Fav Five 🖐️ | Simple strategies for a stress-free season
Ease into the holidays
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Dear Friends,
How’s everyone holding up? For me, it feels like I’m speeding down a slide to the end of the year, with my arms and legs splayed, just trying to slow things down. Anyone else?
Between filling the calendar with events and navigating plans for family gatherings, gifts, and holiday decisions, it’s a whirlwind.
As I look ahead to an even busier month, I’ve been brainstorming ways to make November—and the whole holiday season—feel less overwhelming. I jotted down five things I think might help ease the stress and keep us a little more grounded.
I would love to know: What would you add to this list?
Enjoy!
1. Start small, sooner
Tackle one small holiday task each week in November (think: gift planning, gathering all the gift wrapping) to help ease the pressure in December and feel more organised.
2. Make gift buying fun!
Pop on a favourite TV show or music, grab a hot cuppa and order the gifts online from the comfort of the couch! Try to prioritise supporting small/local businesses.
3. Create a holiday plan - with room for downtime
Make a shared document with plans for gatherings, meals, and special traditions so everyone’s on the same page and can add their ideas. Having input and knowing downtime is built-in helps everyone feel relaxed.
4. Set a holiday budget
Decide on a comfortable spending limit early on for gifts, travel, and events. It’s ok to rethink some traditions if it’s out of the budget this year. With a bit of time and thought, memories can still be thoughtful and personal.
5. Prioritise mental and physical health
Maintain daily habits like grounding practices, moving your body or relaxing evening rituals to stay healthy throughout the holiday season. Keep up the things that make you happy. Try not to take on everything. Delegate and let go of unnecessary things!
I hope these ideas help lighten your load. It’s ok to simplify. It’s ok to keep up your hobbies that bring you joy. It’s ok if this Christmas looks different from previous Christmas holidays. 💕
I’d love to hear how you’re keeping it calm and meaningful!
✍️ What would you add to this list?
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I also did a podcast!
Hi Mika - good on you for coming up with ways to make the Christmas season an enjoyable one, rather than one that's overflowing with stress. My tips would be: 1) let go of expectations - Christmas isn't a competition, so do what feels right for you and let the rest go. 2) try to remember the real reason for the season - about birth, and joy, and God's gift to the world - rather than getting caught up in commercialism and the need to spend, spend, spend.
I love Christmas for the focus on family coming together - and I'm loving it even more this year because our daughter wants to host everyone - so I get let off the hook and can just enjoy being with the people I love the most....while laughing, eating, and just being in the moment. I hope you enjoy the lead-up and can avoid all the noise. :)
One thing that we’re doing this year is buying holiday food early. Especially the things that fly off the shelf quickly; brown sugar, cherries, stuffing, etc. We’ve finally learned our lesson from being last-minute shoppers. 🙃