I love Christmas. I remember as a kid setting up our home into a winter wonderland and transforming it from an ordinary home into something extraordinary. I love decorating and catching up with friends and all the fun things that go with the season. It is sad how one of the happiest times of year can turn into one of the saddest time of year for people. A season that is suppose to be marked with kindness and cheer, our culture has turned into a materialist monster.
For some people Christmas is not a time of thanksgiving and well-spent glee, but stress and gifts. So here are top five tips to de-stressing your Christmas!
Set a budget
I don’t think I can stress this enough. Set a budget for Christmas gifts. One of the main reasons people get stressed out about Christmas is the amount of money they spend on gifts. People over spend on gifts or they don’t start out with a dollar amount in mind. Before you start your holiday shopping, look at your finances - how much are you comfortable spending? Pick that dollar amount and stick to it. Don’t over spend on Christmas. In our family this year we are doing three presents: something to wear, something to read, and something you want. This helps us not focus on the actual giving but on the reason for the season.
Take joy in the season
Another way to de-stress in this Christmas season is focusing on the joy of the season. One way we are doing this is reading John Piper’s “The Dawning of Indestructible Joy” devotional. It follows a traditional advent calendar and helps us focus our hearts and minds on the Savior. I love Christmas because of the anticipation it brings of the coming savior. My heart is full of joy and blessing as I reflect on the past year and how good our Father has been. I focus on the times we have had to celebrate this past year, and I anxiously wait the day of celebration of the Messiah. With the birth of Jesus, all sin was removed and forgiven. I am so thankful for the blessings he has provided this year and anticipate with an excited heart what is to come.
Make a day of shopping
In American culture, good or bad, Christmas is associated with gifts. I am not a gift person. I hate buying Christmas presents, but it is one of those things that just has to be done. So usually I make a day of it. I venture out into the stores of America, and I get all my shopping done in one or two days if possible. The key to this is making a day of it. After you have drafted your budget, make a list of everyone you want to get a present for and what you are planning on getting them. Then grab a friend or two and hit the stores. Make it fun. Christmas shopping does not have to be stressful. My husband pointed out that this is one time of year we get to bless other people, and while I hate shopping for presents I do like to be a blessing. Even with something as silly and simple like a Christmas gift, you are communicating to someone that you care about them and they mean something to you.
Spend time with family and friends
One of my favorite parts about Christmas is all the fun holiday parties. This is the one time of year that most people are dedicated to social events and fun Christmas outings. Take advantage of the extra time with friends and family. Enjoy their company.
While Christmas can be a stressful time, it doesn’t have to be. It is all about your mindset. It can be a time full of fun decorating, time with family and celebration of our Savior. The key is to remember why we celebrate this joyous holiday and the people we celebrate it with.
