Year after year, you tell yourself you’re not going to leave holiday cooking, baking, shopping, and damn stocking stuffers to the last minute. But then December 20th rolls around and you find yourself in the same old position: Stressed to the nines waiting in line-ups and not enjoying what’s supposed to be an enjoyable season.

If you’re reading this, it’s not too late this year. But you can’t wait any longer. You need to start today. December will thank you if you do.

5 Tips to Avoid A Stressful December This Year:

5. Order online, and do it NOW

It’s always appealing to order online to avoid the malls closer to Christmas, but there’s nothing worse than ordering a gift that doesn’t arrive until after Christmas. So we often find ourselves not risking leaving our gifts to the snail mail gods and reluctantly hitting the crazy mall instead.

The key is simple: Order online gifts now. And start with stocking stuffers.

RIPT has a handful of stocking stuffers in the $25 range for gym-goers, and for anyone who want nice smelling bathrooms.

• 3 Phase Hand Care Kit: This kit includes one tube of both DAILY DOSE and QUICK FIX hand balms as well as our GRINDSTONE (synthetic pumice stone). All are made from 100 percent natural ingredients and are perfect for CrossFit athletes, weightlifters, rock climbers, gymnasts, rowing, or any other hand sport athletes.

• DEUCE—The Anti-Stink Toilet Spray: Our anti-stink bathroom spray is a proprietary blend of essential oils and other natural stink-blocking ingredients. Spraying it forms a semi-impenetrable barrier in the bowl and prevents you from ‘poo-bombing’ all those that want to use the bathroom after you. Unlike most bathroom sprays that smell like chemicals, ours actually smells good and doesn’t make you feel like you poisoned yourself.

BUY NOW and eliminate stress later!

4. Weekly grocery store purchases

Since stocking stuffers tend to be the most last-minute and almost forced-feeling purchases, make a point to pick something up for your stockings every time you go grocery shopping between now and Christmas. You’ll find yourself with enough stuff to fill all of the stockings well before the full Christmas stress hits. Painless!

3. Spread out the baking

Christmas cookies are durable, and they usually do well in the freezer. Instead of devoting an entire day to Christmas baking near the end of December, whip up a couple batches of your best Christmas cookies on three or four days different days in November and freeze them until the holiday season starts.

2. Pre-made appetizers

If you’re hosting a holiday party, appetizers can feel a bit like stocking stuffers: The most stressful and time-consuming part of the meal. 

If you know you’re hosting some dinners in December and have ambition to make homemade appetizers, start now and throw them in the freezer. Or tie them into your dinner prep. For example: Making meatballs for dinner one night in November? Make extra and throw them in the freezer to be served at your holiday party.

1. Start a list

Start a note in your phone about what you’re planning on buying everyone. If you have a brain wave and gift idea, add it to your note right away before you quickly forget. If you do end up having to hit the mall in the last few days before Christmas, hopefully you will know exactly what you have left to buy. Because there’s nothing more annoying than wandering around the mall without a real plan, hoping that an idea will magically come to you.

Even if it doesn’t always feel like it, there’s a reason they call it the most wonderful time of year… It just takes a little planning!