How Busy Families Can Simplify Christmas

The Christmas season is a wonderful time for families to come together and celebrate with special rituals and traditions. And as much as many adults love the idea of the Christmas season, many dread it in reality because of the harried feeling induced by a to-do list a mile long. As a mother of four, I long to create traditions that my kids will grow up cherishing, but oftentimes I feel strangled by all of the things I'm "supposed" to accomplish this time of year. So in the past couple of years, I've decided to scale back on certain things, hold on to what I love, and let the rest go. I've found that by clearing extras out of my schedule and making time for what's truly important, the Christmas season becomes something I actually look forward to, and not just a bunch of checklists to get through. These tips are some of the things I've learned to follow to make the holidays relaxing, memorable, and fun.

Choose Favorite Traditions
Traditions are what make each family unique, and they're important touchstones for kids to hold onto as they grow. There are certain traditions that I grew up with that I now practice with my own kids, and others that were fun, but I haven't kept up. Only the truly special rituals remained as I started my family. Ask you children and spouse what traditions are the most important. They can be something silly or serious, simple or involved, but if they're important, keep them going. All of the other activities you associate with Christmas or feel like you have to do can go or be modified depending on the year.

By choosing as a family what you love best, you can be confident that what you're spending your efforts on really matter. It can be so easy to get caught up in what you feel you "should" be doing, that you lose sight of the gestures that really matter to the ones you love. Your Christmas celebrations may look completely different than anyone else's, but that's what make them special and unique to your family, and that's what you and your kids will always remember.

Institute a Gift Swap
One of the most fun, yet most expensive things about Christmas is all of the presents. Not only is it stressful to figure out what to get for everyone on your list, it can also put a huge strain on your budget. Soon, it can feel like you're buying things just to check people off of your list instead of really enjoying meaningful giving. To cut down on your time and money, try instituting a gift swap. Everyone in your family can pick one name and purchase a special gift for that one person. This way, you end up spending less money, and the gift giving is more focused and meaningful. This is also a great way to teach children about caring for each other and being empathetic by choosing a present that someone else will really appreciate.

Set Limits
Most people can pinpoint their holiday stress as being directly affected by all of the excess the Christmas season can bring. From overspending to overindulging, it seems that everyone gets a little out of control this time of year. So take some stress out of your family Christmas by setting limits for yourself and your family and sticking to them. If you tend to overspend, set up a holiday budget and stick to it. If you feel like you're always out at parties and other holiday gatherings instead of enjoying time at home with your family, mark out days on the calendar way in advance for family time, and don't accept any invitations to events on those days. If you overindulge on rich foods, make up a menu and cook healthy meals a few times a week to curb overeating. Strategizing ahead of time can make Christmas more relaxed by stopping chaos before it starts.

Just Say No
One of the best things I've learned to do in more recent years since becoming a mom is to say, "no." I was always afraid that people would think less of me or I wasn't a good enough mother if I refused to do or attend certain things. But as I've had more children and my life has become busier, I've learned to prioritize. And that means that certain activities and tasks are musts for me and my family, and the rest can wait. I no longer feel like I need to attend every party, bake dozens of varieties of cookies, or volunteer for every charitable event. Right now, my kids and family are my priority, and since they're young, I choose a few things to do each year and say no to the rest. This has allowed me to really focus on the few things that matter and not feel resentful about doing a bunch of other things that feel like chores and obligations instead of a joy. And people haven't labeled me as a terrible or selfish person as I'd once feared; they accept that I'm a busy mom and appreciate the small things I am able to accomplish at this time of year.

Use these tips to start planning now and enjoy a simplified version of Christmas that's more relaxing, too.

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