Organized A to Z Blog

The Holidays, Simplified

December 1, 2011

The holiday season can be so stressful! It’s meant to be a joyful time full of celebrations, giving, and family traditions, but too often, we spend so much time getting ready for these things that we’re too tired and stressed out to really enjoy the moment.

Holidays are about much more than finding the perfect gift or preparing the most fabulous meal ever. If you focus on the meaning of the holiday you’re celebrating, you’ll begin to see that so much of the “stressful” part of the holidays becomes much less important and begins to melt away. The easiest way to do this is to simplify your holiday lists and traditions. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Create a holiday to-do list, but be discerning. Ask yourself, “If I don’t get this done, will anyone else care?” If not, eliminate it, or put it on a separate list labeled, “Things to do if I have the time and energy.”

2. Consider your gift giving habits. Are you buying meaningless gifts for everyone in the family just to say you gave them something? Make sure every gift on your list will serve a purpose for the recipient. If it’s too hard (or expensive) to buy for every adult, propose to draw names or give one gift to every family instead of every individual.

3. Give “clutter-free” gifts, such as baked items, wine, tickets to a concert or movie theater, gift cards, or homemade coupons for personal services (massage, babysitting, house cleaning, yard work, car wash, snow shoveling, etc.).

4. Review your holiday rituals and traditions. Your family may have outgrown some, and they may not be as fun as they used to be. It’s ok to let go of these. Create new traditions and celebrate the ones that help you honor your family’s values and spiritual beliefs to the fullest.

5. Never go shopping without a list. The stores are just too crowded and cluttered with stuff if you don’t have a focused plan to get in and get out. Instead of browsing for ideas in stores, try looking online first where you can read customer reviews and compare prices. Before you hit the grocery store, take inventory of what you have and review your recipes to make sure you get what you need.

6. Wrap gifts as you purchase instead of waiting to wrap everything at once. Designate one area of your home as your gift wrap station and stock it with everything you need–wrapping paper, gift bags, bows, ribbon, tissue paper, gift tags, scissors, tape, and pens.

7. Abide by the “less is more” principle when decorating. Focus on your front door, one or two main rooms that everyone will see, and the Christmas tree. Aim for simple elegance over elaborate design. Let the kids put their creativity to work.

8. Buy desserts or use convenient mixes or frozen doughs if you don’t have a lot of time or don’t like to bake. You can find many specialty items in supermarkets or bakeries this time of year that are both beautiful and delicious.

9. Don’t over schedule. Accept the fact that you can’t participate in every activity. There are simply too many parties, events, concerts, programs, activities, and Santa-visiting opportunities to fit it all in. Make the choices that work best in your family’s schedule.

10. Serve others. Volunteer for a local charity, serve meals to the homeless, give gifts to kids in need, or ring a bell for the Salvation Army. There’s no better way to discover the true meaning and joy of the holidays than helping out those who need their spirits lifted and their hope renewed.

Filed under: Holidays/Special Events,Uncategorized

Tags: Christmas, holidays, organize, Organized A to Z, planning, relieve stress, shopping, simplify