Stress free Christmas tips
Christmas is supposed to be fun and enjoyable, but many people run themselves ragged, and stress themselves out with over scheduling, shopping, taking on too much, and trying to create the perfect holiday season. The following is a useful, and easy to apply laundry list of tips for having a stress free Christmas. If followed your holiday season will be far improved, and you will see why so many people find joy (rather than Aspirin for a headache) during the holidays and Christmas. Let's face it, little changes can make a BIG difference when it comes to beating stress, so don't think you have to give up the things that make Christmas special, you just have to make them easier, and do your best to place fewer demands on yourself and your time.
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- Send out your Christmas cards, but cut down on the volume of how many you send. Many people find that at Christmas time they pull out their address books, and anyone they have an address for, and many they don't go on their list of card recipients. This is a silly practice, it wastes time and money, so instead of sending cards to people you really do not like, or to people out of a feeling of obligation, change your mindset and only send cards to those you won't see, that live far away, and those that you have meaningful relationships with that you want to include in your greetings. Every person in your neighborhood does not need to receive your Christmas card, especially not the people you do not get along with.
- Lower your expectations, at least those you place on yourself. Believe it or not, if you only have six kinds of pies at your Christmas dinner instead of ten, there will be very few complaints. Instead of running yourself ragged with an unrealistic expectation of perfection, recognize your humanity and learn to be okay with a nice, or average, or good Christmas instead of a perfect one. What is the perfect Christmas anyway?
- Plan your shopping trips well. The fact is that stores are crowded, lines are long, and often parking lots are full, so you do not want to leave in high spirits with the idea of roaming the stores until you find the perfect gift only to come home in a slump. Chances are if you do not plan well you will leave frustrated and in need of another trip because your list is not complete. So, know before-hand what you intend to get for everyone. A good way to do this is to browse online before going to the store, or to look through the flyers and mailers that are sent out. Once you get to the store, collect the items, and make your way to the checkout.
- If you have the money to do it, hit the shops early before the real Christmas shopping rush begins. Often times it is not the gift purchasing that is stressful, it is the waiting in long lines, fighting with people over the last item, or hunting through shelves and racks for the right size, color, etc. It's surprising how much shopping you can get done and how much more fun Christmas shopping can be when you know what you want to get for people, and get out early to do so.
- Make lists before you hit stores of any kind, even grocery stores. If you plan a menu, even a simple one, you can ensure that you have everything you need from one shopping trip, and those quick runs to the store that take hours because of crowded parking lots and long lines can be eliminated. Also, it helps you cut back on the waste because you know what you need and how much. Plan for a little extra, and also make sure you plan some snacks in addition to your main meal ideas.
- Take time to enjoy the season and the things specific to Christmas. If you absolutely love Christmas music, then play it. If you enjoy looking at Christmas lights and decorations, make a plan to drive around and do that. You have to take time to do the things you enjoy most about the season, otherwise the joys of Christmas will be lost on you. So ask yourself what makes Christmas special for you, and make it a priority this year.
- A very useful way to cut the stress of Christmas is to spend a dollar and buy an inexpensive, small notebook for your holiday planning. As gift ideas, meal ideas, people you want to send Christmas cards to, recipes, grocery needs, etc. come to you, you can pull it out and record it. That way you do not forget things, and you can check things off as you do them, which is very rewarding and known way to bust stress.
- Strategize your holiday plans. It may sound corny, but take a few minutes to sit down with your spouse and decide what activities, traditions, and things make you happy during the holidays, and make a plan to accomplish those things. Once you know what it is you enjoy, and do not enjoy about the Christmas holiday, you can prioritize activities. For example, if you find that you both really look forward to sledding, you can plan to go. If you find you both hate parties, then turn some of the invitations down.
- A great way to keep the holiday insanity under control and bust stress is to get a nice calendar to schedule holiday commitments and events on, and keep it where the whole family can see. This way you do not over-schedule, double book, or leave no time for the family.
- Avoid situations that cause you stress personally. For some, fighting the holiday crowds at the mall is half the fun of Christmas shopping, for others, doing their shopping online can make a huge difference in the stress they feel at Christmas. If the mess and stress of preparing a feast for Christmas stresses you out, then do not be embarrassed to have one catered, or to order out, or at the very least buy as much of it already prepared at the store as you can. While home-made is nice, and everyone appreciates it, they won't appreciate it enough to have you all stressed out and moody because of it. Sometimes buying a pumpkin pie and rolls instead of making them yourself is worth the slight sacrifice in taste. Besides, it is possible to buy from a gourmet bakery or high end caterer and get all the thrills of home cooking with none of the mess.
- Just start early. Most people get stressed because they have too much to do and too little time, especially when their calendars start to fill up with parties and get-togethers. So, address your Christmas card envelopes in July, just do not write them out or send them then. Bake your cookies in October, and freeze them. There are ways to do it all without the stress, you just have to budget your time wisely.
- Don't think gifts equal perfection. Some people get stressed because they bought one child an expensive bike and another a toy doll, and they worry the cost difference is unfair. As long as both kids love their gifts, and want them, it does not matter. You do not have to try and make everything perfectly equal, just try to get things perfect for each person. The fact is simple, items for some people are going to cost more than items for others. A gift for a teen for example is likely going to cost way more than gift for a toddler simply because their needs and interests are different.
- Probably the biggest stress free Christmas tip you can get is to don't overspend. Spending money you don't have is a sure-fire way to make Christmas and most of the next year stressful. Going into debt for Christmas does not make it more fun, it makes your life harder.
- Be prepared medically. The biggest stress some people face at Christmas is the stress of needing a doctor, or a prescription filled, and not having a pharmacy open, or a doctor's office open. So, refill your prescriptions to ensure you are covered during times when the pharmacy will be closed. Stock your medicine cabinet for the just in case, and talk to your doctor about any health concerns in advance.
- Have batteries. This is a stress buster few people realize or think of, but it can go a long way toward making your Christmas less stressful. A child who gets a new toy, and is excited to play with it, but has to wait until stores reopen the following day so you can get batteries to power it is not going to make life very easy on you. So, charge your rechargeable batteries so you have batteries for cameras, electronics, and new toys and gifts.
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Stress Free Christmas Resources:
Organized Christmas Stress Free Christmas Parents' Guide to Stress Free Christmas Tips for a Stress Free Christmas Nitty Gritty Stresses Of Christmas Getting Ready for Stress-Free Christmas Spending Dreaming of a Stress-Free Christmas Stress Free Christmas Women and Christmas Have A Stress Free Christmas |
