Simplify the Season: Essentials for Enjoying the Holidays Like a Child
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.