Hello my lovelies! With Christmas less than 2 weeks away, you may be feeling a little stressed out. All the holiday shopping, Christmas cards, parties, outfits, and things to do! I know how overwhelming it can feel, and I’m here to encourage you. With a little planning, you CAN have a stress-free Christmas.
Here are 8 ways to have a stress-free Christmas.
1. Keep Jesus first.
If your schedule is already full to bursting, you may be tempted to skimp on your devotional time. Or you might think, “I’ll do my prayer time later on today.” But, I have found that, when I postpone my devotions, I always regret it. I end up chasing my tail, stressed out and miserable.
Putting Jesus first will help you keep the proper perspective and avoid stress. When you are extra busy, you should seek Jesus first. Then He can give you the strength and peace you need for today. If you need to, get up an extra half hour earlier! Make time for what’s most important…seeking the Lord.
“He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.”
John Bunyan
Especially in the busyness of Christmas, let’s seek Jesus first.
2. Get enough sleep.
At the risk of sounding like your mom, I’m going to tell you this.
Get your sleep. You’ll be a happier person.
Those emails and to-do lists can wait for tomorrow. If you need a nap, take a nap. Sleep is God’s gift to weary humans. Take advantage of it.
3. Write a pen-and-paper list.
Confession: I’m a list maker. But, sometimes, I make too many lists. I have paper lists, lists in my Notes application, and lists in my head. It’s easy to lose sight of what SHOULD be at the top of my list. It’s tempting to procrastinate on the harder tasks and just fill my time with fun ones.
Recently, my dad told me that I should write a pen-and-paper list because it’s more satisfying to cross things off on paper. And he is totally right! At the top of my paper list for today was *this blog post*. It feels satisfying to get stuff done!
Here are a few of my favourite tips for list-making:
- Write it down with a pen and paper.
- Put the hardest things at the top.
- Ask yourself, “Is this time-sensitive? Does this have to be done TODAY or this week?”
- If you have too much to do, delegate and ask for help.
- If you’re like me and tend to put too much on one list, take one thing off when you’ve finished the list.
Making a *realistic* list will help you stay organized and stress-free. Happy list making!
4. Plan ahead for Christmas gifts.
Instead of buying gifts haphazardly, start planning for Christmas gifts ahead of time. Personally, I like to start looking for Christmas gifts in September or October. That way, I can spread out the cost of buying Christmas presents over a couple months.
This year, I bought presents for my immediate family, both sets of grandparents, and several close friends. I have a running list in my Notes app of what I’ve got everyone. And this helps me stay organized.
For the last 3 months, I’ve also allocated money in my EveryDollar budget for Christmas shopping. (If you haven’t heard of EveryDollar, it’s a free monthly budgeting tool that I LOVE! I have the free version and it’s awesome (this is not sponsored, just my opinion). Check it out here.)
Also, be realistic in your gift-giving. If you’re not making a 6-figure income, don’t buy 6-figure income gifts. If you’re stumped, ask people for hints! Or, you can also check out their Pinterest “Wish List” board or Amazon wish lists.
Some gift guide posts to help you plan:
Holiday Gift Guide for Curly Girls
Gift Ideas for Christian Women
5. Carve out time to relax.
Everyone likes to relax in different ways. Some people enjoy playing board games or going for walks in the woods. I love to curl up with a book and a cup of tea. Or maybe your relaxation is listening to music and folding laundry.
Whatever you like to do, make sure you do it at least a few times a week. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Learn to keep your own cup full so you can serve others. This will definitely help you have a stress-free Christmas.
6. Plan your outfits ahead of time.
Several weeks ago, my mom and I watched a Holiday Outfit Webinar from Shari Braendel. It was fantastic! She gave us a worksheet that helped us put together 5 or 6 different holiday outfit combinations.
If you tend to get stressed over clothes, planning your outfits will help you stay chill and have a stress-free Christmas. First, make a list of the events you need an outfit for. Perhaps you are singing in a Christmas concert, attending a church banquet, or visiting family for Christmas dinner.
Next, search your wardrobe for holiday-ready items. Some of Shari’s recommendations were:
- Lace
- Plaid
- Velvet
- Pearls and sparkly jewelry
- Monochromatic outfits
- Leopard print
Pull out a few of your favourite statement pieces and then pair them with neutrals and accessories for a polished look.
7. Lower your expectations of other people.
A wise woman once said, “Expectations kill relationships.” If you go into the holidays with high expectations, you will probably be disappointed by people. Maybe you won’t get the Christmas present you were hoping for. Or maybe you’ll send out 20 Christmas cards and only get 2 in return. Perhaps those friends you invited to your church concert won’t show up.
Instead of basing your happiness on other people, seek to find your happiness in Jesus first. He will never fail you or disappoint you. His mercies are new every morning, and His love is unconditional and faithful.
When you have this attitude, you will enjoy life a lot more. You will be able to appreciate all the good things in your life instead of being constantly disappointed by your unmet expectations. This will help you avoid stress at Christmas.
8. Give thanks.
The secret to happiness is giving thanks. Start in the morning when you get up, and keep thanking God all day. Avoid comparing your life (and décor) to the Pinterest-perfect bloggers you follow. Instead, be thankful for your ordinary family, and ordinary house, and ordinary life.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you,” God commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
Thankfulness opens the door to Joy, and it brings a smile to our Father’s face. Let’s keep giving thanks!
Let’s Chat:
Which of these tips is your favourite? And how are you planning to have a stress-free Christmas? I’d love to hear your thoughts and tips in the comments!
