Tips for the Christmas Season

As the song goes – “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”! Bright lights, colorful decorations, great food, beautiful music, seem to make cheer fill the air.

Holiday season can also be the most stressful (and expensive) time of the year. To many things to do and not enough money or time for all of them. Colder weather, gift giving, meals, and travel are just a few of the things that add stress during the holidays. Throw in a time change that makes all the days seem shorter and you have the makings of a perfect storm. The tips that I am sharing are not earth shattering. They are just a few ideas to take a little of the “stress” out and put some of the “cheer” back in your holiday.

Gifts:

1. Starting the week of Thanksgiving, try to set aside 15 minutes a day to look over your gift buying list. Look at your list and see what could ordered online and what needs to be purchased at the store.
2. Set aside one morning or afternoon to pick up all the in-store purchase items. This saves on making multiple small trips that drain your time. Most stores now have an order ahead and curbside pickup service so you may not even have to get out of your car. 
3. Schedule one hour to make all online purchases. Set a timer to let you know the halfway point. Stick to your list and only purchase the items on it. Shopping online can be a dangerous rabbit hole to go down unless you stick to your plan.
4. In most homes, cash is known as the “universal” gift. My bank offers beautiful holiday money holder cards at no charge. I go to the drive through and pick these up to keep on hand if needed.
5. Making or baking gifts for some of the special people in your life is so rewarding. Schedule the time needed on your calendar just like a dentist appointment. Always give yourself some generous wiggle room.  A handmade gift is a very precious commodity that should not be rushed in the making. 
6. Keep a few generic gifts on hand for the “just in case” category. Candles, a nice journal, a calendar for the new year, something you could use yourself – place in a gift bag with tissue paper and store in the closet. Use these just in case someone stops by unexpectedly with a gift for you.

Hosting:

1. If you are hosting the meal, set it up buffet style. Take   advantage of slow cookers, instant pots, and warming plates to keep food hot.
2. Use paper plates, paper napkins, and plasticware to make cleanup easy.
3. Prepare make ahead dishes that can frozen. Remove them from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator the night before the meal. These dishes can then be heated at the last minute in the microwave or oven. 
4. Ask your guests to bring a prepared dish. Do not be shy about being specific. When you invite them to dinner say, “could you bring a pie?” 
5. Turn the room temperature down to 68* if possible. All that cooking and a house full of people creates a lot of heat. 

Travel:

1. Pack light. If you are visiting relatives, chances are they have a washer and dryer.
2. Don’t over promise how long you can stay. Get back home in plenty of time to give yourself some down time before heading back to a normal routine. 
3. When traveling with small children, try to pack for them at least one week ahead of time. Check the weather for your destination and pack accordingly. Ordering online and having things like diapers or special food needs shipped directly to your destination, can be a tremendous timesaver.
4. Whither driving or flying, have an everything bag that always stays with you. Include a small amount of cash, a package of hand wipes, snacks, collapsible drinking cup, medication – you get the idea – an everything bag.

Finally, relax, relax, relax! Take time to reflect on every good and beautiful blessing that God has given you. The holidays are a time when family who may have not seen each other all year get together, share a meal, open gifts, and create lasting memories. Some of my favorite memories are staying up late to watch White Christmas with my kids and reading the Christmas story from the bible on Christmas Eve. What are yours?

Spending time with family and friends at Christmas is what makes the holiday special. But remember that this is the “most wonderful time of the year” because of God’s gracious gift to us – Jesus Christ, His Son.