Is it possible to simplify your holidays and still enjoy all that this season offers?
Does the hustle and bustle of the holidays wear you down? Are you so busy going to parties, baking, planning meals and shopping for presents that you find yourself exhausted?
Simplifying your holidays means more time to just enjoy being with those you love. It means more nights watching those cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies and more time to hang out with your family during the holiday vacation.
Let’s start with a few easy ways to simplify your holidays.
Simplify Gift-giving.
Try using the one-gift rule: “something you want, need, wear and read.” If you give multiple gifts to your kids, give them one of each of those.
Draw names. For large families or friend groups, do Secret Santa instead of buying for everyone.
Set spending limits. This helps take the pressure off those who always worry about how much they should spend.
Give experiences. This is my favorite gift to receive. Whether it’s a shared meal, a concert, a movie, a play, or any local outing, if it includes time with one of my loved ones, it’s a gift I treasure.
Make Meals Easier.
Do more potlucks instead of fixing everything yourself. Share the cooking load!
Choose simpler recipes so that you don’t spend hours in the kitchen preparing.
Order a few items pre-made like desserts or sides instead of cooking everything. This allows you to focus more on the people you are serving than on the food you are serving.
Lighten Your Schedule.
Simply say no to some events. Pick the ones that truly matter to you. You do not have to accept every party invitation that is extended.
Schedule a few family “no-plan” days for resting or to simply be spontaneous and do whatever you want to do.
Schedule specific family nights to play games, watch Christmas movies or go see your community’s Christmas lights.
Streamline Your Decorations.
Keep only the decor that brings you joy. When we moved a year ago, I did a lot of purging and I went through all my Christmas decorations, keeping only the ones that I really liked or that have sentimental value to me. I had collected a lot of junkie decorations over the years and decided it was time to let go of them. Now, my decor is simple. One tree, some lighted garland in a couple of places and a few Christmas displays. I keep the kid-friendly display on the hearth in front of the (gas) fireplace so the kids can play with it and the non-kid display up higher where they can see but can’t reach. I don’t want Nana’s house to be a place where they are constantly told “don’t touch.”
You can decorate every room in the house, but if it is stressing you out because it takes hours to do, then cut back and decorate only the high-traffic areas, or even one corner of the living room. I heard of someone the other day that put up NINE Christmas trees in their house. NINE! That’s too much stress and time for my taste!
Set Expectations Early.
Tell family or guests what you’re doing differently this year. If family comes in from out-of-town, tell them what events you have specifically planned so that they can fill their time with other events if they want to. We do this in our family. It’s usually me telling the kids what I have specifically planned — a family dinner, a specific event, family pictures, etc — and letting them fill in the rest of their time with what they want.
You don’t have to be super mom or dad Santa. Be honest about time, budget or your emotional energy.
Put Meaning Over Perfection.
Choose one or two traditions that really matter to you, ones that will give your kids and grandkids awesome memories. Build in small rituals: a walk after the big dinner, a movie night, or a slow breakfast. One of our family’s favorite things is eating their great grandmother’s cinnamon sticks on Christmas morning. They expect it, look forward to it and I truly believe they will carry it on long after I am gone.
Let go of the pressure to make everything “magical.” The most meaningful part about the holidays should be WHO we spend it with and HOW much we connect and enjoy each other, not that the atmosphere or the food or the decor was perfect.
Replace tasks with together-moments: games, storytelling, volunteering, watching favorite holiday movies.
This holiday, your family needs your PRESENCE more than they need lots of PRESENTS. Simplify your holidays and you will find that there is true more joy in presence than in presents.
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