Christmas is coming! Do you feel it? Are you excited? Maybe anxious or stressed?
Now into the month of December, the finale of 2018, and it’s a biggie. The holiday spirit surrounds and consumes us, the sights, sounds, and sales if you step into any mall today. And with that feeling you will find your to do list start to grow on top of your day-to-day responsibilities of survival.
This month will be wrapped up with holiday parties, festive fun, cards, gift exchanges, Santa visits, Christmas concerts, baking, dinner parties, dressing up your home…you name it, it’s the holiday hustle.
Before you ho ho hold on to that feeling of fretfulness, here are some simple steps to sleigh the stress this holiday season.
- Make a List and Check it Twice – I’m not talking about the naughty or nice list, but everything that needs to happen to hustle through the season. It will help you get organized and you will feel the satisfaction once you checked off each item from your list. Start early and plan your calendar with everything that needs to be accomplished.
- The More the Merrier – Decorating the house or doing some holiday baking? Why not invite some friends and family over to help with the task. You can celebrate, and catch up while conquering the task together.
- Click Away – Take advantage of online shopping and click and collect groceries. With access to our smartphone and the world wide web, it’s easy to shop conveniently while items arrive direct to your mailbox or to your car.
- Simplify – Do you really need to buy gifts for all your family members? Do a secret Santa or dirty Santa exchange. Spend the time on selecting a few thoughtful gifts, instead of rushing to buy gifts for everyone. Quality is always better than quantity.
- Experience Over Stuff – If you need to purchase a gift, instead of a toy or sweater, invest in an experience. Tickets to a movie, show or attraction or venture somewhere together for a merry meet up. Create memories of moments instead of something that may be used only a handful of times.
- Hire Help – With all the holiday prep, the last thing you have time and energy for is to your clean your house. It can be worth it to hire a professional to do a deep clean so you can focus more on the festive fun.
- Designate Duties – The entire Christmas celebration shouldn’t rely on your shoulders. Don’t be afraid to designate duties to other members to give you a break, especially if you’re hosting Christmas Eve or Day celebrations. Make it a potluck, ask others to organize games/entertainment, drink duties, Santa exchanges etc. Santa has Mrs. Claus, elves and reindeer. You should too.
- Fuss Free Food – If you’re hosting Christmas dinner, don’t overdo it. This is not the time to try new recipes for the first time. I did that once and was a stress mess before the first guest arrived. Choose a few star recipes that you’ve prepared before, cater in, and/or let others bring in additional dishes. There are also lots of affordable ready-to-cook options for quick nibbles and bites before the main feast is served. Not everything needs to be made from scratch.
- Sprinkle in Some Self-Care – Don’t forget about you! Squeeze in some self-care activities to make sure you are keeping your cup full. Read, take a bath, get a massage or spa treatment. Whatever you can do to relax and recharge through the craziness of the Christmas celebrations.
Finally, don’t be consumed to with the consumerism of the season. The holiday is not all about stuff and gifts. Christmas should be cozy and cheerful as you create new memories with family and friends, enjoying the time together with good food and delicious drinks.
Hopefully these simple solutions help turn some of the merry madness into some merry magic. Any tips on how you handle the festive frenzy? Share them below.
A Sprinkle of Sandy 