How to hold onto holiday magic as you manage countless tasks
A little mindful planning will simplify this stressful season and keep your spirits on high
If you’re feeling a little less than joyous about the arrival of the festive season, you’re not alone.
Given the holidays bring a dizzying number of tasks for parents — shopping, hosting, cooking, sneaking out of work early to get to school concerts — it’s quite easy to lose touch with the excitement and magic these occasions brought when we were kids.
It doesn’t help that we’re bombarded this time of year with commercial messages that urge us to do the holidays “right” by buying more. This financial pressure leaves most people digging out from under credit card debt long into the new year.
Everywhere we look we’re presented with soft-focus images of what the holidays are supposed to look like — mom smiling beatifically while her adorable children help decorate the tree, dad grinning from the top of a ladder while he clips the last of the Christmas lights into place.
Nowhere in there do we see anyone losing it while trying to untangle those lights, or frantically rolling out cookie dough at midnight to make a bake sale deadline at school the next day.
There’s no question: It’s a busy time of year.
But it is possible to keep the holidays from getting too crazy with a little mindful planning. Have a family meeting Gather everyone around the calendar and enter can’t-miss events such as school holiday pageants, key family gatherings and command-performance office parties. Then, before you add anything else, have each family member share one or two things that make the holidays feel special to them.
Snowball fights top the list for my youngest son and decorating the tree together with some holiday music in the background is tops for me. Put these things onto your calendar to give them just as much importance as the events you’re obligated to attend.
It’s OK to decline party invitations just because you have too many things on the calendar already. Simplify shopping Block off time in the calendar for shopping so you don’t have to squeeze it into your lunch breaks or take the kids along when they’re tired and cranky. Do it sooner rather than later to avoid the most insane crowds.
Buy local whenever possible to save time schlepping across the city to malls with crowded parking lots. Or order online. Been wanting to establish a Secret Santa tradition so you don’t buy for everyone? Make it happen. Preserve downtime Katie Hurley, child-and-adolescent psychotherapist and author of The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stressful World, says it helps to take a step back from all the holiday activities and focus on spending time as a family.
“Cuddle up and tell stories of your family holidays as a child and read your favourite holiday stories,” says Hurley. Or spend some time just enjoying being next to the tree. “Too often we get caught up in what we think we need to do to create the perfect holiday, but what our children actually crave is time with us.” Lower your standards You don’t need to make a big feast for every holiday meal. Try takeout for Christmas Eve, order a turkey dinner from SupperWorks or go out for brunch on Boxing Day.
There’s no medal for doing it all yourself.
If you’ve always thrown a huge holiday bash, give yourself permission to take the year off or downgrade an evening soirée to afternoon cookies and cocktails. Give it meaning It’s easy to get disenchanted when you’ve heard your 100th radio commercial about flat-screen TVs. Balance that with a family activity focused around helping those in need.
Take the kids with you to pick gifts for a toy drive, or help with the effort to settle Syrian refugees by donating warm clothes or volunteering time to welcome a family. You’ll be glad you did.