Christmas is next month. Let that sink in. Many people have already started planning their Christmas, what to buy their loved ones and where they are going to have Christmas dinner. If you’ve avoided thinking about Christmas like the plague, now is the time to brace yourself and delve head first into all Christmas has to offer. It might only be November, but planning for Christmas now will give you a headstart and ensure you can enjoy the day with minimal stress. Use these ideas for a stress free Christmas.
Start Planning For Your Stress Free Christmas Now
Figure Out Your Budget
Start by figuring out your budget. Doing this now will allow you to split the cost of Christmas over a few paydays and will hopefully mean less stress for you. Black Friday is also coming up, and the sales are usually abundant. This means you could find an amazing discount Trampoline on Black Friday 2019 and make your kids happy on Christmas day.
It’s so important that you work out your budget in advance, as it’s all too easy to be dazzled by different things and end up buying your kids way more than you intended. Figuring out your budget first and being strict with it will help.
Think About Christmas Dinner
When it comes to having a stress free Christmas, making Christmas dinner is probably one of the most stressful things in the world. You need to make the dinner for multiple people, you may need to cater for different allergies and intolerances, and there’s so much that can go wrong. Delegating certain tasks to family members for Christmas dinner can make it much easier. Could you get your cousin to do the pigs in blankets and your aunt to do the potatoes? You could also figure out which elements of the dinner you can prepare in advance so you’re not rushing around on Christmas day. Keeping it simple is also a good idea – people don’t need a 5 star a la carte Christmas dinner.
Remember: It’s Just One Day
If you want a stress free Christmas remember It’s just one day of the year. Don’t be afraid to enjoy some alone time if you’re going to be bombarded with friends and family during the festive period. Sneak alone time whenever you can so you can relax and let go of stress.
Learn How To Say No
Learning how to say no is a great skill that everybody should practice. If you don’t want to cook for extra people, say no. If you don’t want to do dinner at all, say something!
Just Aim For Good Enough
You don’t have to be perfect. In fact, good is good enough. Adding special little touches can be nice, but is not necessary and your guests may not even notice. Don’t forget what Christmas is really about – spending time with the people you love! Mismatching plates and overcooked carrots should really be the least of your worries. The best thing you can do is find a way to stay present and spend quality time with the people that matter to you.
I hope these ideas will help you have a stress free Christmas.