stress free or stressful?
Everyone around me is frantic. Shopping, wrapping, traveling, baking, planning, cleaning, shopping some more. Some people seem to thrive on it. The craziness suits them. Others not so much, and crankiness abounds.
The complaining; “Oh I have so much to do! I’ll never get it done it time!” Procrastination, resignation, hurry, hurry, one more week. Sigh.
I succumbed to the pressure and stress around me for just a few days last week. And then I remembered. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do.
- Holiday dinner? Meh. Let’s have lasagna instead. Check.
- Shopping? Only when I feel like it. Otherwise, online, free shipping, delivered to my door baby. Check.
- Wrapping? Who cares what it looks like? It gets ripped open in 2 seconds flat. Use last years gift bags. Check.
- Cleaning for company. Phhhhhttttttt. It’s just gonna get messy again anyway. Check.
- Traveling? Sure! Any day except the 24th and 25th. My kid gets to open his presents under his own tree. Always. Check.
- Baking. Uh. We’re still trying to eat right thank you very much. I’d rather not make dozens and dozens of cookies and then feel like I’m supposed to eat them. One bag of store bought sugar cookies for the boy, who could care less where they came from. Check.
- Pot luck party? Anything I can cook in the crock pot. Check.
- Homemade gingerbread house? Whatever overachievers. Oooooo, look at the cute, EASY, gingerbread train kit, on sale. Check.
Holidays are supposed to be fun and relaxing. Even for adults. (Christmas spirit! It’s not just for kids anymore!) It’s okay to stop trying to make Christmas perfect and instead, actually enjoy it. Your family and friends might thank you for it. Your blood pressure might too.
Edited to add: I completely forgot to mention decorating! How could I forget that? Well. Cause I slap up a fake pre-lit tree, put a couple strings of lights on the porch and call it done!
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7 Responses to “stress free or stressful?”
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Absolutely! I am with you…I baked cookies because lil m wanted to. And really all I did was help her read the recipe and take them in and out of the oven. She did the rest and loved every minute of it. It was fun.
We don’t have much wrapping to do because we are taking the kids on a family vacation for Christmas…so just a couple gifts…
and online shopping? Hell yea, baby!
You are easily the smartest cookie in the jar, one that understands that holidays are supposed to be about relaxing and spending time with family. Not more chores, money, and stress.
Kudos to you!
I have a 4 foot, pre-lit tree. There’s a Christmas-ey wall hanging just inside my front door and that’s it.
I did all my shopping this morning and we’re having a ham and veggies for dinner on the big day.
This is our first holiday season in New Zealand and I honestly think that it being summer is actually helping with the stress levels!
Good for you!!!
Sure sounds like us, too. We veg around here.
That’s the way to do it! Enjoy it!
That is the best way to have Christmas – focusing on what is important!
We had a great family moment – as we went sleigh riding in the new snow with little B. He loved it and was amazed that Santa had time to give sleigh rides on Christmas Eve day.