Today’s guest is the wonderful NJ Walters who has brought us some very delicious heroes, including those in her Tapestry and Jamesville series. Not only is she giving us some tips to help us enjoy the busy Christmas and New Year season, she’s giving away a PDF download of Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift. Just leave a comment on this post to enter the draw (winner will be announced in the comments the following day).
Holiday Madness
December is here and, if you’re like me, you’re in the midst of the holiday madness. There seems to be so much to do and never enough time to do it all. Don’t get me wrong, I love everything about the holidays—spending time with friends and family, buying presents, gift wrapping, listening to Christmas carols, making and eating great food—but too much of a good thing can wear you out.
This year do yourself a favor and follow a few simple tips to make your holiday season a much more enjoyable experience.
1. Be Realistic. Ask yourself some basic questions and be brutally honest.
Will your family care if you don’t make all sixteen kinds cookies like you always do? Compromise and make the three or four favorites instead.
Do you need to handpick all the extra presents you buy for the teacher, the postman, the newspaper boy, etc…? Pick up some $5 gift cards from a local coffee shop or fast-food joint. Believe me, they’ll be appreciated a lot more than a pair of socks or a box of chocolates that they don’t like.
Does your house need to look like it should be featured in a magazine layout? Again, compromise is the key. Don’t try and do it all and for heaven’s sake LEARN TO DELEGATE. You can ask kids and your significant other to help out. Give them a list or hand them a dust cloth. Sure, it might not be done as thoroughly or as perfect as you might have done it, but live with it. It will certainly ease the stress of trying to do it all yourself.
Which leads me to my next point…
2. Make a list or two or three. I have a list for my Christmas cards, my gift shopping and another for holiday groceries. If you sit down and make a list at home when you’re feeling calm and collected, you won’t make purchases you’ll regret.
My family has cut back on the presents over the past few years. We give gift cards—for favorite stores, the movies, restaurants—and a few small presents, some of which are handmade by the giver. That way, we all finish the holiday’s debt free and we don’t have to find space in our home for things we don’t want.
Don’t leave the holiday grocery list until the last second when the stores are crowded and crazy. I start buying my baking goods in October. Sugar, Flour, chocolate, marshmallows, etc… doesn’t spoil. Go through your recipe book, decide what you’re making for the holidays and make a list of all the items you’ll need. Then, every grocery day, pick up a few of them and put them in a special cupboard and don’t touch them until you start your holiday baking. The same with your holiday dinner. Anything frozen, buy it in advance. The only thing you should have to hit the grocery store for a few days before Christmas is the fresh stuff!
3. Make time for relaxation. Impossible, you say. Essential, says I.
Your family and friends will be much better served if you’re relaxed and happy rather than stressed and irritable. If that means you schedule a half hour or an hour to take yourself out to a quiet coffee shop and relax with a book, then do it. If that doesn’t work for you, then try sinking into the bathtub for a long, hot soak. Go to bed a half hour early and curl up with a book or just turn out the lights and relax. Play some relaxing music or listen to the silence.
The key is to find what works for you. Remember, it doesn’t all have to be perfect and you don’t have to do it all. It took me a few years to figure out that it wasn’t my responsibility to make everyone else’s Christmas perfect. It was up to me to do what I could and then relax and enjoy myself.
The memory is selective and most of us will remember only that we had a wonderful time. We’ll also remember if everyone was tense and cranky. Which memory do you want for yourself and your family?
It’s okay to do less in order to have more…more time for you and your family.
May the holiday season find you relaxed, happy and filled with the holiday spirit!
You can visit NJ at her website, blog, or join her newsletter.
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Thank you for your great tips, especially that one about relaxing time! December is a mad month and it seems to get worse every year (or is it just me getting older?). This year I promise to read some good books and forget about the stress, at least for a while!
by Eva S December 3rd, 2007 at 1:46 amI have always tried to buy my stuff for Christmas baking right after Thanksgiving. I usually bake cookies, and make my peanut butterballs that my husband loves to eat. This year I am going to give gift cards for Christmas so the grandskids can pick out what they want. This is the first time I have done this.
by Loretta Wilson December 3rd, 2007 at 2:17 amThanks for the great tips.
Hey, Eva. I think that Christmas is a lot more hectic now then it was when I was a kid. I think there are higher expectations now, thanks, in part, by the media and advertisers.
Hope you do relax and enjoy the holiday.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 6:13 amI think I’ll come to your house for the yummy treats, Loretta.
