Hands up if you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping yet?
It might be an aberration for you this year. Let’s face it, 2022 hasn’t exactly been easy for most of us. But your last-minute Christmas shopping might be yet another example of putting things off until you can’t ignore them anymore.
A recent CouriersPlease survey estimates that 29% of Australians don’t plan on starting their Christmas shopping until a month out from the big day. Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales play a big role here. However, 6% of respondents admitted they didn’t plan to start their shopping until December.
That’s some heavy-duty procrastination right there.
The thing is, we all know fighting the last-minute Christmas shopping crowds is the worst. We also know that leaving things to the last-minute leaves us open to having to settle for what’s left or missing out on the perfect gift altogether.
So, why is it so hard to get our act together each year?
Why do we always leave Christmas shopping to the last minute?
When you break down the act of gift-giving, it’s quite a stressful activity. It’s no wonder the brain does everything it can to stop you from getting started. Just think about it. You have to:
- Find the right present for those you love
- Think of something for people you don’t know (or like) as well
- Brave the crazy Christmas crowds
- Locate an ever-elusive parking spot
- Worry about how you’ll afford it all
- Stick to a budget (if you can)
- Somehow find time to shop amongst a busy work, school, and social schedule.
If you’re already feeling anxious, fear making a mistake or are overwhelmed by the whole idea of shopping, the urge to put off your shopping until the last minute will be nearly impossible to resist.
How does procrastination fit into it all?
You may be surprised to learn that the human brain is wired to procrastinate. It’s designed to protect us from danger and shield us from unnecessary stress and strain. For example, the stress of Christmas shopping can trigger a chemical called norepinephrine, making you feel jittery and unsettled.
When this happens, your serotonin levels decrease. This brings down your mood and makes it even harder to take on difficult tasks (like Christmas shopping). To protect you from this threat, your brain tells you to avoid the task, releasing a hit of dopamine. This essentially rewards you for putting things off and reinforces the act of procrastination again and again.
Over the long term, these changes can affect your executive functioning skills. Executive functioning helps you plan and execute tasks and stay focused even when distracted by other things. Chronic procrastinators struggle to plan and follow through on tasks, especially hard ones, without being distracted (and rewarded) by easier and more pleasurable activities.
Could you be a chronic procrastinator?
Approximately 20% of the population are chronic procrastinators. Now, leaving your Christmas shopping until the last minute isn’t definitive proof that you’re one of them. But it could point to an ongoing pattern of procrastination.
Do you regularly miss deadlines? Are goals hard to meet? Do you constantly feel stressed and overwhelmed? Does it feel like you’re always busy, but you never get anything finished?
If this sounds like you, you could be one of the 20% of us who struggle with chronic procrastination. But there are things you can do to take back control.
How to avoid the last-minute Christmas rush next year
First off, give yourself a pass for this year. Leaving your Christmas shopping to the last minute is not ideal but it’s not a matter of life or death either. Be kind to yourself and try not to beat yourself up about it too much.
Next, put together a plan for the coming year. Get your diary or calendar out and choose a deadline for your Christmas shopping. Work back from that date to set reminders throughout the year. So, if you want to be done by November 30, add monthly reminders from August, so you have plenty of time to finish things off.
You may also benefit from writing your lists early and sticking to them. Online shopping is another way to minimise the stress of the season while ensuring you get THE best presents for your friends and family.
Ready to manage chronic procrastination?
If putting things off has become a way of life for you, help is at hand.
Impulsivity is an online hub where you can access expert help and support, whenever you need it. Developed by trained professionals and designed to match your own pace, our online impulsivity courses will help you better manage impulsive behaviours like procrastination.
Developed by a team led by Dr Yuliya Richard (a clinical psychologist specialising in impulsivity), our courses use scientifically proven strategies to help you understand and overcome the specific impulsive behaviours affecting everyday life.
If you want to take charge of your life and manage your impulsivity for good, we can help. Offering a range of online courses, Impulsivity can guide you towards a healthier and happier life. Take our quick impulsivity test now to see if we can help!
