The holidays, or ‘holidaze’ as I sometimes refer to them, are here. Preparations are fully underway, or maybe just starting. Here are a few tips from someone who loves Christmas, but loves his sanity even more!
Prioritize What Brings You Joy
Are there Christmas ‘must have’ traditions for you? For me, it is not Christmas unless my grandma’s cookies are on the table. It may not be the most crucial thing, but it brings me the most joy, and without them it just would not be Christmas!
Delegate Tasks Where You Can
If people offer to help, say yes! And if they do not offer to help, then ask. Maybe you are one of those people like me who ‘used’ to think they have to do everything on their own. Well I am going to let you in on a little secret. You Don’t!!! This year I have made a real effort to involve the whole family with Christmas preparations and I am having the most relaxing lead up to the holidaze yet! Oh and if you are coming over for dinner, don’t offer to do the dishes, because I am taking you up on that offer.
Don’t Break The Bank
Holiday shopping can be stressful. I usually start in the Fall and pick up things as I see them on sale when I can. Sometimes you can also find the most amazing and incredible gifts at a thrift store. Today I just picked up a copy of the game Carcassone that is practically new for a few dollars, which would have cost north of $40! It makes a big difference. So does making gifts for people. I know there are so many creative people reading this blog and I always find homemade gifts far more meaningful!
Make Time for You
This time of year it can be tempting to pack in numerous visits into just a few days. Why not trying to spread them out over the week? Also make sure you have time to get enough sleep, and take a nice long warm bath or whatever else helps you relax and melt the stress away. That way you can be fully present and enjoy the best of the holidays.
Remember the Holiday Spirit
What do the holidays mean to you? In a world gone mad with consumerism, it can be easy to forget. While I find much joy in giving gifts to others, there is much joy to be had in a random act of kindness. There are moments like this I remember from years ago still today and they still make me smile. Try to do one or two random acts of kindness and watch your soul soar.
What did you think of my holiday self care tips? Do you have any you would add to the list? Let me know in the comments below!
Wishing you all a beautiful stress free holiday full of love and peace. In much gratitude for all of our wonderful readers and friends here on WordPress! You all make my day.
Jay, your self-care tips are great!
Thanks for sharing them as I am sure many who read this will take them to heart!
I am sure I would love your grandma’s cookies!
On Christmas Eve one of the things that gives me joy is going to The Salvation Army here in Denver and serving dinner to the homeless.
Dinner is served early so I am home early enough to be with family and bake my almond bar cookies that I have been making for over 20 years now.
My family would not like it one bit if I did not make my cookies for Christmas Day.
(those are my two Christmas traditions)
Chairman is so cute!
All dressed up and ready for Christmas!
I have not known you long but I have so enjoyed my visits here as you bring joy to many!
Merry Christmas and best wishes for a wonderful New Year!
Thank you so very much for your kind words and comment and sharing your Christmas traditions here! Grandma always had enough cookies to share with everyone and so do I 😉 She is responsible for my peanut butter/chocolate addiction and for that I am eternally grateful 😉
I love your Christmas Eve tradition! I think it is wonderful that you are helping to feed the homeless. I have done that before when I lived closer to a larger urban centre and I really miss it. One of my best Christmas Eve’s was spent helping someone from one such meal pull together a good Christmas for her children.
Those almond cookies sound divine!
I really appreciate you and of course I am wishing you and your whole family lots of love, peace and joy and much more of that in the New Year!
Thank you! I too love peanut butter and chocolate! 🙂 Merry Christmas! Wishing you and yours a time of joy and a wonderful New Year!
You’re so dear to me! May 2020 bring you and yours bliss, blessings, and abundant joy! Merry Christmas my friend ❤️
You know, every time I see a notification from you it makes me smile 😉 I appreciate you and what you and you are dear to me. Who would have ever thought I would find my tribe on wordpress? If I had only known sooner.
