Five Tips For An Enjoyable Christmas Season

“Christmas Primitives”

watercolor by Teresa Kogut

Even though your to-do list grows ten-fold this time of year. Try not to let it consume you. Take time to enjoy the season. Try these 5 tips for an enjoyable Christmas season.

Focus on Christ’s birth. Remember the reason for the season is one sure way to make the Christmas season more enjoyable. When you think you have it rough, turn your focus on Jesus, Mary and Joseph and what they had to endure when Christ was born. Prepare your heart for Jesus’ birth. Give thanks for all the gifts you already have in your life and most importantly….GIVE. Help those in need. Our church has a giving tree where you take a tag from the tree and it has a person’s name, gender, age, clothing & shoe size along with some gift ideas listed. Toys for Tots is also a great way to help the less fortunate have a joyful Christmas.
Go with the flow. Don’t try to make everything perfect! For one reason, it’s impossible. We can drive ourselves crazy trying to get everything perfect. The perfect tree. The perfect gift. The perfect outfit for a party. The perfect decorations, and so on. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Do your best and forget the rest. Because if you are doing your best, that’s always good enough.
Be organized before you go shopping. I have a journal that has pockets. I have used it every year for the past 10 years at least. Each year I make a list of everyone we are buying a gift for. I write a couple ideas next to their name. When I purchase their gift, I write what I bought, how much I spent and I tuck the receipt in the pocket. This way every year I know about how much to spend and I make sure not to buy someone the same gift twice. This has been a life-saver!!
Stay healthy. During the holiday season there are many more social gatherings where rich delicious food and alcoholic drinks are plentiful. Moderation is the key here for both. Also, get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep combined with stress can weaken your immune system. Lastly, stick to your regular workout routine. Not only will you have more energy but it will help you maintain your weight while overindulging in calories.
Plan time in your schedule for enjoyment. Take a drive around and enjoy the incredible displays of Christmas lights, attend a special holiday concert, make snow angels with the kids, or just take a long hot bath. One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching Christmas movies. I love everything from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman to Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story.

I am blessed with an amazing family so I don’t have to worry about the tension that some families experience during the holidays. Refer to #1 if you do.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy, Prosperous New Year!