Heart of the Matter wants to come alongside you and encourage you to simplify Christmas 2018 in whatever ways you possibly can. Each week we’ll give you a few practical tips. Above all though, be gentle with yourself. We pray that God will help you balance your life so that you have the time, energy and inclination to bless others around you while enjoying the season in a new and deeper way this year. Be sure to read right through to the end and learn more about our Season of Giving!
There are lots of things that can be done early, so you are feeling less stressed as December 25th approaches.
This idea is timeless, but there are lots of updated spins on homemade gifts in a jar. Just google it or check out Pinterest. Assemble them early with friends or grandchildren. They can be set aside to easily grab for hostess gifts, teachers or any last minute people that come to mind.
Christmas newsletters can be drafted early. Rhonda uses a fun interview style format for her family and up-dates it each year.
Doing crafts with children or grandchildren can be fun, but as it get closer to Christmas patience can sometimes wear thin. Schedule in a time early this season to have fun together.
A couple of things that I enjoyed doing with my children was to make gift wrap or decorate plain gift bags in preparation for gift giving.
Children also enjoy making and decorating place cards for special holiday meals. These can be made well in advance and tucked away to pull out at the appropriate time.
Think about gifts for school teachers, sunday school teachers and childcare providers. It is great if you can come up with something that you can make or buy in quantity and give the same gift across the board. Do you have a friend who makes great knitted/crocheted slippers? They can be a fun and practical gift idea. They could be ordered early, wrapped and set aside well in advance of gift giving time.
Have a family meeting and decide what are the top priorities for holiday activities that you really enjoy and friends you want to entertain. Book these things now and get them on the calendar.
Maybe you have always wanted to do the trolley ride in Waterloo Park. Check the website and find out the dates, choose one, and book it into your calendar.
Maybe a Christmas movie night with the girls sounds like fun. Set a date and have everyone bring treats.
Don’t forget to schedule in stress relief such as a massage and your regular workouts during November and December.
Think about decorating – do you enjoy it? If so then schedule time for it and delight in the experience. If you don’t enjoy it then simplify – ask for help, downscale expectations or do only one room.
Don’t get hung up on what you should do. Instead do what you love doing and let the rest fall where it may.
Set a Christmas budget for gift giving and entertaining – remember how all the little extras add up. Stick to it. Pay cash or debit if possible.
If you like to make gifts, schedule the time for it and honour that as an appointment. Don’t let other activities crowd it out.
Do you enjoy Christmas baking? If so, schedule time to do it. It is time consuming and should be planned for in advance.
Rhonda and her family put together lots of goodie plates to give as gifts. She tries to be part of a cookie exchange so she bakes one kind and comes home with a beautiful variety . Do you do Christmas baking because you always have, yet you don’t really enjoy doing it or you end up eating too much of it yourself? I give you permission…..simplify this year and let it fall to the wayside. Christmas will happen just the same.
Avoid over-committing yourself between now and New Years. You will end up feeling resentful and not enjoy what is meant to be a beautiful season.
You have lots of choices you can make so that you don’t get swept up in the busyness and forget why all of this is happening in the first place. God sent his son Jesus to earth as a baby in a manger. That is at the heart of our celebrations. If we are able to hold that thought close and allow everything else to filter through it then we truly can experience the beauty of the season.
Christmas Gift Certificates available from Heart of the Matter for YOU! Tell your family that this would make a great practical gift for you. You can opt for ‘hands on’ organizing assistance or a DIY consultation. Check out our package options.