1. Don't wait until the last minute.

It's December 18th, exactly one week until Christmas, and I still need to buy a gift for each of my three brothers, my best friend, my boyfriend, and my boyfriend's baby sister. Listen, I'm a master procrastinator. I've been putting off assignments and chores until the last possible second since birth. But, that doesn't mean it's not a problematic bad habit. It definitely is. I'm sure I'll figure it out, but right now I have no clue how I'm going to get everything done in time. Kindly do yourself a favor and don't be like me.

2. Don't forget to plan ahead.

Make a list of who you want to buy a gift for and write down what that gift is. Do this several weeks in advance and don't lose that list! I noted what I needed on a sticky note a few weeks ago along with items on my grocery list, then ended up throwing the note away once I'd bought those groceries. Why, you ask? Who knows. What's my advice? Make a note on your phone of the gifts you want to buy. For one thing, you won't waste paper and maybe an innocent tree will thank you. For another thing, your phone is (hopefully) not something you'll be throwing out with the trash.

3. Don't neglect yourself because of a to-do list.

LISTEN. You are so much more important than a to-do list. I cannot stress this enough. In the chaos of my holiday shopping, I've completely worn myself out. In time that could have been spent with the people I care about, I've spent worrying about playing the role of Mrs. Clause. Buying gifts, signing cards, baking cookies... the works. If you're like me, you want your friends to be excited about the gifts you give them. You want to make them happy. But honest happiness, in my experience, doesn't come from material things. It comes from quality time spent with the people you love, and that happiness will often go both ways.

So, take a breath and be honest with yourself. In the end, gifts shouldn't be an obligation. If making the perfect purchase stresses you out, it isn't worth it. Your pals will understand because they care about you. In fact, they're probably more excited about getting to chill out with you over break than they are about receiving some overly elaborate present that they'll use maybe twice (if we're honest). Prioritize your mental health and get creative with how you treat your pals. It may even end up being a treat for you, too! And as for me, I'll be taking my own advice next holiday season.