According to the song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” but it can also be the most stressful. Thankfully there are some simple ways to reduce your holiday stress so that you can focus on what matters most.

 
It Was Time For a Change

I love the Christmas season - the smell of fresh greenery in the house, decorating the tree with ornaments that recall precious family memories, prepping plates of Christmas goodies and delivering them to friends and neighbors. But, in earlier years there were many stressors too - primarily because I:

• Didn’t have a plan
• Tried to do too much

Yes, Christmas is December 25th each year. It wasn't a surprise. But, I would still end up scurrying around and exhausted. Until I decided there was a better way.

5 Simple Ways to Eliminate Holiday Stress This Year

1. Simplify gift giving for your children by using the 4-gift rule:

• Something they want
• Something they need
• Something to wear
• Something to read

This doesn’t just apply to you & your spouse. Help your extended family members who purchase gifts for your kids by offering gift suggestions in one of these categories.

2. Send New Years cards rather than Christmas cards or Hanukkah cards

• Use family photos that you take during the holiday season
• Create & order your cards the last week of December
• Address & mail them during the first two weeks of January

Switching to New Years cards was a game changer for me. There were so many years that I wasn’t really present while we were watching Christmas movies with the boys because I was trying to get our Christmas cards addressed & mailed before December 24th.

Prepping and mailing our cards after the holiday rush is over allows me to enjoy time with our family before Christmas. I’ve learned that my friends and family enjoy it too - they receive our card in a slower season + our card doesn’t get lost in the mix of all the holiday catalogs.

3. Know your non-negotiables (and make sure your spouse knows them too)

You & your spouse need to have a conversation ahead of time about what is most important to each of you during the holidays. This will allow you to make better decisions about what to say “Yes” to when you have conflicting activities or just too much to do.

Don’t limit this conversation to holiday events. Discuss your non-negotiables for your health, your finances and your marriage too.

4. Keep everyone informed

• Have a family calendar in a central location (like the kitchen)
• First, add your family’s regular activities
• Then, add in any holiday events and activities
• Using a different color for each family member makes it easy to identify what’s going on

Having a central family calendar will both:

• Keep everyone informed
• Keep you from overcommitting

5. Adjust your regular schedule

Rather than trying to squeeze in all of the holiday prep, family activities & fun events into your already full schedule, look for what you can adjust.

For example:

• You don’t have to completely give up your weekly fitness routine - shorten your workouts or head to the gym on the weekend.
• Prep semi-homemade meals or double the recipe and freeze half of it to pull out later on a busy evening.

I can’t promise you that these 5 tips will give you a stress-free holiday but reducing stress when possible during the holidays will be a blessing for both you and your family.

What’s 1 way that you eliminate stress during the holidays? Let me know in the comments below.

Y'all have a great week!

     Renee'