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A guilt-free guide to enjoying the holiday season
The holiday season is fast approaching! Our already busy lives are about to get busier with more expectations for our time, money and energy. According to an online poll, more than 50 percent of mothers begin their journey to the holiday season as the last trick-or-treater leaves their home on Halloween night. Forty percent of these moms say they have had Christmas swirling around in their head since the kids returned to school. The pressure to create a picture-perfect holiday season has increased with blogs and social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. The idea that everyone has it together; their shopping done, holiday parties planned and homes fully decorated with cookies cooling in the kitchen leaves many wondering why they too can’t pull off a stress-free holiday season.
The secret really lies in your expectations says, Sarah Ingalls, a mother of three from New Brunswick. “We can’t do it all, and the sooner we let go of unrealistic goals the sooner we’ll start enjoying the holidays.”
Not everyone is naturally organized or has the time to make everything from scratch, but with a little planning you’ll soon find your own version of the holidays is the one that fits your family best.
1. Start with a game plan
- Ask for input: Decide as a family what you all want from the holiday season. You may be surprised at what your kids tell you — maybe all they really want is to laze around in pyjamas watching movies.
- Be realistic: Don’t plan more than you can afford or have time to do. Be sure to leave time for some fun family time and a little relaxation too!
- Delegate: Don’t try to do it all yourself. Get the whole family involved, and don’t be afraid to accept help when friends and family offer.
- Re-invent traditions: Just because your mom did it doesn’t mean you have to. Do what you love and leave the rest.
2. Tackle your to-do list one check mark at a time
Even in its simplest form, the holiday season involve a number of important tasks. This checklist will help you get organized and keep you on track so you have more time to relax and enjoy your friends and family. Take a minute to customize the list, adding and removing to make it your own.
3. Have some fun
The holiday season shouldn’t be about getting ready for one day — instead, make time each week to have some fun. Spend time with friends and family, encourage your children to invite friends over, play games, go to a holiday movie, write letters to Santa, make Santa cookies, go on a drive to see the local light display, create new (but simple) holiday traditions and attend a local Christmas service.
Make it a game: If getting your list checked off is going to be a struggle, consider turning it into a daily advent countdown. Some tasks can be work while other can be fun — “Let’s decorate the tree and house” lets you cross a task off your list while the kids enjoy a fun family activity.
- Try one of our DIY Advent Countdown Calendars
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