Top 3 Tips for Stress Less Christmas Shopping
Festive gatherings, decorating, baking, shopping, happy people everywhere spreading tidings of good will.
Enjoying the moment and appreciating all the wonders of the season can change in a hot minute from fun and full of great expectations to stressful, overwhelming and anxiety ridden.
Take a few minutes to plan and create a stress less Christmas shopping experience. One you just might enjoy, and dare I say it, have fun!
1. Procrastinate
Just kidding! Do not procrastinate.
The last thing you want is for everything to build up to the point of implosion.
Start early.
The earlier the better.
Start with a stress less Christmas shopping list.
1. Make a Stress Less Christmas Shopping list
The act of formulating what is rattling through your mind into an organized, visual list, will be your first step to ensuring stress less Christmas shopping.
Primarily, it will remove the nagging thought ‘who have I forgotten’.
Additionally, it will alleviate the stress of ‘what have I done’ in terms of budget.
An effective stress less Christmas shopping list will focus your thoughts on each person and allow you to remain steadfast on the perfect gift selections.
Stress Less Christmas Shopping List
On a piece of paper, make 4 columns:
Name / Gift / Budget / Actual Cost
Name: List the people you plan to purchase gifts for. Don’t forget teachers, mailperson, coworkers, etc. Be as thorough as possible. Skip a line between each name, allowing room to write their gift idea(s). Leave room on the bottom to add anyone you may have forgotten.
Gift: List a minimum of 2 gift ideas for each person. The more ideas you have, the easier it will be to find. If nothing comes to mind, leave it blank and make like a detective. The next time you are speaking with that person, hunt for clues in what they say and do. Ask inconspicuous probing questions. Have a bit of fun with it. Update your list with your ideas.
Budget: Determine your budget and spread it out. Next to each person, in the budget column, indicate the amount allocated for their gift. It doesn’t need to be an exact amount. A range will suffice. Be mindful of appropriate amounts. For example: the amount I spend on my child might be $50-$100; while the amount I spend on a co-worker might be $15-$20.
Tally the budget column. Write the total on the bottom of the column. If the total is less than your budget, good for you, no need to adjust. Proceed as planned. If it’s more, adjust your estimates until you have a number/range that is within your budget. Don’t worry about being exact. As you shop you will find deals that will delight you in saving money. Conversely, you may find a ‘perfect gift’ that is more than planned, so exact amounts will fluctuate.
Actual Cost: After each gift purchased, update your list to show actual amounts spent. Cross that person’s name off the list, with great satisfaction, knowing you have one less thing to do!
You have a plan
That alone is stress less Christmas shopping.
Lucky for you, there are more fabulous tips.
2. Work It Baby!
Your list is great. All you need to do is head to the store and shop. You are guaranteed to return within a couple of hours carrying the perfect gifts for everyone.
Wake up honey child. Dreams do come true, but this one? Not likely. Besides, what would be the fun in that? A gift that makes someone else feel special is a beautiful thing.
Starting Point
Take a look at your list and consider which gifts need to be a priority. These will be the gifts that typically sell out of stock, are popular, are very specific or need to be shipped. Give them priority and tackle them first. It will be a tremendous stress reliever, knowing they are done.
Move Deeper
Are there gifts that can be purchased in the same store? Break them out onto a separate piece of paper, include the name and budget amounts, and head to the store. Don’t include too many at one time. This can cause confusion, and you got it – stress.
Before you enter the store, review your list. Refresh your mind on what you are looking for. Decide what departments you need to seek out and in what order. Plan your attack.
While in the store, keep the list where it is easily accessible. Refer back to the list as often as necessary. Cross items off as you buy them. This goes a long way in helping you focus on what you still need.
When you get home, update your main list with actual cost. Update your overall budget. Make adjustments as needed.
Most importantly, cross those names off your list! Such a nice stress relieving action.
Stragglers
Most awesome job! You are down to your stragglers! These are all the gifts that feel completely unorganized. The items you either don’t know where to find or that are scattered amongst many different stores.
May I suggest Google? My favorite research tool. Search out the items, ‘near you’. Likely you will find where to get your desired gift. If you are unsure of stock, call before heading out to the store. Save yourself precious time.
Group the stores into various trips. Perhaps there is a strip mall or larger mall in your area that will have a few of the gifts. Plan a trip to that mall. As you did earlier, break out the list into a smaller, manageable list for your trip to the mall.
When you get home, update your main list with actual cost. Update your overall budget. Make adjustments as needed. Most importantly, cross those names off your list! Reward yourself with a satisfying deep breath.
3. Smart Stress Less Christmas Shopping
Allow Enough Time
Cutting yourself short on time leads to stress and impulse buying, so don’t cut yourself short.
Consider the amount of time you need to get to the store. Be mindful of rush hour traffic and crowded stores.
Think about the time you need in the store to locate and select your gift. Allow time for extra long lines.
Fuel Up
Shopping uses energy. Be sure you are fueled up before you leave. Eat something high in protein and lean in fat. Choose a meal or snack that will make your body and mind feel good.
Drink Up
Hydrate. You will be moving a lot. Bring a water bottle.
Step It Up
If you are doing all that walking, at least give yourself the satisfaction of acknowledging the steps you’re taking and calories you’re burning. Wear your sneakers and be sure you have your step counter.
It’s In The Bag
Juggling bags is such a pain. And let’s face it, the stores don’t supply bags that are easy and comfortable to carry. Make it easy for you. Bring a nice bag that’s easy and comfy to carry all those gifts.
Wrap It Up
Wrap as you go. Don’t let the gifts pile up. The pile is a visual stress creator. A reminder of all the ‘work’ required for wrapping.
Space it out and wrap when you can. A gift here, a gift there, it makes a difference.
Plus, you won’t have to worry about hiding your gifts from the prying eyes of snoopity-snoops.
Stress Less Christmas Shopping
The holidays should be a time for you to find enjoyment in your own special way.
I hope this article on stress less Christmas shopping helps you to have more moments to yourself, to spend in ways that are the most meaningful to you.
Peace & Love,
Lorraine