Wishing you so many incredible things for the season and the year to come and much peace, joy and prosperity in all things! 😉
🤗🎄🥂
✌️❤️👍🔥
Amazing tips! Happy Holidays! ❤️🎄
Thank you so much for your kind comment! Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a bright New Year!
I have been saying this for quite some time now, but I believe Christmas should be every day. Spreading love and joy however we can whenever, wherever we can. Of course, I do enjoy the special time of buying presents and listening to choirs sing the joys of the newborn baby and the sappy movies and the homemade cookies. But make sure you bring this feeling of rebirth and magic to the world every day. Make someone else smile.
Beautiful thoughts Claudia, and I full endorse bringing more love and joy to the world every day of the year. Make it a part of life! Then on special days enjoy good food and the love you are surrounded with 😉 I hope you are surrounded by smiles and love this and every Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you All Cheers Fitalive105 Paul Conley Gold Coast Queensland Australia
Thanks Paul! Wishing you and yours much joy and bliss for Christmas and in the year to come!
Nice post, and great advice. Merry Christmas!
Thank you so very much Josh! Wishing the same for you and yours!
Thank you for tips! Merry Christmas to you and yours! 🎄✨
Have a beautiful time over the holidays and a beautiful Christmas filled with lots of love and good food and friends and much joy!!!
😉
Love it. Yes — holidaze — Grandma’s cookies– asking for help. I would add, reading together after dinner on Christmas Eve our traditional stories — especially Mem Fox’s “Wombat Divine”.
Being from Canada, I had to look up the book! What a beautiful story and tradition 😉 I am wishing a beautiful Christmas with lots of love for you and yours!
Great tips to remember! Merry Christmas!
Thanks Tiffany! Wishing you and yours all the best for a Merry Christmas and an incredible year to come!
A lovely Merry Christmas to Chairman Meow (I love it!)
and all his family and friends. : )
Aww thanks! The Chairman and all his people (servants) with the same for you and yours 😉
Merry Christmas from
Brother’s Campfire!
Really good advice. 👍
Thank you so much for your kind comment! I hope you have a wonderful new year!
I have been travelling for most of this year and so I only came home for Christmas a week ago. I hardly gave Christmas a thought until I got home, apart from consult online with my daughter about the shopping list. I always come to my daughter’s house for a couple of days at Christmas and I cook the meal for the family. I enjoy time with them all but it seems to me that Christmas gets more and more out of control and extravagant with each passing year. I long for the days when it was a more simple affair. I found it hard to enjoy today knowing that so many people are struggling to survive financially and others are struggling with loneliness and mental health issues. I wish something could be done to turn things around.
Thank you so much for your beautiful and thoughtful comment! I struggle with that same knowledge too! I think all we can do is try to make Christmas better for those around us and in our community in some small way and maybe if we are all taking some kind of positive action that will make a difference on a larger scale. I totally agree though, it hurts my heart to think of anyone alone or struggling at Christmas time!
I hope you had a wonderful time with your family and everyone enjoyed what no doubt was a beautiful meal that you prepared!
I would add just have one main entree on the Xmas table- we overdid it again 😋🙄- and merry Xmas and a happy new year 2 u!
Haha~ That is very awesome advice! We are still trying to get through leftovers from the big dinner! I hope you have a wonderful New Year with lots of good things in store 😉
Merci beaucoup! Et Bonne Annee 🎉 I think I will try to do a New Years post at some point today- a little year in review with goals for this year- we’ll c what happens 😊
Thanks for sharing your New Year’s post and goals! I have often thought who it might be nice to have an artist’s support group for such things with a monthly call of some sort. Or in trendy language – ‘a master’s group’ for artists.
Of course- I think I shall do this every year- a little confession session is good for you. And Indeed- yes I find having an engaged audience really encourages me 2 b more productive- it’s one of the reasons I have tried to comment more on posts and generally b more social with other bloggers.
Great advice! I Hope you had a pleasant Christmas.
Thank you so much for your very kind words! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas too! Mine was pretty great this year for the most part!