Hello hello, and welcome to Episode 69 of Life On the Brink!
We've now entered October, and it's a magical time. It also means that the next 3 months are going to get pretty busy. The holidays are fast approaching and, while we're not going to skip over autumn by any means, now is the time to plan ahead for December.
This is Part One of Reducing Holiday Stress, and is all about planning ahead. Part Two will come once we're actually in the Christmas season. Today we're simply helping out our future selves so that these last 3 months of the year are as lovely and enjoyable as they can be!
We're getting extra cozy for this episode, so take a moment to make yourself a comforting cuppa.
What’s in my teacup? The Harney and Son's Platinum Jubilee blend. It's essentially an earl grey with lavender and it's lovely.
Alrighty, so. Today's episode is all about planning ahead, so October really is the perfect time to start. I'll be sharing some things that have helped me over the past few years, but I’ve had an idea recently that I'm super excited about. I think it'll help me get more of a jump on my Christmas planning, and I think it’s going to really help alleviate some of the stress that I feel in December. Christmastime is so special, so why not get some planning out of the way so we can enjoy that magical time so much more?
I'm going to be focusing on 2 areas that, I think, have the most potential to become stressful: gift giving, and event planning.
But first, a disclaimer: Obviously, neither of those categories are anywhere near the true reason for Christmas. It's a time to rest and reflect on God's love for us in the sending of His Son. Thankfully, Linus gives us a refresher every year.
Beyond that, we enjoy the company of our loved ones and usually enjoy good food. I think it's so important not to hold up the reality of any given Christmas to an impossible ideal, either from a past memory or from a non-existent idea of what Christmas ought to be.
My goal in this episode is not to create a possibility of a "perfect" Christmas season, but rather to simply make room to enjoy it when it does come.
Also, gift giving is not important if you don’t want it to be. I simply love the opportunity to get little things for my friends and family, and truly take so much joy in giving. The tradition, in my eyes, is not about collecting a bunch of stuff, but rather to take the time to think of each loved one, what they enjoy, and give a thoughtful gift as a way of saying you love them.
GIFT GIVING:
It’s my goal to make my family and friends feel loved with my time, company, words, and with gifts that are unique and thoughtful. I think there's a bit of a misconception that a Christmas gift is less authentic if it's planned out and bought ahead of time. I main that the thoughtfulness of a gift has more to do with the actual thought behind it, rather than the proximity to the giving date. With that in mind, here are my ideas for getting a jump on it even now,
1. Keep a list and set a budget. Early in the year I make a list in my journal (you could make a spreadsheet if that's more your bag) of everyone I hope to find a Christmas gift for. I often have three lists: one for gift ideas, one for purchased gifts, and one for keeping track of stocking stuffers (see above photo lol)
Over the past few years, I've been keeping track of my spending in the same journal, which can help me set a budget this year. I know some people set aside funds throughout the year into a separate Christmas fund, and I think that's great too.
Know your goals and your limits, it's a good place to start.
2. Collect gifts throughout the year. A few years ago I started buying Christmas gifts really early. I wasn't looking for them, but if I happened upon something that reminded me of someone and it wasn't an item that could be written as a gift idea in the journal, I just bought it. This is great to keep in mind while on vacation, at seasonal markets, or in antique shops, where you won't be able to track things down again.
Of course, log that purchase wherever you're keeping track of your gifts so you don't forget!
3. Keep track of specific items online. I personally have a private Amazon list where I'll log gift ideas throughout the year, and it's really nice for keeping track of particular brands and items.
4. Get the family in an app. For the past few years my (very large) family has been using Giftster, which allows everyone to make a sort of wishlist, and people can secretly mark off items on other people's lists. In situations where you just have no idea what to get someone, this sort of guide can help prompt ideas.
5. Get Christmasy once a week. I am so excited about this! I had the idea a few weeks ago; this is what it looks like:
Once a week, maybe for a half hour or an hour, get really Christmasy for a minute. Make a cup of tea or cocoa, maybe put on a Christmas playlist (I have one a the bottom of the page) and maybe light a candle. Ok, now that you're nice and cozy, assess your list.
Choose a few people to focus on that week and spend the next hour searching for gifts for them. If you find the perfect thing, just get it. Or, if you want to price around, you also have the remainder of that week to shop around for those few people. Then, you can put the Christmas back into a little figurative box until the next week (cause fall is magical in its own way).
Of course, sometimes it's smart to wait for Black Friday sales and stuff, so during this given time just figure out exactly what your looking for.
You can always add to the list later, but between now and Thanksgiving I think that this is a fun and thoughtful way to get a jump on things. Setting aside time to consider your loved ones is, I think, is incredibly thoughtful, and the vibe will be so cozy that you'll look forward to it every week!
6. Perhaps reassess the gift-giving rules. When it comes to extended family, it's nice to have everyone on the same page. Maybe everyone prioritizes gifts for the children, maybe one family unit for another, maybe it's a Secret Santa or White Elephant situation (my in-law's do this and it's always a hoot). Either way, if any revamping is needed, now is the time to get the group chat going.
EVENT PLANNING: cause it gets BUSY.
*This includes Thanksgiving events too!*
1. Put all known events in your calendar now. The main reason for this is so you don’t say "yes" to too much later. This includes any Christmas concerts, kids' programs, work events, family gatherings, etc. Anything you know about already, get it on the calendar.
2. Set dates for the unknowns. This includes not only the big family gatherings on and around Christmas Day, but also the small get togethers throughout the month. Whether it's picking out the Christmas tree, going caroling, baking together, we all have unique traditions that need planning. And don't forget December birthdays!
Just get the group chats rolling and explain that you want to prioritize your time together, which is always helped by making a plan ahead of time.
3. Set aside once a week in December to do nothing. It could be an evening at home, a Saturday morning, or even a few hours during the afternoon. Choose what time works for you and schedule that time to just rest. Put it in the calendar and prioritize it just like you would any gathering or obligation. (If something big comes up and you need to change plans, just reschedule to some time later in the week).
I am often an over-committer, so this kind of prioritization of rest I think is going to be absolutely essential. Make that time to watch a holiday movie, read a cozy book, or take a relaxing back. Anything to slow down and enjoy the holiday season, and with regularity.
And with that, my friend, I hope you're able to find a little more piece of mind in being prepared for this busy, but lovely, season. We'll return to this topic with Part Two of Reducing Holiday Stress in December!
This Week’s Little Joy: Like many others, I'm sure, I have thoroughly been enjoying the new season of The Great British Baking Show on Netflix. It's so calming and creative, I absolutely adore each episode, and it makes me excited for the new Christmas episodes coming in a few months.
What I’m Listening To: This is the perfect background music for your weekly Christmas brainstorm. The video is called "Cozy Christmas Coffee Shop Ambience with Smooth Jazz Christmas Music, Crackling Fire, & Cafe Sounds" and I love that it's not too in-your-face. It's just Christmasy enough without being distracting. I'm listening to it even now as I type out this episode!
Thank you for joining me for this episode, friends! I hope your autumn is properly cozy (we'll get back to fall content next week) and that your upcoming holiday season is just as lovely. Feel free to leave a comment below with your Christmas planning tips, and as always, leaving a star rating or a review on Apple Podcasts would mean the absolute world. Until next time, have a lovely week!