on your friend’s desk.

Gutenprank #3: Car Pranks

Car pranks involve doing something nice to a parent, sibling, or spouse’s car. For example, you could clean and vacuum the interior of the car, or wash it if it needs some sprucing up. Then buy a nice gift (like flowers or chocolate) and put it in the front seat.

If you know it won’t end badly, call your family member and tell him or her that you got into a little fender bender and you want them to help you figure out how much it will cost to fix it. When they run outside to see the damage, hand them flowers or chocolate.

Gute Fahrt!

Hopefully this list got your creative juices flowing. Remember that the point of a Gutenprank is not to make someone angry or sad, but to spread a little love and kindness. Good Luck and Gute Fahrt (safe travels).