It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, and the crazy is in the air. If you’re trying to figure out how to manage, here are some ideas that I use to calm down.
Prioritize
You may like a clean toilet bowl or a clutter-free house. You may want to do all of the Christmas activities, and then some. You will likely need to prioritize. What can you slack off on during the Christmas season? What’s really important? Set out some priorities so that you do what you really want to do instead of running around like that proverbial chicken.
If You Can, Schedule a Day Off
The holidays can be insane. Shop! Cook! Clean! Have Fun! See Family! Repeat!
Oh, man.
Tomorrow, I am looking forward to a day off. We do not have anything scheduled. We will probably go for a walk and read books. We will snuggle. It will be quiet.
The next day is anything but quiet. However, if I have a few days of quiet to hold onto during this season, I know everything will be all right. After all, isn’t this supposed to be a time of hibernation?
Avoid the Malls
I am an introvert. I don’t like large crowds of people, and I pick up on peoples’ anxiety this time of the year. This is why I bake or make gifts, give gifts of experiences, or order items online. Yes, it’s for environmental reasons as well, but seriously, I just can’t stand busy stores. If you have to go shopping, look for smaller, local retailers who may not be terribly busy.
Become Henry Ford
Yes, mass production and assembly lines don’t sound all down-home Christmas, but they certainly save my sanity. I bake large quantities of cookies every year. Instead of running to the freezer to make up a package every time I need one, I make up large numbers of cookie packages at one time and keep them in the freezer until I need to give them away. You can do the same thing with gift-wrapping or other activities that are best done in bulk.
Enjoy Something Real
One of my favorite events of the season is our winter solstice get-together, which involves a quiet meal with another family, reading winter books, and a lantern walk. It involves no large get-togethers, no fancy food, no malls, and very little money. Yes, it’s just right. Instead of trying to create magical moments constantly and fulfill every obligation, think about the things that you really do enjoy about this season and focus on keeping them lovely and simple.
Image Credit: Sydney Lorichon / CC by 2.0