Many people have their holiday shopping finished well before Christmas, but others wait until the last minute and this can lead to large amounts of year end stress. In the days leading up to Christmas the stores become more crowded, lines get longer and longer, and the shelves start to look bare as consumers rush to get those last few gifts or realize that they have forgotten someone. The level of year end stress is at an all time high by the time December 25 rolls around, and holiday shopping is one of the biggest reasons for this stress. One way to eliminate all of this is to shop early but for many people this is not an option due to their financial situation.
If you wait until you can no longer put off your holiday shopping then you can expect higher levels of year end stress. This can put your mental and physical health at risk because of the changes that stress causes in the body, but there are things that you can do to compensate. Make sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep each nigh so that you are rested and recharged at the start of every day. Make the time for physical fitness, because exercise boosts your health and your mood both. Follow a healthy and nutritious diet. Your body needs optimal nutrients and antioxidants right now, and limit your sugar, caffeine, and alcohol intake. These substances have a negative effect and can increase the effects of year end stress.
