Too often the Christmas and New Year planning becomes so stressful it crowds out the joy and robs us of what we are supposed to be focusing on during this time of year. Christmas is about one thing: relationships. With God sending His Son to us to restore a broken relationship at the core, it then expands outward to include our spouses, children, extended family, friends, and others whom we want to share our love with during this season. And yet, far too often we miss it all because we want to make everything so perfect or we want to please everyone beyond what we can realistically do. In order to avoid what this lovely lady in Normal Rockwell’s photo so comically and silently communicates, try one or more of these suggestions.
1. Make a list of what is most important to you to achieve over the holiday season. This will most likely include non-material things that are centered around the significant relationships in your life. With that as the center, begin to work outward from important to urgent and NOT the other way around.
2. Take at least 15 minutes each day to focus entirely on something other than planning that you enjoy. Turn on your favorite music, Christmas or other and try one of these ideas: cross word puzzle; draw, read, lie on the couch; walk your dog; read Christmas cards; journal; do stretching exercises; call your best friend to plan a fun outing; watch a Charlie Brown Christmas! The point here is to disconnect for a short time each day and recharge in a way that works for you.
3. Lower your expectations. Less is more applies here. Downsize the amount of decorating if that has become a burden. Change the menu if that hollandaise sauce causes you that much worry. Potluck is always a great way to host the family dinner. You can still have a sit down dinner, but the work is shared and almost always results in a few ‘wow’ remarks by the guests over a new dish. If cleanliness is next to godliness in your household, maybe spending a little extra for outside help would significantly reduce the stress for you.
4. Delegate to your kids! There’s no reason they can’t help clean, cook, wrap, decorate, etc. A bright cheerful attitude on your part as you participate together is what they will remember, not the work itself. Have hot cocoa and make marshmallow snow people afterward to add to the fun.
Again – remember Christmas would not be Christmas without those you love. Relationships should always take precedent over preparation. Positive attitudes, festive music, and lots of encouraging words will go a long way to making your pre-holiday planning and preparing far less angst-ridden and add to the memories that your family will hold dear for the rest of their lives.
Do you have ideas of your own that you can share about how to keep the holidays cheerful and stress free? Please share below.