Although Christmas is the best time of the year for many of us, it also requires a lot of planning and organisation in order to ensure the big day goes smoothly. Whether you’re struggling with ideas for presents or you’re stressed out by the thought of the logistics of large family dinners, we’ve covered a range of tips for helping to reduce the chaos in the run-up to Christmas.
Sending Out Christmas Cards
One of the first things you can do to start preparing for Christmas and to help get you in the festive mood is to start creating and sending out your Christmas cards. You can either buy them already made or make your own. If you’re making your own, consider if you’re going to design handmade cards, or if you’re going to design them digitally. Consider using festive fonts, Christmas-themed colour schemes, and personal touches to make them special. For example, you could have a family Christmas portrait taken to include on your Christmas cards. Or maybe include a festive picture of a family pet to make people smile.
Present Buying
One of the most effective ways to help you prepare for Christmas in advance and reduce stress in the run-up is to be prepared with your present buying. Ask people for recommendations on what they would like for presents or ask their family and friends to help you get an idea of what to get them. Organising a workplace or even family-based Secret Santa is a great way to help make present buying more fun and reduce costs around Christmas. Setting a budget limit or choosing to buy novelty and low-cost gifts is also a great way to help make Christmas more fun and less financially stressful.
Wrapping Presents
While many people choose to leave wrapping their presents to Christmas Eve, wrapping them in advance helps to make the run-up to Christmas Day less chaotic and allows you to relax more while enjoying other aspects of the time of year. If you’re going to wrap presents in advance, just be sure to label them carefully so you don’t lose track of which presents are which and end up gifting to the wrong person!
Hosting And Organising Family Gatherings
While it’s a great time of year to bring people together, hosting for Christmas or New Year can be a lot of pressure. If you’re in charge of hosting or planning family get-togethers, organisation is key. Make a list of all the things you’ll need, such as food, decorations, drinks, and important aspects such as food allergies. Be sure to contact everyone attending and let them know the time and place for the gathering, as well as dress codes and anything they can bring along with them. This will help ensure everyone is on the same page and reduce miscommunications. Preparing food and drinks in advance can help you be more present with your guests and reduce time and stress in the kitchen while hosting.
Finding Time To Relax
Most importantly of all, all these aspects of planning in the run-up to Christmas will help you find more time to relax and enjoy the time of year. In all the hustle and bustle of Christmas and New Year planning, it’s easy to lose sight of the real meaning of it all, which is to bring family and friends together to relax and make more memories.
