Christmas overwhelm
Christmas always seems to sneak up on me. I know it’s the same time every year and I know I start thinking about it in September (organising what needs to be sent to which part of the family early enough to get there has made this a habit), but despite that, when it comes to December I can sometimes feel in a bit of a flap. Suddenly there doesn’t seem to be enough time; enough time to do all the crafts that I should have started in August (or April if I’m honest), enough time to order from small businesses who are understandably closing their Etsy shops because they have orders to fill and their own Christmas to organise, enough time to buy things I had planned before they’re suddenly out of stock. I panic - have I ordered the turkey, or booked a shopping delivery?
Whilst starting in September can give me a head start, it can also lull me into a false sense of security - ‘I have plenty of time’ / ‘I’ll do a bit each week’. Then I start seeing all the fabulous decorations people are putting up, the gorgeous wrapping they’re doing, the cards they’re making, the food they’re prepping and that little gremlin of comparisonitis comes to play.
What I have learnt though, is that no two Christmasses are the same - either from one family to another, or one year to another in the same family. Of course there are traditions (only stockings opened before breakfast, turkey for dinner and no TV on the big day), but even these evolve and get added to - which is part of the fun. This lesson has helped me realise that my Christmas doesn’t need to look like anything in a magazine, on Instagram or on TV. In fact, I know that I would enjoy Christmas less if I had to do some of the things I see others do (one type of potato, one stuffing, a couple of veg and the turkey with a splash of instant gravy will do me fine, I’m not wasting time in the kitchen creating gravy from turkey bones, or 4 different types of potatoes thank you very much).
From conversations I’m having, I know a lot of others get sucked into the same feeling. They become overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done to make the ‘perfect’ Christmas, and that it’s all down to them.
I’ve found it so helpful to write a list of what would make the perfect Christmas for me and unsurprisingly the number of presents, the type of wrapping paper and how many pigs in blankets I eat don’t make the list. Far more important are making memories, having fun, being with family. So, when I start feeling the overwhelm, I remind myself of these things. I invite you to do the same and see what difference it makes.
Of course, there will still be things that need to be done, cards that need to be sent, presents bought and wrapped, food purchased, spare beds made up, meet ups to be arranged and so on and so on. If you’re feeling like you don’t know what’s been done and what is still needed, then you might find my Christmas Printables useful. These templates are designed to help you keep on track with everything in one place.
It can be great to see what others are doing, but if you notice it’s beginning to make you feel overwhelmed or not worthy, then check in with yourself - will having what you’re looking at really make a difference to how people feel at Christmas (and ‘people’ should include you). If not, leave it alone. You can always jot it down in a book for another year, but chances are you’ll have forgotten about it and not missed it by the time Christmas arrives.
So, if the overwhelm is hitting, take a breath, have a hot beverage and remember what your favourite things are about Christmas and that will help you keep focussed and hopefully take the pressure off. If there really is still too much to do - then delegate or ask for help. Christmas is not just on you - whatever you think.
Here’s to a Christmas with less overwhelm.
