Going Gently into Christmas – Two Weeks

YES, IT IS TWO WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS. Almost everyone has images in their mind of the perfectly organized relaxed Christmas.  It may be images from  childhood, ones we’ve seen in the movies, or those we’ve pinned to pages and pages of Pinterest. It’s pretty normal to dream that we can accomplish them all, and have a perfectly organized Christmas. This perfect plan holds court in our minds, and if you are anything like me, it ends up becoming an unrealistically big list of hopes and desires that are often chosen for superficial reasons, leaving us without enough time to accomplish them. The end result is often a rushed and harried time with the possibility of actually hurting our health. Even if you are just starting out on Christmas plans, this post should be a help to you!

Though this post was originally intended to stand alone, it fits right into the “Going Gently into Christmas Series.”  If you have missed the series, this post will be exactly what you need to get you through!

 

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I will never be accused of being super organized.  But some people think that I am, simply because I’ve figured out how to get a lot of my goals accomplished without officially going nuts.  Christmas is one of the most challenging times of the year for many because we often carry so many unrealistic expectations

Here are some hints to help you do all the great things your family would enjoy – without wearing yourself out.

1. 1. Get the family together and have them help make a list of the things they enjoy about the Christmas season, at the top put the things that are non negotiable. As Christian parents, our family likes to put Church services and activities at the top. The message of Christmas is first and foremost for us. We choose to have Christ as “The Reason for the Season.”
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   2.  Next have each person pick one thing that they really want to do. You may find that your list does not match their list.  You may think that everyone wants to make a gingerbread house, but instead find out that they really want to bake and decorate sugar cookies. You may think that everyone will want to go into the mountains and cut down your own tree, but the family may be happy with a trip to the tree lot, or even prefer to purchase an artificial tree, and never deal with a cold day of traipsing through the snow, for what may be an imperfect tree dripping needles everywhere. Leave those things out that you simply don’t have time for – or do them after the holidays. After you have made that list, pick one day to accomplish each one.
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   3.  Pull out a calendar and write in the must-do days first – like the Church Christmas dinner. List the things you need to do or purchase for that. Then pencil in a day for the goals that your family has chosen – a day for Christmas baking or tree gathering, or decorating.
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   4. Share tasks:  You may have always been the one to decorate the tree “perfectly” This might be the time to think about actually having the kids do it. If you are OCD, you can move a few of the decorations around later. Consider drawing names  for an extended family gift exchange, or if your children are older, draw names to fill Christmas stockings. It will save you time, money and stress. Have others bring dishes to complete your Christmas dinner, or to add to your parties.
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   5. Simplify tasks: You probably don’t need to make 10 different kinds of cookies.  Consider having a cookie exchange and you’ll end up with a great variety of treats without having to bake for hours and hours.  You might pre-order a fully cooked Christmas dinner from your grocer, which you will only have to reheat. You can serve it up on your best china and have a beautiful meal without the stress.
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   6. Once you have whittled down your lists, add a few things that will make YOU happy – get your nails done, spend a day making little choo-choo trains out of candy bars, or whatever makes YOU happy.

 

7.Check out my “What to Buy” list for December. Christmas shopping can drive all of us crazy. Really, really consider shopping online.  Amazon is very cost effective especially if you use Amazon Prime. Your gifts will be delivered right to your door or to your grand kids clear across the country in just two days, without any shipping charges. They’ll even wrap them for you. AND you won’t have to fit in a trip to the post office to mail those gifts out. You can get a free month trial just in time for the holidays, or you can give the gift of Amazon Prime.

If you find that you still need to mail, consider USPS flat rate boxes.  Stuff them as full as you can for a single charge, and you can even schedule a pickup by the Postal Service. They will still get to most of the continental US if mailed out this week.
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8. When you are fixing supper, cook up double recipes and save half in your freezer for an easy meal on a busy day.    While you’re at it, make up a couple of sides for special meals. We cook up extra brown rice and quinoa, ground beef and chicken breasts- cut into cubes, to freeze for a head start to a quick meal.
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9. Keep a running list of supplies you might need – either on your cellphone, or on a magnetic pad of paper attached to the fridge. You might want to try out online grocery ordering with only one quick stop. When you are out and about, you can pick them up.
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10. This last one is perhaps the most difficult to achieve: Do your best to get seven or more hours of sleep a night. My Daddy was an MD, and he said that sleep is the most valuable health tool we have.  This will help you make it through Christmas and beyond with your health intact.  Check out these great hints to help you stay well!

Updated: December 11,2023