5 Actionable Holiday Shopping Tips for Overstimulated Parents
The holiday season, with its twinkling lights and festive cheer, often comes hand in hand with the stress of holiday shopping.
For parents already juggling multiple responsibilities, the prospect of navigating crowded stores, managing long shopping lists, and combating sensory overload can be overwhelming.
In this blog post, we'll explore why the holidays bring on added stress for already overstimulated parents and share some practical tips to make holiday shopping a more manageable and less stressful experience.
Why Are the Holidays SO Stressful?
Amidst the excitement of festive decorations and the anticipation of creating cherished family memories, parents find themselves navigating a unique set of challenges.
Some reasons the holidays can be extra overwhelming for busy parents include:
Visual and Auditory Overwhelm
Flashing lights and new holiday decor in your home can be a lot for your autonomic nervous system to take in. Even the stores you typically shop become visually overstimulating, filled with decor and hanging signs and banners.
And that doesn’t even take into account the jingling bells you hear outside nearly every grocery store and the holiday music playing on repeat everywhere you go. Though meant to elicit a sense of magic and wonder, these changes to our environment can be distressing.
Heightened Expectations
Every parent wants their children to experience joy and magic during the holidays. It is the season of giving, but when we have small children, there is a lot more giving from the parents than receiving.
From the pressure to meet heightened expectations, both socially and financially, to the added responsibilities of organizing family gatherings and creating a picture-perfect holiday experience, the demands on parents can become overwhelming.
Balancing the desire to make the season special for their children with the realities of daily life, parents often find themselves stretched thin, juggling the demands of work, household responsibilities, and the quest for the elusive "perfect" holiday.
Change in Routine
Whether you travel to visit family and friends for the holidays or not, you likely are not maintaining your typical routine. Maybe your family gatherings include unfamiliar people and a lack of structure (which kids AND adults so desperately need).
Food is another area where routines during the holidays often shift. You and your kids might be eating more sugar and baked goods or your children might be skipping meals altogether because of all of the unfamiliar food.
Alcohol has been linked to increased anxiety and can also contribute to your heightened stress levels.
(Source: Sklar, A. L., & Nixon, S. J. (2014). Disruption of sensory gating by moderate alcohol doses. Psychopharmacology, 231(22), 4393–4402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-014-3591-5)
Physical and Environmental Changes
When it’s cold outside, you’re likely to bundle up in more layers of clothing. That added weight to your body paired with the icky feeling of an itchy wool sweater can cause a heightened sense of arousal to your proprioceptive system.
If you’re outside in the snow and ice, you might find it difficult to keep your balance on the slick surfaces and you’re having to put extra force into the ground to stay upright.
With the change in routine, extra activities, and sometimes not so cordial family gatherings, the mental load that parents carry on a daily basis can reach a breaking point during the holiday hustle.
Let’s talk about some tips for making shopping during the holidays less stressful.
Holiday Shopping Tips for Overstimulated Parents
Holiday shopping doesn't have to be a source of stress and overwhelm, especially for parents already managing a full plate of responsibilities.
Keep some of these tips in your back pocket and pull them out when you start to feel the overstimulation creep in.
Online Shopping with Curbside Pickup
One of the most amazing (yet sometimes financially dangerous!) advancements in holiday shopping in recent years has been the rise of online shopping and curbside pickup. Take advantage of this convenient option to avoid the chaos of brick-and-mortar stores.
Many retailers offer the ability to order items online and pick them up at the store without having to set foot inside. This not only saves time but also eliminates the need to navigate crowded aisles with restless kids in tow.
Make a list, order online, and pick up your items without the stress of traditional in-store shopping.
Block Out the Noise with Earplugs
Holiday music playing on a loop, the constant chatter of fellow shoppers, and the general hustle and bustle of a busy store can contribute to sensory overload.
Consider investing in a pair of high-quality earplugs to create a sonic barrier between you and the cacophony of the shopping environment. This small investment can make a big difference, helping you maintain a sense of calm and focus as you tackle your holiday shopping list.
And of course you can use them beyond the holiday season. Have a long road trip planned? Use these and grab my Road Trip Guide with even more tips for traveling without feeling overstimulated.
Plan Your Route
Walking into a store without a plan can be a recipe for stress. Before heading out, organize your shopping list based on the layout of the store. This way, you can efficiently move from one section to another without doubling back or wasting time retracing your steps.
Knowing exactly where to find each item on your list can help streamline the process and reduce the time spent navigating the aisles.
Opt for Small, Frequent Trips
Instead of attempting a marathon shopping session, consider breaking down your list into smaller, more manageable trips. This approach not only reduces the overall time spent in each session but also allows you to focus on specific categories of items during each outing.
Smaller trips are often less overwhelming and more conducive to maintaining a positive mindset, making the holiday shopping experience more enjoyable for both you and your family.
Time vs. Task
It's crucial to recognize when you're reaching your limit. If you find yourself feeling overstimulated or on the verge of mental exhaustion, prioritize time over completing every task on your list in one go.
Checking out and leaving the store to regroup is a valid strategy. Remember, the goal is not just to finish the task but to preserve your mental well-being during the holiday season. You can always return another day to complete the remaining items on your list.
“Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be a source of stress and overwhelm”
Holiday Shopping Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful
Holiday shopping doesn't have to be a source of stress and overwhelm, especially for parents already managing a full plate of responsibilities.
By embracing online shopping with curbside pickup, using earplugs to block out background noise, planning your route through the store, opting for small and frequent trips, and prioritizing time over completing every task in one go, you can transform the holiday shopping experience into a more manageable and enjoyable endeavor.
Remember, the holidays are meant to be a time of joy and celebration, and with these tips, you can navigate the chaos with greater ease and preserve your mental well-being.
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