Gift cards are a great idea, especially for grandkids. It’s hard to know what they want at that age and they all love to shop, especially at the after-Christmas sales.
Have a happy holiday!
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 6:14 amHi NJ! Yep, I have to separate lists, one for presents and one for cards. I already sent my Yuletide cards this Saturday. As for the present list, I won’t be finished until the Harry Potter 5 movie comes out in DVD.
by Tempest Knight December 3rd, 2007 at 6:17 amLists are a godsend this time of year, Tempest. I mailed my cards and packages on November 30th.
If you know what you need to buy, that’s the trick to staying sane. Nothing worse than wandering the stores not knowing what to buy.
I don’t mind having a few things to pick up a few days before Christmas. That makes it fun. But I want the bulk of it done. LOL
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 6:31 amHi NJ
, We just took the kids to a christmas parade yesterday. They had a ball Jessika was more inpressed by the cleidsdales popping thou I think LOL One of my friends mom’s was dressed as Elmo so she came running over and hugged the kids my 10 yr old was like ugh whatever but my 5 yr old (Jess) about peed her pants HEHEH
by Jaycee December 3rd, 2007 at 6:33 amGreat advice from one of myfavorite authors! Happy Holidays and many blessing to you and your family, N,J.!
God bless,
by Rhonda Barnes December 3rd, 2007 at 7:08 amRhonda
HI NJ,
Some real sound advice there. I for one procrastinate, but I’m thinking I may have to employ some of you helpful hints this year and every year going forward.
Have a great holiday.
PS I already have Jessamyn’s Story and I love it. I read every by yeara at Christmas, it’s my little way to relax. :)
by Jenn L December 3rd, 2007 at 7:36 amMy mom and I go all out at Christmas. Even though we live in an apartment, we completely decorate out balcony. We also decorate the front area for all the apartments in our unit. Our neighbors don’t mind and actually have told us how much they like em. Christmas is my favorite time of year.
by Kathy R December 3rd, 2007 at 8:27 amAwesome tips for surviving the stress NJ!
by Amy Ruttan December 3rd, 2007 at 10:15 amLol, our family is pretty good at escaping Christmas by now. My brother takes his family skiing in the Alpes and thus escapes any preparations except a few presents for the kids, I was prudent enough never to get a family
my father doesn’t feel like celebrating Christmas after my mother died, and the postman and newspaper boy don’t get presents here.
I really don’t miss it. It put up a few decoration items (Erzgebirge wood carved figurines rock) , buy some ginger bread and some books from the Amazon gift certificates I get, and for the rest stay away from town as much as possible.
by Gabriele December 3rd, 2007 at 10:53 amSounds like a wonderful time, Jaycee. A parade is so much fun, and even more so when you have kids. I’m a fan of the Cleidsdales myself.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 10:54 amThank you so much, Rhonda.
Happy Holidays to you and your family as well.
Hugs
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 10:55 amNJ
Hey, Jenn. I procrastinate more than I used to, although that still means I’m ready pretty early. When I was in my teens and early twenties, I’d have almost all my Christmas shopping done by September. LOL
I’m so glad you enjoy reading Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift to relax. You have a wonderful holiday too!
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 10:57 amThat sounds so lovely, Kathy. I live in an apartment too, but I’ve never bothered to decorate our balcony. I’ll bet it looks lovely.
Happy Holidays to you and your mother.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 10:58 amThanks, Amy. Now as long as I remember to relax, I’ll be fine. :-)
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 10:58 amI think the thing is to find what works for you, Gabriele. Your holiday sounds as lovely as a big, boisterous family one. Every family and person is different. As long as your happy, that’s what matters.
Ginger bread and books sounds pretty nice.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 11:03 amHi NJ – Thanks for the great tips. I agree that having a list is important.
Have a happy holiday season.
by Amelia December 3rd, 2007 at 11:07 amI have finally learned how to turn off that little voice in my head that says that everything has to be perfect. Now I keep it simple, breath a lot, lol, and make it about family.
by Cathy M December 3rd, 2007 at 11:31 amGreat advice, NJ. I’m definitely a fan of lists when it comes to Christmas because I hate facing the shopping crowds too often.
I have all the family descending on me for Christmas this year. Luckily it’s fine and sunny (hopefully) down here at this time of the year, and we have a BBQ, which is pretty stress free for me. This year we’ve decided to do a Secret Santa with a small and inexpensive gift, since it’s mostly adults. I’m a big fan of gift certificates and have trained my family to buy me book certificates.
