I was shopping the other day for a client and wasn't having the success I normally have. Nothing was jumping out as the perfect thing for my client and I was feeling stressed, trying to make a look work in a particular store.

I was in the wrong store, looking for the wrong thing. Part of me knew this almost immediately after I arrived. And yet, I persisted. For about 45 minutes.

When Shopping Turns Stressful

I started to worry. What if this kept happening in other stores? (It didn't.) What if I couldn't find anything ever to fit my client? (This has never happened.) These were irrational thoughts that filled my mind until I settled down and remembered to do the one thing I had been avoiding: listening to my gut.

In the world of clothing and style, following my instincts is almost always easy for me. However, there are days when even I feel overwhelmed and out of sorts while shopping - and when this happens, I have a fail-safe plan.

3 Simple Steps to a Shopping Restart

Step 1: Go to a safe place. I say this with tongue in cheek because my husband calls my safe place "Starbucks." But it can be any coffee shop or just a comfortable place to sit down and take a break. Remember, shopping is supposed to be fun, not a chore, and everyone needs a break sometimes.

Step 2: Regroup. Look over your list. (You do have a list when shopping, right?) Do what my friend Lenora calls a "brain dump." Think of the places you have had success when shopping before and put those at the top of your list. Visualize what you are looking for and trust yourself.

Step 3: Get going. Get your confidence back up, get out there and get it done. You've done this before; you can do it again.

A Recipe for Life

As I'm thinking about my Shopping Restart Plan, I realize that this is applicable in other areas of life as well. It's all too easy to fall into panic mode, but with a deep breath and some positive thinking, it's just as easy to get back up and do it. Your mind may try to trick you into feeling intimidated by shopping, but trust me: your gut can be counted on to lead you down the right path.  

Next time you see me at a coffee shop, I may just be doing my three-step process to make my shopping (and my life) a little less stressful!

Relax into the holidays,