Ten Tips to Be Sure you Enjoy Christmas too!

I don't believe Christmas is just for the Kids.

And I think everyone should be involved in their fair share of organising it too.

So here's ten tips to help you enjoy it as much as everyone else does.

Tip 1 - Lists are your best friend

I write a list for all the things we love to do and what I need to book and not forget e.g. panto and the school fair.

It's great to make this list together and choose what you're going to do as a family so you know you have budgeted and booked the must do's and don't get distracted or get FOMO over all the fabulous events and extras. You can find you get crazy busy trying to do it all if you're not careful!

There's far too much to keep all in your head!

I make sure to write down all my present ideas and what I've bought everyone so that I can keep my head free and not waste time, energy and sleep trying to remember everything.

I've just dug out my Christmas spreadsheet and I've loved seeing what we gave everyone last year.

It also means I don't forget anyone and can put dates beside when we're seeing everyone so I have the pressies wrapped in time. I add up what I've bought for my closest family to ensure I don't go crazy and buy too much in the pre Christmas sales.

Tip 2 - Go digital

Use your online calendar function to schedule everything so that you can make sure your partner, friends and family have the same dates and times and location info as you do. It's great to be able to book people in like this now as it reduces the chance of confusion and people don't need to keep asking you for the details.

I find It's best to put the maybes in your online diary too so you don't realise you've given the date to two people once they both confirm and have no other dates spare! It's such a drain on everyone's time having to start the "when are you free?" conversations all over again.

I've got quite a few dates in for January already as I've been keen not to overload our December!

And add a note for next October to book your online food shopping slot. I missed out this year so I'll be wheeling the trolley around myself again this year - doh!!

I made sure my present list was digital last year which was a game changer as it was the first time I always had it with me on my phone to refer to and keep up to date when I'm out shopping.

Ideas come to me in all different situations so it's great to just pop them on the list so I can shop for them later. You can pull it out next year too which means you don't have to wrack your brain starting from scratch every year. And you're less likely to forget someone each year too.

If you still send cards, (I do), then maybe this year type up all your addresses onto a label template so that you don't have to hand write them this year or in future. I'm delighted I did this last year. I use them for birthdays too.

Tip 3 - Book in your at home rituals too.

Rest days watching Christmas movies, decorating the tree together, wrapping presents and baking are all lovely traditions that we need to save time in our diary for.

It's a shame to rush them or end up doing it all by yourself.

It's great entertainment for the kids and lovely family bonding time.

Make some hot chocolate and eat some Christmas goodies and really enjoy the build up to Christmas all together.

Tip 4 - Avoid FOMO (fear of missing out) and Comparisonitits

Money, time and energy are finite resources. There's so many activities on offer and things to do and people you could see at Christmas. It's impossible to do it all!

So make sure you're confident you're doing your favourite activities and keep reminding yourself of that

Embrace JOMO instead - the joy of missing out!

Less is more to avoid Christmas burn out which gives you the grumps and means you struggle to enjoy it all.

Anything you're not doing and feel called to do can be parked on the digital list to be considered next year.

Tip 5 - Have any difficult conversations now

Is there anything you're worried about or want to do differently this year?

Have those conversations now!

Do you want to:

- Stop buying pressies for certain people

- Not have the Uncle round that gets too drunk

- Prefer to stay at home rather than go to so and so's house for the big day

- Don't want to eat meat/ turkey this year

Whatever you're thinking and wishing you could do differently tell the people that need to know now. Choose to set your boundaries. You'll be so pleased you did on the big day!

And if you do have any tricky moments with tricky people or situations, be sure to take a deep breathe, tell yourself it's OK, this moment will pass and use compassion and humour to lighten things.

Tip 6 - Christmas is for Mums too!

So make sure you have things to look forward to as well

Book in your favourite people so you get to see all your loved ones. Plan your school Mums night out. Have a Christmas lunch with your small business besties.

And start noting down presents you'd like and be sure to share the list with the people that need to know. Are you running out of perfume or make up?

Is there something you can ask to be bought for Christmas or a voucher for an experience so you can treat yourself in 2025? Maybe a spa membership or a course you'd love to do?

Don't know what you want for you?

My Your Future You Vision course guides you to work out what you really want and why so you can envision your dream life, feel excited and set your intentions so you can THRIVE in 2025 personally and professionally.

Working on yourself in this way is so much more powerful than setting yourself the typical new years resolutions which hardly last the month. Resolutions are usually about restricting or limiting yourself rather than making you feel hopeful, positive and excited for the new year.

I know which emotions motivate me most- Excitement any day!

Drop the details to your nearest or dearest in advance or when asked.

People love to buy for you too remember.

Tip 7 - Look after yourself

As we get busier we can forget to drink enough water, eat healthily and be tempted to eat all the chocolate - yum! We may end up missing the exercise class or social event we were hoping to get to so we can get more jobs done. But don't!

Ask for help instead so that your list isn't just your list.

Tip 8 - Ask for help

Don't be a martyr! Be a model for your kids too. Practice team work. Allocate jobs to people in the lead up to Christmas and on the day too.

Get the kids and other family members involved with all the jobs and cooking. Get some music on and have some fun writing cards, baking, wrapping, peeling the veg, laying the table.

Try giving people specific tasks. Make sure your partner knows what you're expecting him to do e.g. take peoples coats, serve the drinks, carve the meat, help serve up.

I bet he loves to help but often he needs to be asked.

Tip 9 - Don't sweat the small stuff. It doesn't have to be perfect or just so

People just want to enjoy the day and the company. So don't put too much pressure on yourself. It's a shame to feel stressed or worry about what people think when you're meant to be relaxing and having fun.

Tip 10 - Take 5 when you need to

Christmas fun can feel like Christmas chaos and it can get too much.

So know how to take yourself away and decompress when you need to.

Need some more help to do all this?

Get in touch on [email protected] and ask for a 'Clarity Call'.

I'd love to help you.

Want to THRIVE in 2025?

Join my Your Future You Vision Board Course and add the Dream & Do Community too!

Here's to a wonderful Christmas 2024 and a super exciting 2025.

Wishing you all the best,

Rebecca