What do you do to stay Sane during the Holidays??

[Grendalynn]

Ok, so no matter how hard I try, I still get stressed out before the Holidays...
I am a lot more organized this year and have cut back signifigantly for what I buy and how much I spend. But even with that being said, I still find my self stressed out because of all the added work, busy schedules and extra expenses. I am curious to know what you all do to keep your sanity, relax (if possible) and or keep your relationships with your spouse and or kids and even keeled as possible!! Just over 2 weeks left and i feel my stress leval is on the rise - I am looking forward to trying/considering your techniques! Happy Holidays!!

 

[maxtomsmom]

We do several things. I order things online after the kids are in bed. If I think they might see the package, I have it sent to my DH's job. I use one day to get most of my shopping done. I also buy gift cards for teachers (they would rather use the money). I know it's not the most thoughtful gift, but I make my DS make a really cute card. Then it becomes more personal.

I make DH help me wrap. This way he sees what Santa has brought. Anything that takes a lot of time to put together, will be put together a week before and carefully hidden.

DH and I always do Christmas (my family always visits and my Aunt has a small apartment). Sometimes we get the bonus of having to do all three holidays. Thanksgiving we also do every year, we have the space. We rotate Christmas eve with his family so every three years we end up doing all three holidays - talk about stress So we decide on a menu early and decide what can be made and prepared ahead of time. I premake a lot of things like soups, pies, appetizers, etc. We also do more roasting like roasting veggies and potatoes as it is easier to throw it in the oven. I also then refuse to cook the day before each meal and the day after. Leftovers or we order. It use to be fend-for-yourself but that would allow my DS to eat candy for dinner.

One thing I used to do, but since I haven't gone back to work yet, was hire a cleaning service to come in and do their thing. I would have them come do it all including windows. They would come two or three days before the holidays. I made my appt. early like right after Thanksgiving. It's worth every penny. I don't use a service any other time of the year and I figure it's a gift to myself and sanity. Why should I do all this shopping, cleaning, my usual work, just to spend my little spare time to clean.

For Christmas cards - I know this may sound tacky, but if you haven't sent a card for two years in a row, you get cut out. There are only a few exceptions and that is with our elderly relatives. I know it's not going with the season, but it does get expensive and I do my best to keep costs down.

Finally, I take a bath when I can. Very relaxing especially with wine. I still get a little stress and I think that is ok, a little stress never hurts.

I am always looking for other ways to calm down.

 

[mylilnikita]

well, tomorrow I will do all my xmas shopping. Not getting a bunch of junk for DD9, I took her to Hawaii a couple months ago. I only deal with my DM and I just stick my fingers in my ears and sing LA LA LA, but I do that all year round-lol. Soon the crazyiness with be over so look at it towards that.
This year DD is going to be with me xmas eve and xmas morning, usually she is with her DF xmas eve, so I have to keep things on the down low xmas eve. I do plan on making some cookies for some neighbors, have to find out what DD's teacher likes for agift.

 

[MoniqueU]

I buy early, shop online and watch the ads so I know if I am getting a good deal or not. I have my kids help me decorate. My oldest daughter who is 11 now was the one to get up on the ladder this year with the christmas decorations and ornaments. That helped alot. I can't wait til she knows how to do the banisters. I calll her my little Christmas girl, she was due on Christmas day but came early and is always in the spirit of christmas. I bake easy things with already made cookie dough and the kids help me. I have nearly everything I have boughten wrapped and under the tree now. Just waiting on a few more things to arrive. The one thing that stresses me out is Christmas cards. I had mine ordered in the summer but addressing them and getting them in the mail seems to be a chore. They are so cute I have to send them out though. The other thing that is stressing me out is that my kids all have major projects due before the break. I don't know what the teachers are thinking. Maybe they think no one will work on them over the hoidays? I don't know but I would of rather had them be given earlier in the year and due before thankgiving then or not til mid January. We also have alot of birthdays and sports activities and functions in Dec. I like them but I don't like to be this busy.
As far as the spouse goes mine is pretty easy going. As long as he is fed, rested and gets to watch some tv he is in a great mood all the time. He has alot of reasons to lose patience with me but rarely does. No matter how bad things get I can only remember a few times where he wasn't optomistic and we got through that.

 

[momof1princess]

considering all the drama going on in my family right now, i might have to start drinking something harder than water...(j/k, but i'm at the end of my rope).

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I subscribe to www.flylady.net

I take from her my new mantra "progress not perfection".

 

[Grendalynn]

considering all the drama going on in my family right now, i might have to start drinking something harder than water...(j/k, but i'm at the end of my rope).

