Dear Last Minute Shoppers

Whether you started shopping today or you started shopping six months ago, there are always those last minute things that you forget as you finish up your wrapping. You are not alone and that, in this case, isn't really a reassuring thing.

Because everyone forgets something it means that everyone is out and about on Christmas Eve doing some last minute shopping. Whether it is shopping for food items or Christmas presents, it creates a hectic environment for everyone out running their last minute errands.

So, what do you do about it? How do you manage the stress of last minute shopping? How do you handle all of the people out and about, rushing to get everything on their lists?

It really can be an overwhelming situation for many people. Some people thrive on it, but it makes others want to curl up in a ball and simply give up on the day.

Here are three helpful tips to assist you as you venture out today for those last minute items.

1. Take Your Time

It can just seem like a natural thing to want to rush through last minute shopping. But the truth of the matter is that everyone is rushing. Everyone is stressed. And everyone has someplace better to be. So, give yourself time.

Leave it until a time of day where your home obligations are complete so that you are not crunched for time getting back to your house. Because nothing good happens when you are in a hurry, especially when it comes to shopping.

Leave yourself time to deal with line-ups and traffic. You will hit every red light when you are in a rush and all of the lines in grocery stores/department stores will be a mile long. Everyone wants to get out of there and back home to their families. No one wants to be standing in that line, but you have to.

So be patient and be nice to the people who are working Christmas Eve. No one wants to be stuck at their job when they could be home with their family/friends. So be kind, be courteous, and you will all get through it.

2. Don't Stress About What You Can't Find

You will have to accept that when you leave shopping to the last minute there will be items that you can't find. Whether the store is out of cranberries or you can't find that toy for your child, something will not be on the shelf.

You will have to just roll with that. Whether it means checking other stores and running all over town in search for your missing item or simply accepting that it won't be there. You will have to find a solution and one that your stress levels can handle.

Leaving food shopping to the last minute can be dangerous. You will run into problems like missing dinner rolls and cranberries. You may have to have chicken for dinner instead of turkey. You may have to accept that strawberry-rhubarb pie is the only one left on the shelf. There are several compromises you will have to make if you leave things to the last minute and you will have to accept these.

Compromises can lead to interesting meal choices. They can lead to fun family stories about "the Christmas when..." Make the best of the situation, find the humour in it, and remember that you are the one who procrastinated to the last minute in your shopping. You can't blame the stores for these things.

Christmas is a stressful time of year, but it is only as stressful as you make it. Find the bright side of your situation and make the most of it. There is no point in stressing about things you cannot change.

3. Look For the Hidden Gems

Just because the store doesn't have exactly what you came there for doesn't mean they don't have good items. It is all about your ability to find the diamond in the rough. It may take some effort, but you have to be willing to see alternative options.

Whether the alternatives are food choices or the gift that you were desperately after, you have to have some flexibility. The store may be completely out of bathrobes or Hatchimals, but there is something left in the store that your family/friends will love.

And if all else fails, grab a gift card. They won't know it's because you left shopping to the last minute. They will just be happy for a gift card to spend somewhere. People are usually happy with whatever you give them. People just like to receive presents, so simpler is sometimes better when it is crunch time.

And when it comes to food, people will eat what you put in front of them. If you have corn instead of carrots with your meal, someone might raise an eyebrow but ultimately they are coming to your house to eat so they need to be happy with what's put in front of them. That is what you have to keep in mind if you are hosting. People will be happy to just have food that they didn't have to cook themselves.

So take a deep breath today as you venture out of your homes to get those last few items. Take your time, be willing to compromise, and look for those hidden gems among what is left in the store. It will take patience and creativity, but you will get through it.

And ultimately, have a Merry Christmas Eve.