Christmas is a joyous time for many of us. I love the lights, the festive atmosphere. The children's faces when they see Santa. But the hussle and bussle of shopping, baking, cooking meals, travel plans and wrapping gifts can take its’ toll. I love the cooking and baking part, but am not very fond of the Christmas crowds. Besides that, I am not a very inspired shopper . Originality in selecting gifts is not my strong suit. Then there’s always the rush to get things done. We are, after all, on a deadline. And that deadline is December 25th. Then, in my case, there’s the mid-west winter. That includes cloudy, cold weather, snow on the ground or snow to shovel. Maybe even some freezing rain thrown in. Layers of clothes that make it hard to shop in, let alone get in and out of the vehicle. How about the parties and other commitments? Is it any wonder that folks need to find a way to cope with holiday depression?
But, cope, we can. The best thing to do is take a breath, analyze what you have to do, where you have to be and when, and how to pull it all together. Your mantra will be: it can be done. And here’s some of my tips how to get it all done.
1. If you bake holiday breads and cookies, start doing that after Thanksgiving and freezing your baked goods. Offer a loaf of baked bread or plate of cookies to your friends in exchange for using their freezer space.
2. Invite the family or neighbors over for a tree trimming party. Fix coffee and punch and some easy, light snacks. The task will be done much quicker and will be a lot more fun.
3. If you buy disappointing gifts like I do, don’t be afraid to get a wish list from the recipient. You can’t go wrong if you pick one of the 10 things they listed. And it will still be a surprise.
4. Write your menus and cookie lists early in December. Make grocery lists for everything you intend to prepare. Then buy what groceries you can in advance. Don’t torture yourself by starting a cookie recipe only to find that you forgot to purchase an item. And if you really want to torture yourself, wait until Christmas Eve to get you Christmas Dinner ingredients.
5. Winter weather got you down? Keep a bunch of your favorite scented candles on hand. The glow of a candle can warm you from the inside out.
6. And don’t forget to take some chill time. I enjoy listening to varieties of Christmas music in the evening with the candles glowing. It’s very calming after a busy day.
7. Everybody tries to over do. You don’t have to. Try to keep it simple, when you can.
8. Most importantly, don’t forget the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season. Kind of puts things in perspective, right?
