Many adults yearn for a holiday season of the past – family get-togethers that were fun. Holidays that were simple and stress-free. Here are some ways to simplify your life and bring those memories back to life.
Turn Off The T.V.
Television contains some of the most negative messages you’ll ever hear in your life. Turn it off this holiday season. The noise. The commercials. The constant fast-paced “ADD-inducing” hysteria that has become sitcoms and game shows.
Dedicate yourself to a book or playing simple games with your family. Part of the reason your childhood felt simple was because it was simple. Odd are you spent time playing with toys by yourself, playing with friends, or spending time with family doing simple things.
How To De-stress About Your Weight
Don’t worry about losing weight this season. Instead, focus on having fun. Let yourself gain 3 or 5 pounds. You can always lose it after the New Year.
How To Say “NO”
Friends and family can sometimes be very demanding. Learn to say “no.” Most people end up feeling stressed because they commit themselves to too many projects, outings, and other stuff. Pick 2 or 3 projects you’ll do this year, and make them low-commitment projects.
Say “no” to everything else.
Stick To A Routine
When things get chaotic, it’s probably because there’s no routine, or the routine has been broken.
Stick to your normal routine throughout the holiday season. On Christmas, you might break it, but get yourself back on track quickly before things get out of control. Stress tends to break the day after Christmas.
We’re no longer rushing around, trying to get things done. We’re not stressing about whether a friend or family member will like their gift or get it on time.
If you’re looking for ways to spice up the holidays without seriously breaking routine or deviating too much from the norm, try buying some Christmas pajamas for those cold winter nights – it’s like wearing normal PJs, but more fun.
String up some lights around the house during your normal downtime. If you like baking, spend a weekend or two doing something for Christmas without interrupting your other normal activities.
Shop Online
Want to avoid the holiday rush? Buy all (or most) of your gifts online and have them gift wrapped and shipped to everyone. Amazon is one of the best online stores for this, but many others are offering the gift wrap option too. Check out all of the great Pajamas
* This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may or may not receive a small commission which helps to support this site. Thank you!
Go Help Out At A Homeless Shelter
Sometimes, it helps to put things into perspective. There are likely people out there with less that you. Do you want to help them? If so, volunteer at a homeless shelter.
Don’t do it because you think it absolves you of your sins, or because it’s “the right thing to do” or because you feel an obligation to help others less fortunate than you.
Do it for yourself – because you want to connect with someone who is struggling this year to let them know that there are others out there who believe that most human beings are fundamentally good people.
Most of all, do it because you want a stress-free holiday where you’re not obligated to help, but you’re doing it anyway.
Reece Sharp is an elementary schoolteacher. She loves to share her experiences with children online. Her articles appear mainly on family websites.
There are so many good ideas here. It is important to be able to enjoy the holidays, not worry about everything being perfect. Your family will love you even if there are some messes or mistakes.
Very good ideas. I especially like the one about volunteering. I have found when you give, you allways ‘get’ more. It is satisfying. There so many ways to give… to donate toys, to gift wrap, to help serve a meal, even as simple as visiting a nrsing home, seeing if you can be useful. Shovel your neigbors walk – anything.
For so many the Holidays as we age turns into a sad tiime missing people, and looking back.
Let life go forrward.
Sry bout the typing have aaa cat on my typing arm she wont move ha!
I LOVE this post Shelly and I could not agree more. Thank you for the great tips. I have basically stopped watching television. I can’t stand the endless crime shows that make crimes against women entertainment and the commercials have become unbearable. I pretty much only watch dvds these days. I usually get my Christmas shopping all done way before December but this year I didn’t and that was super stressful. We have had heavy snow already this winter and for two days we were without power and then the phone went out and to tell you the truth, it was a nice break to get away from all of the craziness and get back to nature and enjoying the quiet. I think of all of the friends who have passed away this year and remind myself to enjoy life and slow down. Thank you again for the great post.
Great tips for most. We always have a very simple Christmas, due to illness in the family…..and a recent death in the family, too. It’s just so sad, seeing old friends family go. The holiday season is not what it used to be for me – instead I find myself looking back into the past, when all my loved ones were around, and everything seemed so shiny and new and cheerful at Christmas. Oh gee…got myself blubbering again. Party-pooper, thats what I am. 🙁
So many good ideas, and it is important to step back to childhood during the holidays. Remember the fun and beauty of the season. The love and reason behind it. Don’t focus on eating the right amount of calories or cleaning up right away; focus on what matters…friends and family. We don’t turn the TV off but watch family favorite Christmas movies and shows. It’s funny how you may know them by heart but they still touch your heart. Have a wonderful last few days of December and be a kid again!
Good ideas. We spend so much time traveling and it can be very stressful to get back the week before Christmas and start getting ready. And this year I had a sick toddler to watch from the day after we got back until the day before Christmas eve. Thank heavens for Amazon.