Who doesn't want to make the season special for themselves and their families? With all the emphasis on DIY in recent years, it's easy to get caught up in creating unique, one-of-a-kind holidays that delight and impress our loved ones. Pretty soon you're knitting garland from reclaimed dryer lint, churning your own butter for cookies, and listening to a Christmas carol you composed last night on a vintage theremin. If that energizes you, all power to you.
But it's also possible to approach the season less like a slash and burn mission, and actually spend more time with friends and family. (Or watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles for the 80th time if that's your thing.)
Here are some ideas for making the holidays a little less hectic:
1. Do a Cookie Swap - Instead of making five different types of cookies, make a lot of the same kind and trade with some friends. This is also a great informal way to check in with friends during this very, very busy season. Your only stress will be avoiding that person — you know the one — whose baked goods taste like paper.
2. Go Digital - Christmas wish lists need not be in calligraphy, and holiday cards need not be screen printed. With things like Amazon and Paperless Post, you save time and paper. It's OKAY.
3. Make Gift Pacts - Make a pact with family (or even just a few like-minded siblings) not to give each other gifts. It will eliminate some running around, and lessen the amount of unwanted stuff floating around post-holidays.
What do you think? Does it feel like cheating?
(Image: Shutterstock)
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Just made a pact with my boyfriend not to worry about parent-gifts this year. We're young and poor, and a lovely heartfelt card will do just fine. The amount of stress that took off my shoulders (trying to find something perfect for his mom and his dad on budget....) is astounding.
How about baking those cookies together? It's so much more fun! This was a holiday tradition in my family, starting Thanksgiving weekend when the kids were home from college or wherever they were living. When I was little my oldest sister held gift-making workshops with my friends and me. Also fun!
That photo of the screaming kid with Santa is precious!
These tips can be really helpful this holiday season. This article reminded me that it's not only through gifts that you experience the joy of Christmas; it also depends on how and who you spend it with. By the way, it was fun reading your article especially the cookie swap part. Merry Christmas! :)
I tried last year to sew fancy things for everyone and realized I'm not good at it. A few more years maybe. This year I did better; our family decided to ask for just 3 or so things we really, really want and all other activities are together stuff or donating to charity.
#3 - yes! gifts for the kids, great. gifts for your significant other, nice. everyone else - aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, forget it. (sorry mom and dad!) but seriously, there is so much junk circulating out there that people don't really want- what a waste. just wish i had the guts to propose this in my own family!
The fact that you mentioned a theremin in your article made me chuckle. I wonder how many people even know what a theremin IS! Hilarious and well done!
All of your other tips are also great! I think less traveling needs to be in there too. Somehow I have to learn how to suck it up and tell people we won't be staying for 3 or 4 days...an afternoon should suffice. Maybe next year...
This year, I bought cards and only sent cards to people I don't see all the time. I still took the time to write a couple of sentences to each person, but what a relief!