I hear you on that!! I like the usual Glass of wine most evenings!!?? My motto has been Crap-free ad Drama-free. Doing OK on th crap-free, not so much on th Drama end f it though... I cant stand the junk that we/my kids give and get. It seems like such a waste of everyones money, including my own. DH gets so aggravated - he said that's what christmas is all about for the kids - lots of gifts under the tree and all knds of toys!! I say NOT! Everyone seems to be losing sight of Christmas and the real meaning of it all. Dont get me worng, I want my kids to have a wonderful Christmas, but they arent going to know what came from us, Santa or the rest of the family!

 

[flipflop]

Wine. It's that simple.


Seriously, we host Christmas Eve and have company for breakfast on Christmas morning and I subscribe to Sr. Laura's (my principal from grammar school) motto "keep it simple stupid". We plan out a menu of apps and desserts early and make as much ahead of time as possible. No gourmet dinner - nothing that will keep me in the kitchen all night instead of enjoying my family.

I start shopping in August. I do a little here and there so it is never overwhelming. I order as much as possible on-line with free shipping. I try to have all of my shopping done by Thanksgiving and all the wrapping done 2 weeks ahead so I can bake and enjoy going to the all the friend/family holiday parties.

That is not to say that I don't get stressed. I do - there always seems to be some family drama or some last minute item I have forgotten. I try to take a deep breath and tell myself not to get caught up in the stress because there will never be another Christmas like this one again. Each year is a gift: kids get older; people pass away or move and so it is important to enjoy the people and the days and not allow myself to get derailed.

Plus, wine...I did mention wine, right?

 

[Grendalynn]

Wine. It's that simple.




That is not to say that I don't get stressed. I do - there always seems to be some family drama or some last minute item I have forgotten. I try to take a deep breath and tell myself not to get caught up in the stress because there will never be another Christmas like this one again. Each year is a gift: kids get older; people pass away or move and so it is important to enjoy the people and the days and not allow myself to get derailed.

Plus, wine...I did mention wine, right?

Great post - its so true! The wine I mean, oh and the stuff about the family and kids. No, but really - they do grow so fast and health is ever changing. I have learned in just the past few years when we decided not to have any more kids after DS1 was born - to let the little (and soemtimes big) stuff go, time is short and they grow so fast. You cant get it back, so suck it up while its here. Same with the wine! Thanks for sharing and putting things into perspective!

 

[GoinToDisney]

I subscribe to www.flylady.net

I take from her my new mantra "progress not perfection".

Me too. I roughly follow her holiday planner. I have cut my list down quite a bit by agreeing not to exchange with my bother, BIL and SIL. I think of gifts in advance and try not to worry about the perfect gift. I take a lot of deep breaths and write lists. I use a timer to time 15 minutes for tasks I don't want to do. I have a lot going on right now in my personal life, so I am trying to keep stress to a minimum. In fact, I think I will go do my yoga dvd right now.

 

[pbharris4]

A lot of this and a lot of this

 

[ballle_98]

I go to the gym, run on the treadmill, listen to music, pray in the steam room, and relax in the hot tub. Also, our gym has a heated indoor pool and I find floating and swimming very relaxing.
It helps with my mood and my sleeping habits if I get enough exercise.

 

[DISNEYSPORTS19]

here's what I heard on the radio as I drove to work this morning

"I just came back from Iraq where I had to worry about bombs going off around me everyday, so honestly people holiday stress is not really all that stressful"

Put it all in perspective for me!

 

[ballle_98]

here's what I heard on the radio as I drove to work this morning

"I just came back from Iraq where I had to worry about bombs going off around me everyday, so honestly people holiday stress is not really all that stressful"

Put it all in perspective for me!

You know, that really does make you rethink priority and count your blessings.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I subscribe to www.flylady.net

I take from her my new mantra "progress not perfection".

I'm a FlyBaby, too!

The Holiday Planner really helps, but I'm still overwhelmed with the cards -- I buy them the year before, but I still have to address them, add labels, sign the cards, write the Christmas letter, print the Christmas letter, fold the Christmas letter, cut apart and label photos of ds, and buy the stamps. I'm really starting to think I'm not doing this anymore -- we send out about 60 cards and get about 10 -- it just doesn't seem worth it, even though I know that should not be the intent.

Sorry to hijack the thread -- I do take regular bubble baths, and let ds9 try to do anything he wants -- wrap gifts for grandparents, decorate, etc. I also try to make it to church every Sunday of Advent, this gives me a little peace each week...