Although Christmas cards feature serene expanses of pristine white snow and houses decked out with cheerful seasonal decor, the reality is often less than picture-perfect.
For many busy moms, the Christmas season is an action-packed cascade of shopping, baking, entertaining, and exhaustion. With the kids home for winter vacation, Christmas can also throw a loop in your regular schedule.
Everyone wants to slow down and enjoy the holiday with friends and family, but there’s just so much to do. Fortunately, there are ways to manage the stress and endless to-do lists of the holidays.
1. Scale Back on Gifts
Everyone says they’re going to do it, but few people stick to their resolve. The truth is, Christmas is for kids, and moms and dads want to give their children a magical holiday. If the presents at your house have turned into small mountains, make a conscious effort to scale back. A popular modern mom mantra suggest buying each child just four gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read. By reducing presents to just four thoughtful items, you and your family can pause to truly savor the act of opening gifts.
2. Stretch Out Your Holiday
Interestingly, many people experience a small bout of depression after the Christmas season concludes. Experts speculate that the build-up and subsequent let-down that surrounds just one day causes individuals to experience a roller coaster of emotions. Instead of concentrating your celebration on a single day, spread your Christmas over several days. Purchase an Advent calendar that marks the 25 days of Christmas. Children will get a small thrill out of revealing each day as it passes. Additionally, you can exchange one gift per day in the 12 days leading up to the big day.
3. Help Those in Need
During the Christmas season, there are always individuals and families who need a little extra holiday cheer. Take a day (or two, or three) to do something good for someone else. Many communities offer opportunities to adopt a family for Christmas. Your kids will have fun picking out gifts and wrapping presents for a deserving family. Other good ideas include visiting a nursing home to visit with residents and serving in a soup kitchen.
4. Prepare Food in Advance
If you plan on hosting friends and family at your home, start preparing early. Pop cakes, cookies, and other baked goods in the freezer and thaw them a few hours before guests arrive. You can also freeze stew and pasta until you’re ready to serve it. Spread your cooking over several days so you’re not stuck in the kitchen for hours.
5. Shop Online
Avoid fighting holiday crowds and slogging through slushy, freezing snow by doing the bulk of your Christmas shopping online. Besides eliminating stress, online shopping can also save you a bundle of cash. Many retailers offer exclusive Internet coupons and deals around the holidays. Search popular coupon sites to find bargains for all your favourite stores in one place.
Christmas is always a busy time of year, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By managing your time and making a few adjustments, you can slow it all down and enjoy a more peaceful holiday season with your family.
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