It’s the most, wonderful time, of the year!
For many of us, the holidays are a magical time that we look forward to all year. The food, the family time, the atmosphere, what’s not to love about that?
Unfortunately, for some, the holidays are a little bit of a nightmare.
Their to-do list just keeps piling up as they have to try to do countless jobs in one month. For those who are raising kids, working, AND trying to cross everything off of their Christmas chore list, it is all just really overwhelming.
When you’re spending the entire month running around like a chicken with your head cut off, how are you supposed to stop and enjoy the holiday season?
Well, it doesn’t have to be like that.
You don’t have to spend November counting down the days until hurricane “holidays” come to your house.
There are plenty of ways to cut down on the stress that the holidays bring.
To see our suggestions, keep reading!
Plan, Plan, Plan!
The holidays are not a time of year when you want to just “wing it.” For many of us, the holidays bring many gatherings, day trips, and shopping trips.
You’re going to want to keep track of all this stuff with a calendar and a budget book!
Keep a calendar in a high-traffic area so you will see it frequently. Add any Christmas parties, trips, concerts, or visitors to it. As things start to get really crazy really fast, you are going to want to know exactly what is going on every day.
Along with keeping a calendar, you’re going to want to keep track of everything you need when you go shopping, as well as a budget and a timeline for when you need these things.
Create a list of everyone you need to buy for, as well as the budget for each person. Make sure you have this guide on-hand every time you go out.
A phone notepad is a great place for this information, I mean, who knows when they’re going to see the perfect gift?
If you’re hosting or attending a holiday party in which you need to bring food, keep track of that on your calendar. For the day before the party, attach a note to the calendar that lists all the ingredients, meals, or extras you will need.
Trust me, you will be so glad you did this when you don’t have to make a last-minute run to the grocery store at 8:00 at night.
Don’t Be Afraid to Accept Help from Others
We all know them; the hosts that want to do everything.
If you don’t know one, then that means you are one.
These people do the decorating, the planning, sending out invites, reminding the family of the event, the cooking, and the cleaning. While for some this is just how they’ve always handled holidays, how on earth is someone supposed to enjoy the holidays with that kind of pressure?
All too often these superstar hosts take on all these responsibilities because they feel
the need to. They don’t want to burden those around them by asking to help.
The truth is, the only one being burdened is the host!
It takes days or weeks for one person to do all this work, where it would only take probably less than an hour for each person if the work was divided.
So, if you’re the one-person-show host, ask for some help. Plan a potluck for Christmas dinner, or assign another family member the duty of planning the event.
If you know a host that takes all the responsibility, offer to bring a passing dish or clean up afterward.
The more we chip in and divide up the work, the more that everyone can enjoy the holiday.
Remember What the Holidays are All About
In the grand scheme of things, holidays aren’t about the gifts, money, or the food.
(How many Christmas movies have taught us this lesson?)
If you spend all your time worrying about these things, you won’t have time for what truly matters… Family!
So, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t put off planning for the holidays.
You’ll thank yourself later!