How To Make The Holidays Less Stressful In 2020
/The only good way to describe 2020 is to say it’s been one giant dumpster fire. With the holidays approaching, I bet many moms want to celebrate and enjoy the holidays but are burned out and it seems like too much work and stress. You would think being stuck at home should be relaxing and we would love it, but after seven months many of us are over it.
It’s ok to decline to do anything that causes more stress. You can say no to hosting during a pandemic. Say no to gifts, many of us cannot afford because we have not been working. We should say yes to is simplicity. To ensure the holidays are about togetherness without fuss. Read on to learn how to make the holidays this year easier and stressless.
Don’t Cook
It is cold and flu season, and there is the whole pandemic we are dealing with. So this year don’t cook. Most grocery stores sell pre-cooked holiday dinners. Chain restaurants like Boston Market and HoneyBaked Ham sell them too. With curbside delivery or one stop to pick up to pay for the food, you reduce your risk. Plus, you will save several hours in the kitchen. Pre-cooked food alone reduces the amount of work and holiday stress.
Outsource Everything You Can
Use delivery for everything. Order using Shipt and Instacart just remember to tip. You still get the shopping done and you help keep a gig driver employed. Avoid the crowded store if you can pay someone to do it for you. You get a lot done this way from groceries delivered to Christmas shopping done without leaving the house. This will also save you a lot of time.
Housework stresses me out the most. I know a lot of moms can agree housework is stressful. My kids and I are high risk, but if a cleaning person were to wear a mask, remove their shoes, and use my personal cleaning products and vacuum I would hire someone to clean my house. We would could wait outside to further reduce the risk. Many people who clean houses found themselves without clients this year, and you would help someone else provide during the holidays while taking a little off the load off from yourself.
You can even outsource your gift wrapping. I’ve seen the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts offer gift wrapping. If you can afford the service and it reduces your stress, why not? It benefits you and the person offering the service.
Don’t Buy As Many Presents
So many of us are on tighter budgets this year. For 2020 rethink who you should give expensive gifts to. If you typically give gifts to neighbors and friends, this is the year to start a Secret Santa with your friends and family. Or do handmade gifts or a cookie exchange. And yes, it’s ok to use pre-made dough.
For my kids, I am scaling way back. My youngest will receive a great a gift along with few small ones. Many kids already have enough toys. Receiving one gift that will make their Christmas memorable is enough. It is not about the gifts price it is about the value to the recipient. You should not have to spend the time or money getting extra gifts that are likely not needed and will become clutter down the road.
Gallup says Americans will spend $942 dollars on gifts in 2020. I know for a lot of families the cost of presents for the kids, families, and friends alone end up costing as much as a Disney Vacation. To me the amount of money we spend is the most stressful part.
Tip at Christmas as you usually do. Tips give back to those who take care of you. Bottom line think about spending less money elsewhere. Once you scale back, you will find more meaning in the season and that you worry less about the money you are spending.
The holidays are not all about gifts. Do not spend money if it causes stress.
Create New Traditions
In some ways Christmas 2020 may be harder on some of us. We can’t go to the mall to see Santa. We have cancelled the commitments we usually have at Christmas in 2020. It may disappoint to not be able to travel or attend parties this year, it gives us a new chance to create new traditions this year.
Think about activities and traditions that are low risk and will help spread holiday cheer. You could make care packages to leave on the doorstep of the elderly on Christmas Eve. The kids could make Christmas cards for soldiers. Sign up for a virtual 5k that benefits a charity. Volunteer at a food bank or homeless shelter. When you help others, it will help you be happier and reduce stress. Helping others embodies the spirit of the holiday season.
Other activities or traditions you can start are:
Bake cookies with your kids and leave them on neighbors doorsteps with a nice card.
Have a holiday movie marathon and order pizza.
Read a book with the kids nightly.
Look at Christmas Lights displays.
Do Elf on The Shelf and make it hard to find him every day so it is a fun challenge.
Throw a virtual party by using Netflix or Disney Plus to host a watch party with family and friends.
Have a Christmas themed craft night. I love Pinterest because you can find so many fun and simple craft ideas there. Pinterest is my go to for craft ideas and tutorials.
Google Christmas scavenger hunt and do one a week.
Set up a hot coco bar.
Adopt a family for the holidays.
Game night with ugly Christmas sweaters or matching pajamas.
Decorate a Gingerbread house.
There many traditions you can start this year. Between, Pinterest and Google there are many fun and affordable if not free options. You will find staying active and spending quality time together will reduce stress and make everyone happier. We forget the holidays are about spending time with the ones we love most. Not spending money or having a clean house.
The holidays can be stressful and 2020 has been hard for everyone. That doesn’t mean the holidays are ruined. If we make the best of it and use resources available to use this Holiday, season will be wonderful without stress. So what are you doing this year to reduce stress during the holidays? I would love to hear more suggestions and tips, so please comment.