Your advice about the day not having to be perfect is definitely the key. Just enjoy the day and the great company.
by Shelley Munro December 3rd, 2007 at 11:59 amGreat topic and advice, NJ :) Not stressing is something I have to try and remember all the time during the holidays… I’ll have to be sure to take your advice on the lists
by Ali December 3rd, 2007 at 1:35 pmGreat tips, N.J. And your so right on some of those!! One or two kinds of cookies. Or a mini loaf of ginger bread :)
Happy Holidays!!! Squee!
by Shelli Stevens December 3rd, 2007 at 1:38 pmGreat advice, N.J! I need to settle down and make a list of Christmas cards to send before it gets too late…
Tessa
by Tessa Radley December 3rd, 2007 at 1:43 pmNJ, you could be Mrs. Claus! I sent my cards out friday.
by Deb December 3rd, 2007 at 1:54 pmThe tips are great!
by Estella December 3rd, 2007 at 2:55 pmI don’t leave home without a list this time of year, Amelia. LOL
You have a wonderful holiday too!
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 3:38 pmThat is the key, Cathy. Perfect is for the movies. Real life is loud and messy. LOL
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 3:39 pmYour Christmas plans sound lovely, Shelley–barbeque and secret Santa gifts. And sunshine! LOL I could do with some of that right now.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 3:41 pmIt’s funny, Ali. We all know what we should do–relax and enjoy. But that’s harder to do than it sounds. We all have expectations for ourselves, and it’s not easy to still those voices that tell us we should be doing more.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 3:42 pmHappy Holidays, Shelli.
I’ll make one or two items a week between now and Christmas. This week will be cherry cake. Next week will be fudge and rice krispy squares. We usually get some treats for Christmas so I don’t need to make anything for Christmas Day or beyond.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 3:45 pmHey, Tessa. I have a Christmas card list that I use every year. I simply put a check mark after the name when their card is done. You can add new names at the bottom. I tuck it away with my leftover wrapping paper and tags so I know where to find it next year.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 3:46 pmLOL Thanks, Deb.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 3:48 pmThanks, Estella. Glad you dropped by today.
Happy Holidays.
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 3:49 pmthanks for some great tips. Love the holidays but am learning how to do less and relax with family more. There are things we can do with little or no effort that are greatly appreciated.
by Pamk December 3rd, 2007 at 4:19 pmThat’s the truth, Pam. Being relaxed and happy around your family is much more important than being stressed and irritable.
Enjoy your holiday!
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 6:26 pmThank you to Shelley for inviting me to be a guest on her blog, and thank you to everyone who stopped by today!
Happy Holidays to you all!
by N.J. Walters December 3rd, 2007 at 6:27 pmYes in my family they care if the baking sisters don’t make all those cookies they are famous for, lol, since they don’t do all them the rest of the year. But if they take a break and make less anyway, one they can’t forget to make are Italian anisette cookies.
by Pam P December 3rd, 2007 at 10:10 pmAwesome tips, NJ and I’m so sorry I missed you “live” aaargh!
by Red December 3rd, 2007 at 10:18 pmAll excellent tips!! I try very hard to keep things low key so that I don’t drive myself crazy, but I’m not doing such a stellar job of it this year…. but you’ll read more about that next week
by jenyfer matthews December 3rd, 2007 at 11:41 pmCongratulations to Eva S! You’re the winner of NJ’s Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift. You’re in for a treat
by Shelley December 4th, 2007 at 1:03 amThank you, what a Christmas gift! Love it!
by Eva S December 4th, 2007 at 5:33 amLOL Then you have to cut back somewhere else, Pam P. If the cookies are important.
I understand what you mean. Families do expect certain things at Christmas and would be disappointed without them. In my home there would be a revolt if I said I wasn’t making fudge. LOL
by N.J. Walters December 4th, 2007 at 5:44 amHey, Red. Glad you could drop by!
by N.J. Walters December 4th, 2007 at 5:44 amOh dear, Jenyfer. That doesn’t sound good. Hopefully the holiday madness won’t drive you too crazy!
by N.J. Walters December 4th, 2007 at 5:45 amCongratulations to Eva S! Hope you enjoy your prize. :-)
by N.J. Walters December 4th, 2007 at 5:45 am[...] still not very organized. I’m getting there and after reading NJ Walter’s post about Holiday Madness, I’m not stressing – just enjoying the small [...]
by The Dynamic Trio - Blog » Blog Archive » My Week December 7th, 2007 at 1:49 pm