How to combat Christmas stress
I wrote this post before Christmas, but did not manage to get it published in time. Although it is late, this post may still be helpful to plan for next year, particularly point nr 2. I will see if I can add items to this list later.
Is Christmas a stressed-out time for you?
Not enough time to go shopping?
Spending too much on gifts because they are a last-moment buy?
Having trouble managing all the cooking and all the family and friends coming over?
Your job does not give you the time to even think about all the stuff you need to prepare?
I have been there. But there are ways to get around Christmas stress. Here are my tips:
How do you combat Christmas stress?
1. First of all, you need to get organized. Make a list of the people you want to buy gifts for and add a list to each name of the items they would like to have. Ask for wishlists. If possible, write the price of the items besides them, this will help with your budget.
Use a large size calendar or agenda for your planning, and be especially good with adding deadlines.
Use daily To-Do lists and fill them out for future dates with what you already know now.
2. Do you find yourself often paying too much for presents because it is a last-minute thing? I have learned the hard way. I buy my presents throughout the year. Whenever there is a sale or a good bargain and I see something that is just the thing for Edward or Lizzy, then I buy it and keep it in a safe spot. I regularly review what I have in store. This saves me literally hundreds of dollars a year. The same holds for birthday presents, of course.
3. Shop online. Why go through all the hassle of rushing through the Christmas crowds and not finding what you are looking for? I have 2 great online stores that are like shopping centers with hundreds of stores from all over the world. The first one is probably known to you. It is called Amazon.com and is the largest online store in the world. The second one is called TripleClicks. Although I still buy physical gifts, there are many items that I can buy cheaper online and sometimes there are items that are exactly what I am looking for (especially novelty items). One important reminder when shopping online: look out for items that have free shipping and that ship to your country (Neither Amazon nor TripleClicks ships everything to everywhere). Amazon has free shipping on any order over $25. One reason I like online shopping is that both have been around for many years and are reliable, so I don't have to deal with many individual stores which might be less reliable.) Many products I cannot buy online,unfortunately, because the shipping costs to Sweden are many times higher than the cost of the product itself.
4. Delete anything that is not really important. When you are totally stressed out, it is necessary to just focus on the important things. That dentist check-up can wait till January and so can the repair of the garage lamp, it has been broken for weeks anyway. Give yourself some elbow room.
Is Christmas a stressed-out time for you?
Not enough time to go shopping?
Spending too much on gifts because they are a last-moment buy?
Having trouble managing all the cooking and all the family and friends coming over?
Your job does not give you the time to even think about all the stuff you need to prepare?
I have been there. But there are ways to get around Christmas stress. Here are my tips:
How do you combat Christmas stress?
1. First of all, you need to get organized. Make a list of the people you want to buy gifts for and add a list to each name of the items they would like to have. Ask for wishlists. If possible, write the price of the items besides them, this will help with your budget.
Use a large size calendar or agenda for your planning, and be especially good with adding deadlines.
Use daily To-Do lists and fill them out for future dates with what you already know now.
tripleclicks.com2. Do you find yourself often paying too much for presents because it is a last-minute thing? I have learned the hard way. I buy my presents throughout the year. Whenever there is a sale or a good bargain and I see something that is just the thing for Edward or Lizzy, then I buy it and keep it in a safe spot. I regularly review what I have in store. This saves me literally hundreds of dollars a year. The same holds for birthday presents, of course.
3. Shop online. Why go through all the hassle of rushing through the Christmas crowds and not finding what you are looking for? I have 2 great online stores that are like shopping centers with hundreds of stores from all over the world. The first one is probably known to you. It is called Amazon.com and is the largest online store in the world. The second one is called TripleClicks. Although I still buy physical gifts, there are many items that I can buy cheaper online and sometimes there are items that are exactly what I am looking for (especially novelty items). One important reminder when shopping online: look out for items that have free shipping and that ship to your country (Neither Amazon nor TripleClicks ships everything to everywhere). Amazon has free shipping on any order over $25. One reason I like online shopping is that both have been around for many years and are reliable, so I don't have to deal with many individual stores which might be less reliable.) Many products I cannot buy online,unfortunately, because the shipping costs to Sweden are many times higher than the cost of the product itself.
4. Delete anything that is not really important. When you are totally stressed out, it is necessary to just focus on the important things. That dentist check-up can wait till January and so can the repair of the garage lamp, it has been broken for weeks anyway. Give yourself some elbow room.
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