With just over 26 days left until Christmas, the holiday season has begun.  That means Christmas shopping!  Were you one of the many who decided to brave the crowds and fight for the best deals on Black Friday, or are you more of a convenience shopper ready to take advantage of Cyber Monday?

Our friends at Mashable have created a nice infographic to detail the history and statistics behind Cyber Monday.  It all started 6 years ago, when “shop.org coined the term ‘Cyber Monday.'”  Since then the online shopping day known as Cyber Monday has exploded, with sales surpassing $1 billion last year.  Many online retailers take advantage of this day, offering sale prices and free shipping on many of their bestsellers.

One of the best things about Cyber Monday is that all your shopping can be done online from the convenience of your computer, without ever having to fight in lines for a great deal.  In fact, many Cyber Monday deals are just as good (if not better) than Black Friday sales, which is why retailers have extended their Black Friday sales through the weekend this year.

While Cyber Monday certainly has a lot of upsides, there are a few downfalls as well, mainly for companies.  While Cyber Monday is all about the convenience of shopping right from your computer, when and where are most people doing all of this online shopping?  A 2010 National Retail Federation Survey showed that almost 70% shopped during work hours.  Which begs the question: How much lost productivity is going on in the workplace — this week and during the month of December — as millions try to knock out their Christmas lists during the workday?

As the consumer and retail world continues to move online, Cyber Monday will only continue to grow rapidly, helping consumers save money and knock out their holiday shopping from the convenience of their own home …or work.