Have you hit the shops already this season and bought all your gifts, or are you a normal person who knows that there are only a 12 shopping days left until it's officially too late, and once again you find yourself running around on Christmas Eve hoping that you can something that will do as a gift for your loved ones?

If you're one of the latter, listen up. There is a formula to getting shopping at this time of year right. And I will share it will you. Follow these easy steps and you too won't be faffing with wrapping paper come 24 December.

Make a list

Making a list is very satisfying and you can then tick off 'make a list' from your list of things to do today.

Already you are feeling more in control of your festive shopping. Already you feel that progress has been made. And you are right. The act of making a list organises your thoughts, gets you prepared and ensures that you shave hours off your actual shopping time.

First, put down the name of every single person you must buy gifts for. Should you know someone with a birthday around this time and you must get them a birthday gift as well, then write their name down twice (e.g. Sally: Handbag, Sally birthday: wallet).

The object is to have specific items next to every name before you even head into the shops. If you really don't know specifics, you may write something like the following: Jane: Something from Woolies, Daniel: DVD.

Right, now you have a completed list, you are a third of the way there. Well done.

Decide on a destination

Deciding on your destination for gift purchasing is the really crafty bit of getting festive shopping done as efficiently as possible. If you are not one of those people who gathers gorgeous items all through the year from wonderfully quirky stores in out of the way places, then I'm afraid that a mass produced mall shopping is the way to go.

Pick a mall that you are familiar with — you don't want to get lost! But more importantly, pick a mall that has the right combination of stores so that you can get adults and children sorted out at the same time.

Shopping for the kiddies specifically requires a mall with a large toy store, plus a large DVD store with stock of all the latest children's hits, plus a large clothing store full of reasonably priced items. Get this right and you will have all the options to hand.

I have always found that I can complete most of my festive shopping at the specific combination of Woolworths, Look 'n Listen/Musica, Exclusive Books and Kays' Antiques for the jewellery. This tight little combination is found only at Cavendish Square so that's where I head at times like this.

Timing is everything

Once you know what you want to buy and where you think you can buy it all in one go, you are doing well. The planning is almost complete. The last stage in this phase is getting the timing right.

Ideally you want to aim for a weekday morning, specifically a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday morning, between 10am and noon. That's the optimum shopping time for the least pain.

If you're unable to sneak out of work at this time, then you have to be even more cunning to ensure you are not forever scarred by this experience. You have two options.

Option one is to set the alarm for early-o'-clock on Sunday morning. Find out what time the mall of your choice is opening on this day and be there at least 15 minutes beforehand to drink your coffee and scope out your route.

Then, armed with your list, head into the busiest store first, when there are empty aisles and tills and get this completed as soon as possible. Move on from there.

Option two is to take your list and head to the mall with a heavy dose of Rescue Remedy or some other such calming medication well bedded down.

Don't deviate

Schoolboy error creeps in once you have got to the mall. This is the time to be extra vigilant that you have stuck to your plan. It's a dangerous time with so many shiny new gadgets and pretty frocks on offer. But keep focused on your list and remember that old adage — 'it is better to give that receive'.

Once you have completed all your shopping, you can feel smug and may even feel the urge to go and pick out a few things for yourself. This is perfectly acceptable. But make sure every item on your list has been purchased before you give in to this urge.

Tick them off

And finally deploy the satisfying technique of ticking the items off your scrupulously planned list. This will fill you with a sense of accomplishment and demonstrate rapidly how well you are managing to get through your items.

Before you know it, you will have completed the list and can reward yourself with a well-earned eggnog or some such festive drink.

Should you find that you can't get something on your list, try and remain positive and seek out the next best thing. If in doubt, ask a helpful-looking shop assistant. Cape Union Mart usually has some of those and can probably point you in the right direction inside their store alone.

Good luck with your shopping and remember that this is a time of good cheer. So please don't shout at the serving staff. Please don't elbow your fellow shoppers. And please try and fake a smile, you never know this may be the most painless shopping trip you have yet to experience!

For more information on Robyn and her personal styling services, go to: www.robyncooke-styleguide.co.za