Throughout the holiday shopping season, we're often overwhelmed with the amount of gifts that need to be purchased. With so many to shop for and so many gifts that must be obtained, it can often seem like a chore in order to fit it all in. It's also this level of stress that can cause us to put our shopping needs above our personal health. Moves that cause us to venture out into large crowds, in the middle of cold season, with terrible odds at getting savings – all in the name of shopping. All of which risk our own health in the process of shopping.

However, by making a few simple changes to our gift-giving routines, you can still obtain everything on your shopping list, but without risking your personal health. Risks that, at the time, you might not even realize are taking place.

Take a look at some of these common holiday shopping side effects in order to determine which factors pose the highest risk to your particular shopping style.

Catching a Cold

Shopping department stores means spending time where hundreds of others have been. All within a few weeks, if not days, of your visit. Because of the busy hours, it also means surfaces likely aren't as clean as they are in slower seasons. Not only due to the increase in traffic levels, but because janitorial staffs simply can't keep up.

Of course, this means you're at a higher risk for getting sick when shopping in these buildings. These risks will also be higher during extreme sales and longer holiday days.

When shopping in such larger buildings, remember to wash your hands, and avoid touching your face.

Throwing Off Your Sleeping Schedule

Some of the best sales are hosted in the early hours of the morning. Not only does this require you to be at the store incredibly early, it means you have to get up and ready hours before your normal schedule. This can throw off your entire sleeping routine for the day, making you groggy and tired until bed time. And, if you're sensitive to schedules, it's a move that might mess you up for days at a time.

Consider sales that will last all day if you want to avoid waking up early. (This information can be found on company flyers and websites.)

Fighting the Crowds

Finding your way through a crowd can be a seriously stressful event. Even more so with others are rowdy, or hell-bent on getting a good deal. This can make for a shopping experience that's filled with shoving, pushing, and plenty of angry shoppers (including yourself). Over just a few minutes, this can cause anxiety and make for a less-than-pleasant shopping experience.

This is another instance where it might be better to shop later in the day, once the crowds have dissipated. There will be fewer shoppers to fight over each deal, and fewer folks in general for you to have to come into contact with.

Lifting Heavy Boxes

Shopping in person can often mean that you're left to move and lift large boxes. Even if you aren't purchasing these larger goods – sometimes boxes are just in the way. Though it can be necessary to get such items moved, that doesn't mean it's good for the back, or that you should lift or move heavy goods without stretching. It's these last-minute moves that often lead to injuries, and can leave you with a backache for weeks to come.

Rather than lifting for convenience, consider asking for clerk help. Or for boxes that are in the way, take the long way around and save yourself any added grief.