Christmas is just around the corner. We’re starting to see stores fill up with decor and gift sets, commercials are starting with the new “must-have” toys and electronics. We’re told this time of year is so magical, but for many it is the opposite. Christmas can so quickly become an overwhelming, busy and stressful season. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve learned how to simplify the holidays to allow myself to enjoy it without the stress!
DECIDE ON YOUR PRIORITIES
I’m not here to tell you what you should and should not do during Christmas. Because what the things that are my absolute favourite parts of the season might be the things you dread the most. But you need to sit down with your family, your spouse and maybe even your kids and decide which things are the most important to you during the holidays.
Maybe you have a tradition of going out and cutting down a Christmas tree, but in reality you hate the whole experience and it isn’t significant to you anymore. If that’s the case, don’t do it just for the sake of it. But, if that day of hunting for the perfect Christmas tree is something you cherish, then keep doing it!
Consider things like gift giving, holiday parties, traveling, sending Christmas cards, or whatever other obligations or traditions you normally partake in. Decide which ones are important or significant to you, and which ones you can skip.
DON’T BUY A GIFT FOR EVERYONE
I promise I’m not a scrooge. There’s nothing wrong with buying gifts, and I absolutely do purchase some Christmas gifts. BUT, I don’t purchase a gift for every single person in my life. In fact, I only buy for maybe 3-4 people.
Personally, the excessive gift giving is way too much for me, and I end up feeling like I’m just exchanging $30 with my friends for the sake of it. I have another post on how to handle gift giving as a minimalist.
CONSUMABLES OR EXPERIENCES
Like I mentioned above, I’m not a total scrooge when it comes to gift giving. In addition to the 3-4 people I purchase an actual gift for, I will often bake cookies to bring to my friends or neighbours.
I really try my best to avoid purchasing things that will become clutter in people’s homes, or buying something just because I feel like I have to buy a $25 gift for someone.
I have always loved gifting experiences instead of things. Things like concert tickets, tickets to a play, a membership to a yoga studio, etc are some of my favourite gifts to give or receive!
CREATE A BUDGET AND STICK TO IT
It is never worth it to go into debt for Christmas. Read that again. It is never worth it to go into debt for Christmas
Do I sometimes wish I could purchase gifts for everyone I know? Yes. Am I willing to go into debt, or take money out of savings to do so? No.
It doesn’t matter if you feel pressured to buy gifts for people, at the end of the day YOU get to decide how you spend your money. Create a budget, decide what you are willing to spend on Christmas gifts, and then stick to that!
If purchasing a large amount of gifts is something that is important to you, I recommend saving up for this months in advance. Maybe even a whole year in advance! Christmas is not a surprise. You know when it’s coming, so plan for it in advance to reduce so much stress!
GET YOUR SHOPPING DONE EARLY
For me, the best thing I can do to simplify my holidays is get ALL my shopping done early. I’m usually completely finished buying gifts by December 1 for a few reasons.
The first is because I hate shopping in busy stores and malls, and once December hits that’s unavoidable. The other reason is because in December, stores are so picked over. It gets harder to find the sizes you need, and Walmart is completely out of toothbrushes because everyone in the world is getting one in their stocking.
I also try to have all my food purchased at least a week in advance. This means planning out what I will be bringing to different events and making sure I have all the ingredients to do so, as well as stocking up on normal groceries. It’s my goal to completely avoid the grocery store the entire week of Christmas!
DO BAKING AHEAD OF TIME
It’s so easy to do your Christmas baking a few weeks ahead of time and then just put things in the freezer until you’re ready to use it. This means you will have one less thing to worry about once the busy-ness starts and will help immensely to simplify your holidays!
EAT HEALTHY MEALS
I’m not one to say no to desserts and snacks around Christmas time, as hard as I may try. But I make sure to keep eating healthy meals when I can! This means upping my smoothies, green juices or salads when I’m not at an event.
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing with food, just make sure you are getting the nutrients you need to keep your body and mind at optimal levels!
DON’T LET OTHER PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS RUIN IT
I honestly think this is the biggest key to simplify your holidays. For me, Christmas is overwhelming because we travel back home to our families. We usually only go home once a year, or less. So the expectations to see everyone are amplified.
In the past we’ve felt pressured and even bullied into going everywhere, and fitting 100 things into each day. This has resulted in my husband and I hardly seeing each other, when it’s supposed to be a vacation for us also!
We’ve learned to be clear with our friends and families and let them know what our limits are. Don’t expect this to be easy, and don’t be surprised if people are upset or disappointed. But the reality is that you can only do so much, and you deserve to enjoy this season! After a few years it does get easier, and it will be so worth it.
LEARN TO SAY NO
This goes with the idea to not let other people’s expectations ruin your holidays. You have to learn how to say no to invites, traditions, or expectations.
Go back to looking at your priorities, and say no to the things that are only adding stress to your life.
SET ASIDE FAMILY TIME
During the hustle & bustle of Christmas, we often end up spending less time with the people closest to us. If you want to simplify your holidays, it’s so important to set aside time for your family. I’m talking your immediate family, as in your spouse and your kids (if you have kids).
This doesn’t have to look a certain way, but for example in the past we’ve guarded Christmas day to be a slow day that we spend together, opening gifts just as a couple and making our own traditions.
If this helped you with ways to simplify your holidays, be sure to pin it for later or to share with a friend!
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