It’s that wonderful time of year again, the holiday
season.
The lights are shining
bright, the decorations are up, and everyone is getting into a festive
mood.
That is, until its time to
complete that holiday shopping.
When we think of holiday shopping, the first things that
come to mind are parking hassles, long line-ups, and unpleasant shoppers. This all builds up and results in
stress, frustration and anxiety. While its is highly unlikely that we can eliminate
all of these emotions from the holiday shopping experience, there are ways that
we can make this time of year a bit more manageable.
Tip #1 – Do as much online shopping as you can
There is a growing trend of online shopping during the
holiday season. From books and
electronics, to toys and clothes, almost everything can be found online. Retailers often offer free shipping
during this time of year, so you can complete your holiday shopping from the
comfort and convenience of your own home,
You can compare prices at different stores at the click of a mouse, and
you can often customize gifts to make them a bit more personal.
However, there are some items that most individuals might
not be comfortable buying online, and would rather have some tactile
interaction with the item before purchasing. So, the next stop is your local shopping mall. But it
doesn’t have to be a completely stressful experience.
Tip #2 – Make a list and check it twice
When heading out to the stores for your holiday shopping, your
best bet is to be prepared. By
making a list of family and friends you have to shop for, and pairing those
names up with the items you would like to purchase, your holiday shopping
experience won’t seem as overwhelming.
There is nothing worse than going to the mall and being bombarded with
signs and stores and line-ups, and not knowing what you need to buy.
By making a list (and sticking to it as closely as possible)
you can plan your trip to the mall (and save time and money along the
way). By researching those items
online before you go, you are well ahead of the game when you arrive at that
packed mall.
Tip # 3 – Plan your mall visit at the right time
Trying to head to the mall after work or on a busy Saturday
is probably more trouble than its worth.
Sure, it’s nice to imagine that you can spend one Saturday afternoon at
the mall and get all of your shopping complete. The reality is, however, that about a thousand other people
had that exact same thought. So
instead of zipping through your list, you are stuck waiting for parking,
waiting in line-ups, and waiting to use the restroom!
So plan your mall visits at off-peak times. Take advantage of the extended holiday
hours that most malls and stores offer. There are usually not a lot of holiday shoppers
at 9pm on a weekday, or first thing Sunday morning. Early mornings and late nights are your best bet to get your
holiday shopping completed as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Tip # 4 – Always go shopping on a full stomach
We often rush to the mall when we have some free time to do
our holiday shopping. Usually we
don’t think of eating before we leave.
The mentality usually is to grab something quick from the food court, or
wait until we get home. But there
is nothing worse than being stuck in a one hour line up to get that must-have
toy of the season, while starving for just one bite of mall pizza.
Eating before you leave will ensure that you are fueled up
and ready to battle those holiday crowds.
By eating healthy and filling your stomach with good calories, you will
be in a better state of mind and have more energy to complete your shopping. Not
to mention the lines at the food court can be as long as the lines in most
stores.
Tip # 5 – Shop with a partner
Whether it’s your spouse, best friend, sibling or parent,
shopping is always better in pairs.
In theory, it seems that going solo is easier as you don’t have to wait
around for anyone, and you can get in and out of the mall as quickly as
possible. However, that is not always the case. Having a partner to share the shopping with can really
lighten the load.
When there are two people working together, shopping can be a
case of divide and conquer. Each
person can hit opposite ends of the mall and work their way to the middle, or
one person can shop while the other can stand in that impossibly long line –up
snaking around the store. And
there are more hands to carry all of those shopping bags! In this case, two heads (and sets of
hands) are really better than one.
Following the tips above won’t eliminate all of the stress
associated with holiday shopping, but it will help to decrease the anxiety and
frustration that are so commonly associated with this festive time of
year. As always, you will have to
pack your patience and just remember, the holidays won’t last forever.
Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays
Written by Shikha Sharma, momstown member and Community
Manager of
momstown Milton.
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