Okay, so Christmas is coming and the stress levels are too, so here are our tips on making it go smoothly.
- Make lists for what needs to be done (decorating, food shopping, gifts) and start early.
- Use a calendar and get family involved.
- Make your list on a notebook that you can use again next year and even list names of babysitters and taxi companies.
- Make sure you prioritise what is most important to focus on first. Is it ordering party food to be delivered or lining up the babysitters?
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Schedule in quiet / quality “me” time.
- Gift buying made easy. Gift tokens are great gifts and easy to buy. Or take advantage of Snappy Snaps special offer of 3 for the price of 2. Last year we took a memory stick and created a personalized travel bag for everyone. Everyone loved it. It looked great and didn't cost a fortune.
- Do it all on one day as it will focus the mind and it will be another thing off the list. You will get the best prices on line.
- Christmas card list. Make it a family event and make sure you have enough pens and stamps. Or you can each do 5 cards a night until it is done. To save money, hand deliver the cards and get some exercise as a bonus.
- Get family members to help and allocate tasks over the whole Christmas period.
- Don’t go to a Christmas event or party out of guilt. Save your energy for the most important ones.
- Have a cut off point. Then you can stop planning and start enjoying the spirit of Christmas. If you work towards a goal you are more likely to stick to it.
