If you mention Baton Rouge to anyone out of town, one of the first things they’re guaranteed to mention is the horrible traffic. Baton Rouge is notorious for its traffic james on a daily basis. And unfortunately, the only thing worse than Baton Rouge traffic is Baton Rouge holiday traffic.

And yep, you better believe I’ve written a whole post on how to beat the rush and get your Christmas shopping done without the headache! Because nothing kills my Christmas spirit faster than sitting at that four-way stop by the Mall of Louisiana!

1- Start Early - I know, we all need to celebrate Thanksgiving. Don’t skip on the turkey, pumpkin pie and family time. But sometimes it’s easier to enjoy the actual Christmas holiday season when you’re not stressed about shopping and gift giving. Starting now (yes, even before Thanksgiving!) can save you the stress in December. Then, you’ll have more time for baking cookies and watching Love, Actually!

2- Have a Plan - Some days driving from LSU to Bluebonnet or from Jefferson to Perkins can feel like you’re driving into another city. It takes forever and you creep along at a snail pace. When planning your holiday shopping adventures, map out the areas you’ll be in and which stores you’ll hit while in the area. It will save you from driving back-and-forth all over town during the holidays!

3- Shop Local - You can save a ton of time by avoiding major retailers and shopping local. If you hit up bigger stores, you’ll circle the parking lot 20 times looking for a spot, then you’ll stand in the checkout line for half an hour. Miss the crowd by shopping with smaller retailers and local boutiques.

4- Avoid Peak Times - Most retailers extend their hours during the holidays. Take advantage of that by shopping earlier in the morning or later in the evening. Hopefully, this way you’ll miss the crowd and have a calmer shopping experience overall!

5- Shop Online - It’s hard to find a store these days that doesn’t offer online shopping. Some even allow you to purchase directly from their Instagram or Facebook accounts now. Keep an eye out on social media for discounts and online sales throughout the holiday season — especially on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Hey, you can even use the exclusive discounts in the Baton Rouge Holiday Shopping Guide! Plus, over 75% of retailers will offer free shipping at some point during the holidays!