Some people love Christmas and can’t wait to get the decorations up but for others it can be stressful and costly. Regardless of whether you love or hate Christmas, by doing a bit of prior planning and preparation you can make things a lot easier.
In this article I’ll introduce you to the 4 Es Checklist: Expectations, Expenses, Everyone and Enjoy.
Expectations
There is a great saying: expectations are resentments in waiting. When we expect things to happen or people to behave in a particular way and then they don’t, we usually feel disappointed or angry. We can help to manage other people’s expectations by clearly communicating what we want.
Imagine yourself on Christmas day morning:
- How would you like to be? (eg organised, prepared)
- What would like you like to be doing? (eg relaxing, cooking,
- spending time with loved ones)
How do you want to feel? (eg calm, relaxed, excited)
Once you have an idea of how you would like to experience Christmas, you can start planning and let other key people know what you would like to happen so they can get on board.
Expenses
Remember that Christmas day is just one day out of 365. Don’t put yourself in a financially uncomfortable position just to try and make Christmas ‘perfect’.
- Take a look at your finances and work out what you can realistically afford. Start putting some money aside now to help pay for things or spread the cost.
- Set a budget for each aspect of Christmas – presents, food and drink, clothes, parties etc and stick to it! This might include agreeing with other household members where appropriate.
- Use your talents to create a unique homemade gift, eg knit, crotchet, bake a cake. Something thoughtful is better than something expensive.
Everyone
Getting everyone in your family or household on board to share the load reduces pressure on you / one person.
Make a list of all the tasks that need doing before Christmas and share them out between everyone. This might mean you have to let go of perfectionism! Just because someone doesn’t do it your way doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
By encouraging others to help, you instil a sense of ownership and make them feel involved / useful. It can also be fun doing things together!
Enjoy
The festive season is meant to be fun, not fraught! You’ll enjoy the experience more by being present and mindful. If you are worrying about ‘what if’ or something that has already happened, you miss the magic of the moment.
Over the Christmas period you can end up being busier than usual, staying up late and eating rich foods, which can spoil your enjoyment. Look after your wellbeing by ensuring you have time to relax and trying not to over indulge too much.
If you’d like more tips and ideas, join my free webinar, How to have a stress-free Christmas, on Wednesday 19th November (see www.senseofdirection.life/shop).