Let’s Simplify Christmas

Here we are again. It’s the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It can be the absolute craziest time of the entire year, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s simplify Christmas this year.

I had a friend would describe it like this: “It’s like sledding down an amazing and huge hill and there is a tree right at the bottom that is Christmas Day.” Yesterday I got this thought: it’s like being in a river rapids, getting tossed and pushed wherever it goes.  

A few years ago, we were a part of a Christmas program at church. I took my kids to all the practices. They were ready. One night I dropped them off as usual and went back home to do whatever it was I needed to do. When I came back to pick them up, I realized it was not a practice night. It was performance night! They did the performance in whatever clothes I had brought them to church in. I wanted to crawl under the chairs… 

Again, I was trying to be everything and do everything and it wasn’t working. To be honest, I did not handle my calendar very well and didn’t even plan out their clothing for the performance. I don’t think I even HAD their Christmas outfits yet.

Freedom

I began to get the idea that Christmas doesn’t have to be the crazy, over active month that it had been; I could choose the things I wanted to do and let the rest go. What a concept. Letting go of my over-achieving expectations was so freeing!!  Yes. I still try to cram way too much into too little time. 

I’m human too.. 

The last couple years I have attempted to set myself some realistic expectations and goals. After Thanksgiving, (because why would you attempt to do this earlier than that?? I have so much work to do on myself yet!!!), I look at the month and figure out what I need to have done. Asking some questions like: 

What do I really want to do for Christmas? Decorate inside the house? How much do I want to do? What do I want to do outside? 

Christmas baking… When do I want to do that? Last year we did a bunch of baking as a family. It was great fun and we are going to do that again this year. After that I will have all my baking done. Check. 

Presents…. I have a LOT of presents to buy. Do I have everyone I need to buy for on my list? What do they want? Where am I going to get them from? When do I want to have them all purchased and ready to wrap by? 

Then set some deadlines. Currently, the baking is on the 4th of this month so I am planning on having all my baking done this weekend. We are getting the tree this week to, so baking and decorating will be done this week. 

Simplify

My word for this Christmas season is SIMPLIFY. I would encourage you to do what you can to do the same. Take some time and think about the things you can let go of this holiday season. Think about what activities are priority for you and your family. Talk to them and see what they would consider important. Make some lists and then set some goals or deadlines. Let’s

Stuck? Or having some trouble letting some things go? Message me. Let’s talk through some strategies to help you enjoy this Christmas too! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Vick