Every year I get asked what I recommend to keep the holidays less hectic. My number one piece of advice is to not be afraid to REALLY look at your traditions and challenge any that add more stress than joy. This may not mean you need to stop doing the tradition entirely, but instead change it slightly so it is less overwhelming.
To start, think about which event/task you dread. Is it the creation of the Holiday card? The 12 course meal you prepare on your own because that is how your family has always done it? Or maybe the time and energy required to investigate/purchase/ship all those gifts to relatives and friends?
Next, ask yourself if there is another way to accomplish the same goal? Don’t be afraid to raise the question to others involved too. They may be thrilled to have another option that makes the holidays more enjoyable for all!
Some alternative suggestions to challenge your traditions (and lower your holiday stress!):
* Don’t just draw individual names for gift giving, but draw the name of an entire family so the shipping is all to one home versus to three different cousins in three different states!
* Have everyone bring a signature dish for the family feast. You can even go further from your tradition and have the meal catered by your favorite establishment!
* Send an electronic card and give yourself a break from stuffing, stamping, and addressing.
* Enlist the kids help in gift wrapping. The packages may not look perfect, but you may begin a new and fun tradition! You could even do what my Mom did one year. She put all of our unwrapped presents in one big box and only wrapped it. This not only shortened the gift opening time, but to this day I’ll never forget how fun it was to open up that one box and see ALL those toys together!
* Finally, get a fake tree if the clean-up of the needles and remembering to water the darn thing is stressful! You can always use a home fragrance to bring in the fresh smell of pine. 🙂
Overall, the main goal is to step back and decide what small change could be a big stress reliever, and then do it! New family traditions are just waiting to be made!
