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Stop stressing about Santa.
Christmas should be a happy time when families get together, enjoy themselves and make amazing memories, but most busy mums would tell you that can be quite far from the reality – in fact, lots of people report that their stress levels increase over the festive period. So, is there a way to have the perfect family celebration, minus the stress? Turns out all you need to do is slow down and plan ahead….
Keep On Top Of The Planning
Your brain can only hold so many tasks at once – when you add seasonal to-dos on top of the regular ones, it’s little wonder that it can feel overwhelming. Get yourself a task app that can keep track of everything for you and give you reminders. Make calendar appointments for everything from shopping for stocking fillers online to the neighbours annual party – that what you can see exactly what you’re doing and when. And if it feels too much? Don’t be afraid to say no. It’s your holiday too and if you don’t want to be busy every day then insist on making space where you can.
Bring The Family Together
The essence of Christmas is spending time with loved ones, and that can’t happen if people are constantly distracted by their phones and tablets. Think seriously about suggesting a ban on electronics for Christmas Day and break out the board games instead. An app like Family Orbit can help you limit your kids screen time – they are less likely to complain with the festive fun to distract them. Stay away from social media yourself – other people’s edited Instagram feeds can smother your joy. Comparing yourself to others can only make you feel bad, even if you were having an amazing Christmas before. You do the festivities your own way.
Have A Pre-Christmas Clutter Bust
One of the not so nice things about Christmas with kids is the sheer chaos of too many toys. Make it part of your Christmas traditions to do a clear out before the big day, getting the kids to help you bag up clothes they have grown out of and toys they are too old to play with. Speak to them about how donating some things that they don’t play with anymore may mean that other children get something to open, and let them know that this season is about giving as well as receiving. You’ll all feel so much better once there is room to breathe and space for the influx of new things.
Set And Stick To A Budget
We all want the holidays to be magical, but we sometimes make the mistake of thinking that just equates to volume of gifts. So we buy things we can’t afford and create financial stress. Break the cycle by setting a reasonable budget for Christmas and being strict about sticking to it. A few thoughtfully chosen gifts are far better than masses of unwanted tat.