De-Stressing for the Holidays Workshop
December 8th, 2013
We spent part of our workshop talking about the levels of stress we each felt about the holiday season, and the underlying causes of these stresses. We then discussed how we would ideally want to spend our holidays as well as how we each could make some decisions and changes right away so that we would enjoy Christmas more this year.
We all had a wonderful time in Dee's new space, drinking wine, eating yummy snacks and making bird treats out of pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed!
Following are some holiday tips that we shared:
- Focus on experiences, not gifts. You probably can’t remember the majority of the gifts you gave or received as a child. You may however, have fond memories of events or family traditions that you treasure. It is never too late to create a new tradition that your family can enjoy year after year.
- Instead of buying gifts, give of yourself. Make up gift certificates for a home-cooked brunch or dinner, or an invitation to join you on a local hike or beach day. Spending time with our friends and family is a mutual gift and doesn’t leave behind any clutter!
- If you must buy gifts: Plan ahead and stick to a budget. Make a list of people and gifts. Don’t "over buy" or purchase items just because they are on sale. Be very careful about getting caught up in all the advertising hoopla – it’s very carefully designed to get you to buy and spend as much money as possible. Consider these alternate gift ideas:
- Instead of exchanging expensive gifts with everyone, pick names out of a hat. Or, set a limit on spending ($10-$20) and have a Yankee swap. We’ve been doing this for years and it’s the highlight of our day – we have a ton of laughs, and we always get to bring home a little something.
- Consider handmade or baked goods if you enjoy this type of thing – these are always appreciated!
- Make a donation to a friend’s favorite charity in their name.
- Change routines: Why do we feel that we must continue forever to do things just as we’ve always done them? Think outside the box and consider new ways of doing things to make it easier on yourself.
- Who says you HAVE to cook a huge meal for 25 people every year? How about a simple gathering for dessert, pot-luck, or use a local restaurant or supermarket and use their catering selections.
- When did we decide we needed 37 different varieties of Christmas cookies each year? If you MUST have a variety of cookies, go to or host a cookie exchange where everybody bakes one type but takes home several of all the other varieties.
- Don’t do it all yourself: Involve every member of the family. If you can’t do it together, then maybe it’s not something you need to do at all. Turn decorating, shopping, gift-wrapping, baking, and even house cleaning into family-time activities.
- Create lasting, loving memories: Be selective about your time, and don't feel like you have to do everything. Think quality, not quantity. A relaxed tree-trimming, singing carols around the piano, building a snowman, or just enjoying a wintry walk and sharing a cup of hot cocoa with a friend can be more enjoyable than attending every play, concert, and party of the season.
- Be thankful. When we’re overwhelmed with holiday stress, it is easy to lose sight of the things that are really important. Take time for yourself during the holidays to reflect on why you are celebrating in the first place.
- Get ready for a stress-free 2014 Xmas: When you put away your decorations this year, take a little extra time to make things go smoothly next year:
- Put things in order: Store the decorations you'll need right after Thanksgiving in one bin, and label it "Open Me First." Include outdoor lights and whatever you like to put out first.
- Use what you have: leftover wine boxes are perfectly sectioned with cardboard dividers to protect larger ornaments -- layer tissue paper, newspaper, or bubble wrap in between -- and egg cartons are ideal for the tiny ones. Coil your lights, extension cords, and garlands around the cardboard cylinders that come with wrapping paper.
- Group like items together.
- Pack items you display together in the same bins. Label as much as you can manage. Clear plastic bins are best, but green/red colored ones are OK too as long as you label!
- Plan ahead: Bake and freeze cookies throughout November, start addressing Christmas card envelopes during the summer, etc.
(tips from a Parenthood article)
- Other tips:
- Too busy to send cards? It’s OK - your friends won’t disown you if you don’t send them a card, really!
- Shop online (Amazon Prime is awesome, especially this time of year).
- Use local supermarkets for catering – most offer decent food for very reasonable prices.
- Give yourself a time-out –take an afternoon off for yourself. Create time for yourself to recharge.
- Plan days for shopping, sending cards, baking, etc – put them on your calendar instead of thinking you’ll just fit them in.
- Volunteer as a family to sort food at a food bank, organize a toy or coat drive, deliver meals on wheels, or serve Christmas dinner at a shelter. These are memories you’ll cherish forever.