Cheerful music, twinkling lights and decorations in the shops - what can possibly be wrong with a few reminders that Christmas is coming? Quite a lot, actually. If you don't feel ready to think about the festive season then those reminders can quickly become a source of irritation. They can also be exhausting.
According to academics, stress rates are higher at this time of year. A survey of more than 700 adults in the US by pollsters Greenberg Quinlan Rosner found that 25% of people said they "felt stressed", while 20% were "often fatigued" during the Christmas period. A Grinch-like 18% of those polled claimed to dislike Christmas shopping altogether.
The first weekend of December typically marks the start of the feeding frenzy, with retailers holding events and offering discounts. With all that temptation, it's perhaps little wonder that seven out of 10 people buy gifts that they then keep for themselves.
But when you're trying to keep a handle on the purse strings - not to mention the number of carrier bags you have to lug around the overly hot shops - unnecessary purchases are the last thing you need.The music is key. It is the most powerful part of what Philip Kotler at Northwestern University has called "retail atmospherics" - a shop's visual, aural, olfactory and tactile embellishments. This is because it produces an emotional reaction first, and a logical one second. Familiar tunes call up specific memories that can influence your spending patterns, and act as triggers, reminding you of all the costs and preparations that lie ahead.
Retailers are acutely aware of this and use it to encourage customers to spend away their worries.
So, if you're planning to brave the shops and stay stress-free (instead of buying online, or unless you are one of the smug 12% who have done it all by November), you will have to train your brain. It won't be easy, but it can be done.
The key lies in careful preparation...
CREATE A BACKWARD CHAIN
Begin by making two lists. The first will contain everything you need to do before Christmas. The second includes everything you need to do on Christmas Day itself.
Put a time estimate beside each item then add 50%. Most of us underestimate how long we'll need to complete a task and, if you get behind, it's all too easy to become discouraged and abandon your plans.
Finally, add one item to your pre-Christmas list: a treat for yourself - a massage, or a meal out. Anything to preserve your sanity and help you unwind...