Mama life - Collaborative Post
It is essential to plan ahead of time if you want to have a stress-free Christmas. You have control over your time, and it is possible to escape the stress of the season and just enjoy all of the beauty that Christmas has to offer with a bit of forethought and organisation. The earlier you can begin planning, the better since when the time comes, all you’ll need to do is have fun. Here are some tips to help you get organised for Christmas.
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| Photo by Nadi Lindsay from Pexels |
Choose Your Priorities
There are so many activities and events throughout the Christmas holidays that you will be unable to attend them all, no matter how much you would like to. With this in mind, sit down with your family and jot down the top things that everyone enjoys doing. Schedule them on your calendar and then assess how your time is shaping up; do you have space to add anything else? If things seem to be overly crowded, consider what activities could be reduced somehow.
Remember that if you aren’t exhausted and worn down when the time comes, you will be able to appreciate the things you do pick and put on the calendar much more. Pick carefully, and make a list of everything and then whittle it down from there.
Schedule Some Downtime
It might seem strange, but planning periods in your December calendar to remain at home, relax, and watch a Christmas movie or two can be exactly the right thing to do. You don’t have to be on the go all the time just to get ready for the big event.
The calendar can rapidly fill up, and rushing from one engagement or function to the next is taxing. If you have little children, it’s possibly even more crucial to take this time off. Tired kids and hectic holiday events just do not mix – it is much better to choose a few pleasant things to do while they are rested rather than feeling obligated to take them to every Christmas light switch on and Santa viewing in town.
Remember Traditions Can Be Changed If Need Be
It's good to have Christmas traditions that you look forward to every year, but don't feel obligated to do everything the same way because that's how you've always done it. You may grow out of a few traditions as your children get older or your hobbies change, and that is not a problem; it just paves the way for you to make some new traditions.
Let go of that Christmas party you detest attending every year and use the additional time to try something new you've always wanted to do, or just spend a little more time relaxing in front of your lovely tree eating mince pies. If you find that you’re getting stressed trying to fit everything in, it’s time to make these changes, and you’ll enjoy your Christmas much more because of it.
Set Up An Area For Gift Storage And Wrapping
Setting up dedicated spaces for storage and gift wrapping will help you enjoy a more orderly Christmas in a variety of ways. To begin, creating a wrapping space allows you to spread out your goods. Also, you’ll know where you can get wrapping paper, tape, scissors, and bows when you need them. There will be no more hunting through your desk drawers or cupboards for the items you need. Plus, regardless of whether they are wrapped or unwrapped, it's so simple to lose track of where you stashed a Christmas gift. When you're ready to give it, you find yourself turning the home upside down hunting for it. Nobody wants that kind of stress over the holidays!
Consider a huge storage tub with a cover that you can put in the corner of your bedroom if you have limited storage space. Alternatively, save bigger cardboard shipment boxes and put them beneath the bed. Use your imagination as much as possible. But the most essential thing is to designate one spot for keeping all of your presents, so you know precisely where to look for them.
Take Control Of The Gift Giving
It can be quite stressful trying to find the perfect gift for the person who already has everything, and, to be honest, all of the post-Christmas clutter can be a little daunting as well. Make a note of people you usually buy for and see if there are any ways to cut down. Can you arrange a family gift exchange instead of giving one present to everyone separately? Is there a fun group activity you can do with your friends instead of purchasing gifts?
Start looking for present ideas for those friends and family members who are still on your list as soon as possible. Keep your list with you while shopping so that you can jot down any ideas you have, even if you aren't really out Christmas shopping. Exchange wish lists so that you can hunt for presents that your recipient really desires and needs. Remember that your children will most likely remember the time spent together during the holidays more than the presents they got, so don't allow the shopping to take over your enjoyment.
When it comes to cards, this is an easy thing to arrange ahead of time. Just go on the internet and send personalised Christmas cards online directly from the web. In that way, you don’t have to write them or post them, and you can still send lovely Christmas greetings to everyone you want to stay in touch with.
Let Go Of Perfection
Have you heard the expression ‘don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good’? There's no better time to put it into practice than over the holidays. Just because it's Christmas doesn't guarantee your child won't throw a tantrum in the middle of the shop. It doesn't mean that your home needs to be spotless despite all of your Christmas crafts and holiday décor. And it certainly does not mean that your gingerbread house or beautiful Christmas cake will look as lovely as it does in the cookbook. Life goes on – just try to appreciate the holidays for what they are, enjoy the process, and be less concerned with the final product. This will make things a lot less stressful and a lot more fun.
Make A Plan For Clean Up On Christmas Day
As Christmas Day draws to a close and you begin to look about your home, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the holiday clutter that has gathered. You often have new items that you don't know where to put them, such as wrapping paper, boxes, dishes, and Christmas decorations that will need to be removed shortly. It's difficult to know where to begin.
It's completely OK to start cleaning on Boxing Day if you want to enjoy Christmas Day itself a little longer. But, to prevent it from being a dreaded day, determine how you will manage all this cleaning ahead of time. Plan to start with the rubbish. Wrapping paper, boxes, and any other items that need to be discarded should be the first to go.
Next, think about where you'll put new presents. Get a box for any charity goods you may need to get rid of to create a place for the new ones. You can also donate any Christmas decorations that you don't intend to retain for next year.
Clean your kitchen as quickly as possible. Also, be ruthless. Empty the refrigerator. Don't save leftovers that no one will ever eat. Finally, when you're ready, begin removing the Christmas decorations for storage. Make a strategy for where you will keep these goods ahead of time. Putting them in boxes and keeping them in your living room will not help you get your home back in order.
