Christmas Without The Chaos

Its the beginning of December. Christmas is just around the corner, and while the festive season should be a happy time of year, for many of us (including me!) its also a stressful one. But there is plenty that you can do to ease the pressure and make it a more relaxed and joyous time (Its not too late, the big day is still 3 weeks away!)

Plan gifts, meals and activities well in advance. List what you need and give yourself a deadline to avoid the last minute rush. Ticking off the items as you buy them, whether its food or gifts, is really satisfying and gives a sense of achievement.

I always set a budget, especially for presents (money can be the biggest issue for stress at this time of year) If you're creative, handmade gifts make a special, thoughtful present as does an experience for a loved one so they will have wonderful memories. If you have a large family then Secret Santa exchanges keeps things fun but simplifies the list too.

Look at dishes that you can make ahead of time. I always prepare the roast potatoes a week in advance, saving time on Christmas Day. Simply par boil them, give them a good shake and when cool place them on a tray, sprinkle with flour and put them in the freezer. Once they are frozen, remove the individual ones and put them all in a bag and place them back in the freezer. On the day they can be cooked from frozen. They take a bit longer in the oven but its a great time saver and one less saucepan to wash! On Christmas Eve I delegate the preparation of some foods like vegetables to family members. Grandpa does the gravy on the day and I never wash up as I’ve done the rest of the cooking. I think thats fair!

I love to send cards and not just at Christmas. Sadly, the last few years have been a bit of a demise in this lovely tradition but it's no wonder with the cost of postage now. Luckily there are always digital greetings - a simple text is lovely to receive and can start up a conversation with someone that you haven't seen in a while.

Manage expectations and say “No” when needed. Don’t feel guilty about declining a social event. Prioritise the activities and people that matter to you. Communicate openly and people will appreciate your honesty.

Create time for self care. Schedule downtime. Take a walk, lie in the bath and do whatever helps you to relax. A house full of guests is wonderful but it can be overwhelming too. If you get overtired or poorly then you'll be of little use to your visitors.

Not everyone has family or close friends nearby, and this time of year can be lonely and isolating for many. If you know of a neighbour or someone in the community who'll be alone then the best Christmas gift of all is to invite them for the big day.

Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect. Sometimes the best moments come from the unexpected. If things change try to embrace the moment anyway. The amount of times that we have sat down to no parsnips or I’ve left something in the oven and it burnt because I forgot about it! One year just as I was cooking lunch our water was cut off, so the meal was delayed until the evening. These are the things that you look back on and laugh about.

A Merry and stress free Christmas to you all, and a happy healthy New Year.