It’s time for a holiday reality check.
In recent years, that holiday squeeze has started so darn early with the gift guides rolling out in October (October!) and stores putting up Christmas decor earlier and earlier.
Do you feel it, too?
Just a few days ago, I found myself distracted from work as I scribbled Post-it after Post-it with holiday tasks that felt like they needed to be completed, uh, yesterday.
And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet.
So let’s pause the crazy for just one second. This is a reminder – for both of us – to step away from the sugar-fueled madness. Take a big deep breath.
Because before you keep scrolling for checklists to prepare for the holidays or gift ideas for dog lovers or complete home renovation ideas so you feel equipped to host a Christmas party, you’ve got to get your head in the right place. And that place is not panic city.
Take a walk with me through 3 quick questions. They’ll lower our stress levels, help us mentally prepare for the holidays ahead, and reclaim some of our sanity. It will take less than 5 minutes, pinky promise.
Question 1: What matters to you this holiday season?
Just in case you’ve forgotten, you do not have to do or care about what everyone else on the Internet does or cares about.
You are under no obligation to buy out Hobby Lobby’s entire décor inventory. You do not have to participate in every single holiday activity that crosses your calendar. You aren’t even required to shop at small businesses for every gift you purchase.
You get to pick what matters to you.
Maybe it’s feeling cozy (raises hand). Or gifting experiences over things. Or only having one event per weekend. Or preserving your one favorite family tradition. It’s totally your call.
And once you’ve decided what actually matters, all of your other decisions can get filtered through that. You get to say no to anything that you don’t actually care about. And it will make preparing for the holidays so much easier.
Question 2: When will you start and end your holiday celebrations?
If you want to skip the I’m-so-behind panic fueled by bloggers who have been showing off their perfectly decorated trees for weeks, this is so essential.
I first learned about this trick from Kendra Adachi, who calls this concept “opening and closing ceremonies,” a la the Olympics.
It sounds annoying simple, but it’s really, really brilliant.
You get to decide when you want to start to prepare for the holidays. Are you gung-ho for all the holly-jolly November 1st? Amazing. Knock yourself out. Would you rather wait until after Thanksgiving? Or even December 20? Wonderful.
The day doesn’t particularly matter. What does matter is that you’re setting boundaries and making an actual decision about when you should lug the tree up from the basement – and when you should take it back down again. Let’s not feel guilty and behind for weeks when it’s super unnecessary, yes?
This is where I put in a plug for the liturgical Advent season. If you celebrate Christmas for religious reasons, Advent and the following twelve days of Christmas are the most beautiful gift. During Advent, which starts four Sundays before Christmas, the church awaits the coming of Christ and slowly builds in anticipation as his arrival nears. Then, from December 25 until January 6, we celebrate!
Advent is exactly the permission I need to slowly build into the season, rather than manufacturing Christmassy feelings the second the Thanksgiving dishes are off the table. I also love that most of the celebration happens after Christmas. It feels more true to the actual meaning of the season (plus, bonus, it staves off the post-Christmas blues).
Question 3: What can you do to prepare for the holidays right now?
This question is giving a beautiful gift to your future self. Come December 17, when you’re at the height of the season and debating whether you should attend yet another Christmas party, what would you love to have off your plate?
Maybe you’re going to buy all your gifts before December 1. Or you’re going to make a plan for your Christmas décor and purchase anything you need now, before it all sells out. Perhaps you’re going to block off one night on your calendar each weekend so you can preserve time for cozy Christmas movies at home.
Again, you get to choose here. What would make your life easier?
If all of this feels like exactly what you needed, this printable is right up your alley. It will walk you through these questions, plus a few bonus ones, to help you reduce holiday stress and reclaim some of your sanity. Plus, writing stuff down – rather than kind of thinking through your answer as you read then forgetting everything as soon as you close this tab – has power. Download it here!
(Plus, did you sneak a peek at my actual answers to these questions?)
Here’s to peace and joy this holiday season!