A special welcome today to K-Love Listeners joining in on today’s Living With Less discussion!
Today on a K-Love interview I talked about five changes we can make to simplify Christmas.
I want to share those changes with you and then hear about some of the changes you are making or are thinking about making to simplify your Christmas season.
Change Your Expectations: Our own expectations often create our own stress. If we lower our expectations, we can usually lower our stress. For instance, I love baking cut-out Christmas cookies and decorating them as a family. When my kids were little I would set aside one day for baking and decorating and I would ALWAYS find myself stressed. One December I decided to bake the cookies in the evening after the kids were in bed. The next day we gathered around the table with bowls of different colored icing, colored sprinkles, and candies and decorated the cookies together. I lowered my expectations of doing the whole process together and exchanged it for a simpler process of decorating together. It was much less stressful and just as much fun!
Change gift-giving: You don’t have to keep up with the Jones’ when it comes to gift giving. You don’t even have to keep up with your extended family. You need to do what works with your budget and the time you have. (For more ideas on simplified “giving with less” check out our “gifts from the heart” discussion two weeks ago.)
Change your answer from yes to no: You don’t have to attend every holiday party you’re invited to. You don’t have to participate in every cookie exchange. You don’t have to put up every decoration you own. Say no and free yourself from the stress of overcommitment and over-achievement.
Change your To-Do list: Make a list of everything that’s rolling around in your head that you need to do before Christmas. Now make a star by the things you absolutely have to do. Put an X by anything you could choose to let go of. Now make a new, simplified “to do” list. If it’s helpful, you can make a “I’m choosing not to do” list of all those items with an X on them. This will help you remember the choice you made to simplify and stay true to a less stressful holiday.
Change the song: Every time you hear the Christmas song, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow,” change the words in your head to “Let it go, let it go, let it go…” This is a great, practical way to keep your Christmas simple and focused on what’s most important: family, friends, and celebrating Jesus’ birthday!”
What about you? What changes are you making this year to simplify your Christmas?
I'm such a believer in simplifying Christmas!! People's expectations are often so high, and I see the women around me dropping from exhaustion. Nine years ago I was on hospital bedrest, pregnant with my twins, through the entire holiday season. (Thanksgiving – New Years.) We didn't send a single card or exchange a single gift. And yet the joy of Christmas was so remarkable in that little hospital room…joy that our babies were growing safely in my womb…joy at the friends and family who stopped by.
That experience changed Christmas for me. All the busy stuff we do? It's optional. We can say no. Opt out. And often our families are happier when we do.
So how do we simplify? We make a list of what we really want to do at christmastime, and who we're buying gifts for, and we stick to our plan. We used to exchange gifts with so many people, but during a season of unemployment, we simply talked to people and said, "You know, we can't really do this right now…" To my surprise, EVERYONE was so relieved to not be exchanging gifts!
So, there you go. Sorry this comment is so long…it's one of those things I feel so passionate about, obviously!!
I've been wanting to simplify things at Christmas for years. Trying to get my husband and kids to agree is the problem. Packing so much into every day is very stressful. By Christmas Eve we are not feeling well. I'm a church organist and have much to do in the way of planning music this time of year. I would rather focus on that instead of worrying about so many cards to be filled out, baking and decorating. A few years ago I decided not to bake unless I really had the time. AHHHHHHHH!!!! I'm stressed just reading all of this. I'm glad to know others feel the same way. We miss the real meaning by rushing around so much.
Llama Momma, I agree! We suggested no gift exchange with extended family last year and everyone was open to the idea. It really reduced the stress!
I usually spend hours hand-stamping cards with pictures of the kids and yes, everyone thinks they're beautiful, but it's a lot of extra work for me. I decided this I am doing simple photo cards from walmart, that took me 30 minutes to do online instead of days of stamping! I believe in living all of my life simply, so to simplify Christmas is definately important. I love what Llama Mama had to say!!!
Three years ago we moved into an unfinished house and there was literally no place to put up a tree. So we dug out a beautiful nativity scene and set it up on a little table. That was the extent of our Christmas decorations, and it really helped us stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas. The following year, we opted to give gifts from the World Vision gift catalog rather than buying gifts for each other. Christmas Day was so much fun, with each family member choosing which gift they wanted to give in Jesus' name to a needy person. It was the most fulfilling Christmas ever! We've kept the tradition – and my two kids (11 and 17) love it! We do make sure the kids have at least one gift to open Christmas day, but that's all. Talk about stress reduction! I really look forward to the Christmas season now!
For me, the change of expectations has been the biggest help. I did that a couple of years ago, after so many stressful holidays. I set the bar so high for myself, I could never get there and I'd have the most awful time trying.
It's so nice when Christmas finally rolls around and you aren't completely frayed 🙂
This year my siblings and I will not be exchanging gifts but will be exchanging "gifts of kindness". My one brother and his wife are building a new house so our gift to them will be helping them paint when the time comes. My other brother and his wife have a little boy and we will give them babysitting coupons to use when they would like us to babysit for them. And my other brother and his wife will receive a home cooked meal once a month to use right away or stick away in the freezer for a time when they need an easy and quick meal!