How to Survive the Holiday Shopping Season

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means that busy moms have tons of groceries, gifts and supplies to buy in preparation for all that celebrating. But preparing for a season that is so joyful shouldn’t be overwhelming. Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be stressful’with a little careful planning, and these 10 handy tips, the biggest shopping spree of the year can be manageable, efficient and stress-free.

It’s important to make a to-do list, but it’s just as important to assign a date and a time to take care of each item on that list. Otherwise, your to-do list will become a wish list, and you might end up doing everything at the last minute (which isn’t exactly stress-free).
When you make your to-do list, remember to schedule enough time to actually do everything. Always schedule more time than you think it will take’the holidays mean there’s more traffic than usual, parking is limited and that line at the cashiers is a lot longer.
Plan your gift buying budget and stick to it. It will keep your purchases focused’in number, size, and price.
If you have to do your shopping in various areas of the city, make sure your shopping route is productive and efficient. Plan out what stores you will visit’and what order you will visit them in’before you leave the house.
Reduce the number of shopping trips you have to make by shopping at a mall with a large number of stores. The more gifts you can purchase in one trip, the better. You might even want to go so far as to look at a map of the mall in advance to plan the most efficient shopping route.
Don’t overbook yourself. Being over-scheduled will wear you out and increase your chances of getting sick and going into the holiday season feeling grumpy. When it comes to Christmas parties and invitations, remember that declining politely is an option. Suggest an alternate date for a visit, or simply say that your schedule is full.
Set proper boundaries, especially when it comes to gift giving. High expectations create unnecessary stress. Set price limits and discuss them with family.
Go for a walk, take a nap, read a good book, take a bubble bath or get a pedicure’because you need to refresh and recharge so that you can be your best when the holidays come. You’ll want to be able to fully enjoy the benefits of all your hard work. Schedule those ‘me days’ into your to-do list. Make it official!