By Carrie Grosvenor
While Christmas is meant to be the season of giving, sometimes it feels like you're giving it everything you've got, making it difficult to enjoy the holidays. Take some time out to prioritize and plan with your family, and you just might discover that you don't need to knock yourself out, physically, emotionally, and financially, each and every year.
Pick and Choose What is Important
The very first thing you should do is make a list of all the things you need to do this Christmas. Include everything; shopping, wrapping, baking, cooking, attending concerts or plays, family gatherings, decorating, volunteer work, etc. Break major categories into smaller lists. For example, decorating can include the tree, indoor displays, the dining table, and outdoors.
Your list will seem overwhelming to you, but there's a method to the madness. Now you can sit down with your family and decide what things on your list are really important to each person, and why. You can quickly strike things off of your list that no one would really mind going without this year. Reduce your baking to only two or three types of treats. Shake up your dinner menu by planning some easy side dishes to go with the main attraction. Consider missing some of the usual outings you do each year, or if they can be put off until the week between Christmas and New Year's, reschedule them. Decorate only the main rooms in your house, and keep the decor simple.
You might be surprised at the simple things that your family really wants to keep, and the complicated stuff you've been doing every year that they could really do without. Keep your traditions in mind, but don't be afraid to give some up or replace them with new and simpler ideas. Creating new traditions can be a lot of fun!
Cut Down on Shopping and Spending
The amount of money people spend on Christmas gifts, food, wrapping paper, and other items during the holiday season is astounding. The average family spends a little over $780 annually on gifts alone, according to recent polls. You can easily cut down on your expenses in a few simple ways.
If you buy a lot of gifts for family and friends, try to make arrangements to simplify gift-giving this season. Agree to only exchange homemade gifts; this gives you many options! You can give home-baked goodies, photo albums full of pictures of family, scrapbooks, gift 'coupons' for services like shoveling snow or a home cooked meal, or print out your favorite recipes and put them together to make a cookbook.
You could also suggest that, since the magic of Christmas is really about children, that the adults will exchange only cards and save the gift giving for the kids. Or draw names from a hat and do a Secret Santa this year. Chances are that your friends and family are as overwhelmed as you are, and would welcome the chance to make things easier on their wallets.
When you do go shopping, make lists of everything you'll need to buy and stick to them. Overspending occurs quite easily when you make impulse purchases. If you can't resist the extras, consider doing your shopping online and avoiding the malls altogether.
For your Christmas dinner or holiday get-togethers, suggest a potluck dinner or buffet, where everyone brings their favorite dish. Instead of a sit-down dinner for a before-Christmas gathering, serve brunch or just appetizers and cookies.
Gift wrap and decorations can be picked up at the dollar store. Go outside and gather pinecones and other naturals, and use them to adorn your gifts. They look pretty and cost nothing. Recycle the gift bags, bows, and large pieces of wrapping paper you receive for use again next year.
Delegate Wherever You Can
Who says you need to take on all of the burdens associated with the holiday season? Delegate responsibilities to your kids and your spouse, and explain to them that these are important jobs for your entire family. Your children will enjoy pitching in, and will be proud of their accomplishments, especially if you assign tasks like decorating the house or tree, or any other creative task.
If you've taken on too much through volunteer projects, school committees, or other organizations, step back and take a good look at what really needs to be done by you personally, and delegate the rest. Don't take on more than you will comfortably have time for.
Keep Yourself Healthy and Sane
Even though your schedule may be jam-packed, you still need to look after yourself. Get enough sleep, eat well and avoid too many treats, and schedule time for yourself to relax, alone and with your partner. A simple soak in a hot bubble bath can rejuvenate and reenergize, so don't skip small treats like this to get things done. You'll end up burning yourself out before too long, and it will be even more difficult to get everything completed on time.
Spend quality time with your family and friends as much as you can. They love you and won't care if your house if perfectly clean or if you have the best cookies on the block – the important thing is that you're together. Try to keep in mind exactly what the real meaning of the season is for you, be it religious, spiritual, or otherwise, and don't overwhelm yourself with too many projects and tasks.
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