How to Have a Stress-Free Christmas
Ways to Avoid the Holiday Hassle and Enjoy the Season
Nov 10, 2008
So you realize Christmas is coming much more quickly than you’ve bargained for. Your daughter needs two dozen Christmas cookies for tomorrow’s dancing party. Your son needs a Christmas tree costume for his school play this weekend. Dozens of blank cards and unwrapped presents stare up at you. Your house looks depressing next to the award-winning lights and displays of your surrounding neighbors. You’re running out of money. And time! Take a deep breath and read on. And stop plotting to take down the neighborhood’s decorations.
Be Choosy when Deciding on Christmas Plans and Preparations to Avoid Anxiety
Instead of thinking about the endless list of things you must accomplish before December 24, think of your favorite part of Christmas: the one or two things that make Christmas special and meaningful to you. Not talking about the mushy answers of family or being together, but the actual tasks you do that make it Christmas in your eyes. Is it picking a Christmas tree and decorating it? Maybe you love baking from scratch (even if it is only once a year). Writing a detailed Christmas card to your family and friends might help define Christmas for you.
Instead of attempting to take down the world with Christmas chores, choose one or two meaningful things and do them well. Savor the project and remember what it is you enjoy about it so much. Doing a few things well means more than scattering around to only halfway finish an endless list of insignificant chores.
While that sounds simple enough, the other tasks cannot be completely ignored; however, there are simple ways to speed up some of the holiday stressors.
Ease the Stress of Shopping by Forming Groups Based on Similarities
There’s so much to buy for so many people that shopping becomes one of the least enjoyable things of the holiday season. Instead of spending hours searching for the perfect present for each person on your list, choose a handful of extra-special people to be choosy with and categorize the rest of your list by similarities.
Buy your coworkers candles, personalizing each person’s scent and color based on their personality. Buy your nieces throw blankets, choosing colors and patterns based on taste. By buying sets of gifts, you can mark off several names at once and not stress if there’s that one difficult coworker or niece to please because her peers have received similar gifts. And you might even save some money by making multiple purchases. Always look for sales.
Look for simple gift ideas in places you find yourself regularly. If you stop by a coffee shop on your way to work, browse through hot cocoa kits and coffee-lover sets. Picking up gifts at places you already go will save time and the stress of going to multiple stores. Also, try shopping online for gifts. There are great deals, endless stores, plus you never leave your home. This is also great for out-of-town friends and family because you can ship the gift directly to their homes.
Resolve a Decorating Dilemma with Moderation
As far as decorating is concerned, choose wisely what and how you want to decorate. There’s no need to decorate the entire house, especially if there’s nobody there to appreciate it. Try decorating the one area where people will appreciate it, more than likely the family or living room. Decorations do not need to be elaborate. Instead, aim for a few simple decorations that mean something to your family.
Remember that an artificial, pre-lit tree will not destroy the holiday. You and your family can still trim the tree with ornaments, perhaps listening to Christmas music and sipping hot cocoa while doing so, making a chore more fun and memorable.
No Need to Become Donna Reed when it comes to Baking Holiday Treats
Yes, there's holiday baking to be done, but this doesn't mean you suddenly have to pull out your apron and bake nonstop for weeks. As we all know, December is full of sweet treats, so skimping on the sweets in your home probably won't affect your intake of desserts by much anyway. Try choosing one or two family favorites to bake, and save the rest for another time in the year when sweets are less frequent and more appreciated.
When it comes to baking for others, cut corners in places it won't be noticed. Start off sugar cookies from the pre-made refrigerated shapes and decorate them with homemade icing. There is a growing number of cake mix recipes that begin with boxed cake mix and end with a homemade-tasting, elegant cake. Be efficient with your time and spend the most time on the fun part.
And whenever you get too overwhelmed with the Christmas madness, stop, take a deep breath, and focus on one of the holiday senses surrounding you. Feel the crisp, cold air brush against your skin. Smell the piny scent of a fresh Christmas tree. Watch the children shaking the Christmas presents. By getting outside of the stress in your mind and focusing on your surroundings and the joy around you, you can avoid the stressfulness of the holidays and have some fun too.
