Last Minute holiday shopping, before we address anything else, we need to confront what I call "delayed gifting guilt." That`s because it`s likely something most procrastinators feel at this point if they haven`t secured any
holiday gifts yet for loved ones. If you`re feeling it, I permit you to let it go! Otherwise, it will continue to hamper your efforts. So breathe deep, exhale, and say, "Goodbye, Guilt." I just did it myself, and I have to say, it felt good!
Though that`s out of the way, we have another obstacle haunting most last-minute shoppers. And that`s time.
Prideful Procrastinators
Chances are good you`ve been so busy, you just haven`t had the time to procure gifts. And now, time is of the essence, even for prideful procrastinators. So it`s time to stop thinking about how much time you still have. Stop thinking, start shopping.
But that leads us to the third hurdle: shopping itself. Some people love it and find it`s their therapy. For others, it ignites anxiety – all those people at malls, all that trouble parking, all that noise, all the germs you could pick up – it`s enough to make you procrastinate even more. And that`s not good.
So the way to jump this hurdle is to
do everything online – it cuts back on guilt, saves time, and it bypasses mall-induced PTSD. And it saves money as you can quickly search for bargains and not drive all over town.
"Go-To" Gift Recommendations
I prefer to give food gifts as I`m a foodie and I pay attention to the types of foods loved ones adore. Hint: one way even procrastinators can delight those on their lists is to get gourmet gift baskets to those who won`t splurge on themselves. But if someone (you) gets it for them, then they have the liberty to indulge. If you give them that freedom and a yummy gift, they`re sure to love you twice as much.
That`s the case for my older relatives -- they seldom eat
cheesecake, but THEY LOVE IT. It uplifts their souls. So that`s my go-to gift for them – and it has become their go-to gift for other relatives, too. And for friends and relatives who might not want cheesecake, I go the uber-healthy route and choose a fruit-filled selection.
Cheesecakes & Fruit Baskets
My cheesecake recommendation is
The Gourmet Sampler with four tastebud-tingling flavors: Amaretto, NY Style, Strawberry, and Turtle! It`s like giving someone`s mouth a free trip to flavor town!
As far as fruit goes, my selection is the
Dried Fruit and Nut Platter. Visually stunning and good for you, too!
Those two items – and maybe a few more – should help me complete all of my holiday shopping in about 20 minutes.
So right after I`m done writing this post, I will place all of my orders and relieve any guilt, rid myself of time-induced stress, and prevent the nervous shakes I might get venturing into a mall. I feel better already! Oh, I`m looking forward to those 20 minutes – that could be the best time I`ve had in a while.
But that`s just how I handle last-minute holiday shopping – confronting my psychological barriers first and then opting for cheesecake or fruit gifts (and gluten-free offerings, too!). You can follow my lead and make most everyone on your list very happy, too. Or you can get some extra hints by checking out these just-published lists on
The Huffington Post, a top news site.
GourmetGiftBaskets.com was fortunate enough to be featured on both of these
HuffPost Top Picks Lists for her and him this year – two days in a row!
The author`s choices were both sophisticated and insightful – so use those to shortcut your process. There are even some ideas on those lists for non-foodies if you have any on your list. And remember, you can order from GourmetGiftBaskets.com up until Friday, Dec. 22 at 6 p.m. ET and still have your Christmas gifts delivered in time.
Happy (guilt-free) Holidays, and see you next year!
© Featured Photo by Studio-Annika from iStockPhoto