(BPT) - Is holiday gift buying causing you stress? Searching for a gift that is practical, yet personal? You are not alone in the struggle to find the “perfect gift.”

The National Retail Federation estimates that holiday sales will reach $586 billion this season, with the average consumer spending around $550 on gifts. The NRF also reports that eight out of 10 Americans will purchase gift cards as gifts this holiday season, and that gift cards remain the most requested holiday gift item – statistics that clearly reflect America’s desire to give gifts that recipients will actually utilize.

But what if you are looking to be more creative and personal this holiday season? Before you run out and purchase an ironic T-shirt or a novelty beer can party hat, consider this: If the average person spends one third (approximately eight hours daily) of his life asleep, this only leaves 16 hours each day for activities outside of sleeping. Those 16 hours are shared between tasks such as work, eating, cleaning, traveling, family and leisure – to name a few. Following this logic, sleeping by far surpasses every other activity in people’s lives.