Well, the Christmas season is here. Another year has come and gone, and we’re staring down the future at the threshold of 2015. But, before I get too far ahead of myself, I try to spend the last month of the year focusing on living in the moment and not getting too caught up in the all the holiday hype. As a parent, it’s so easy to feel pulled in a million different directions. We have cards to send, socials to attend, potlucks to prepare for, donations to give, presents to buy, decorations to hang, family and friends to visit . . . and I don’t need to go on because you know what I’m talking about!
Rather than get frustrated when things don’t go according to plan (because they never do), I like to practice some holiday traditions to relax. Here are my favorite holiday stress reducers! If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed this season, give these a try, and you might just feel a little less pressured and a lot more poised to just enjoy this time with your family:
- Shop online instead of in a store. Sometimes I get stressed by the traffic and crowds— and that’s when I open the laptop. With free site-to-store shipping from many major department stores, I can get just what I want, without paying more than if I endured the traditional shopping experience.
- Light a holiday candle and read. Try cozying up with a holiday classic novel. Watching A Christmas Carol on TV is not the same, and this quiet time will make all the difference, even if it’s in small doses of 20-30 minutes at a time.
- If you have little ones like we do, then pile the kids in the car after dark and go for a leisurely drive looking at Christmas lights. There’s nothing more exciting than the holiday season through the eyes of a child! You can sit back and soak in their joy, because the kids will be completely enamored by the twinkling decorations. Plus, you will be blessed with a few moments of free entertainment!
Have a safe holiday season, and remember that this time of year doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be anything you choose to make it! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Celeste Jo Walls
Managing Editor