Giving gifts boosts happiness, research shows. So why do we feel frazzled?

Studies show when people are given something they are more likely to give back. (ArtistGNDphotography/Gettyimages)

I grew up hearing that it is better to give than to receive, and the older I get, the more I aim to take this message to heart. Nonetheless, here I am, in the midst of the holiday season stressed out about gifts I have not yet purchased.

When I picture the holidays, I imagine strolling through the small shops in my town, as carolers sing, spotting a unique gift for everyone on my list, but the reality is far more tedious.