Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy. But all the “stuff” – the lights, the decorations, the shopping – can be overwhelming and stressful. To make this season as stress-free as possible, keep these four tips in mind:
First, find out what’s important to your family. Sometimes we’re committed to long-held traditions that no longer hold the same meaning. Save your energy and resources for activities everyone will enjoy.
Second, figure out what’s important to you. Maybe there’s a Christmas Eve service at church you’d like to attend. Or maybe you’d like to fill up mugs with hot chocolate and take your kids around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights.
Third, gather your Christmas stash. You forget from year to year how much wrapping paper, bows, and Scotch tape you have, so gather it all together and take an inventory. This simple step to keep you from buying extra things online or hustling from store to store to find it all.
Fourth, make a list of things other people can do. Let your spouse hang Christmas lights if they enjoy it or let your child help cook. If you have people over for dinner, allow them to bring something. You’re creating more stress for yourself if you insist on doing it all yourself.
Give these ideas a try. In part two, I’ll share another helpful idea for simplifying Christmas.
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