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With Christmas Day quickly approaching, it can seem like the list of jobs to be done is starting to spiral out of control. Christmas should be a fun, relaxing time of year. A time for us to be with our loved ones and escape the usual stresses of everyday life. But it turns out not always to be that way. We often forget how to stay calm during the holidays and on Boxing Day we are burnt out, stressed and wondering why we do this to ourselves every year. But don’t worry, because I’m going to share some things you can do as part of your Christmas Day preparation that will guarantee you a stress-free Christmas.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce your Christmas stress and discover how to enjoy a relaxing Christmas instead of a stressful one, stick around because I’ve got 7 simple tips you can use to prepare for Christmas Day. you enjoy the day as much as everyone else.
1. Make a plan for Christmas Day
Planning is an important part of helping you feel in control this Christmas. Once you know how many guests you will have on Christmas Day, how many gifts you need to buy, when you will be visiting different family and friends, and what activities you have booked for the holidays, you can get started. to become more organized.
Start by focusing on Christmas Day. While you don’t have to be too strict about it, it’s always a good idea to have a rough timetable for the day. Don’t forget to include meal times, what time people will arrive, when you’ll open presents, and most importantly, don’t forget to make time for the post-dinner nap on the couch!
Make a checklist for the tasks that need to be done before the big day itself, for example, writing Christmas cards, wrapping gifts, menu plans, etc. Writing down these tasks will take the load off your brain and help you avoid last-minute stress.
If you believe what the glossy magazines tell you, there’s this idea that Christmas food has to be all fancy schmancy. I’m talking canapes and cocktails, starter, main course, dessert, cheese board, wines to match each course. Seriously, it’s enough to confuse anyone. It’s time to take the pressure off and come up with a menu consisting of dishes that are easy to prepare and can be made before the big day.
No one wants to spend most of Christmas Day hidden in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun. So choose dishes that you know everyone will like. You can’t go much wrong if you stick to the traditional roast turkey. And basically it’s just like any other roast dinner. Just make sure you have a meat-free alternative and you should have everyone covered.
There’s nothing wrong with buying ready-made options at the grocery store. Store-bought cauliflower cheese, stuffing, bread sauce, red cabbage, etc. will save you hours in the kitchen and once you decant them into serving bowls or serve them on people’s plates, no one will even bat an eye at them.
3. Delegate tasks
Don’t be afraid to ask for help, after all, who said you had to be in charge of everything!?! Preparing for Christmas Day is all about coming together as a team and sharing the load. To take the pressure off, ask your guests to bring something; for example, each household may be in charge of a different course. Not only does this help deal with Christmas stress, but it also means the financial burden is shared. The the average Christmas dinner costs £32.57 per personso if you host 8 people it will cost you approximately £260 pounds. That’s before you even factor in drinks and any snacks and nibbles you might have for the rest of the day. It’s expensive!
To ensure you enjoy a stress-free Christmas, it’s important to get everyone involved, even the kids. You can easily delegate tasks such as setting the table, carving the turkey, serving drinks, clearing plates, washing dishes, etc., while concentrating on making sure the sprouts don’t bubble over and the turkey doesn’t burns. You have as much right to enjoy Christmas Day as everyone else, and this will help increase your stress levels no end.
4. Don’t leave it to the last minute
If you leave everything until the last minute, you will of course become stressed. Getting ahead of the game will help you feel much more in control in the run-up to Christmas.
As part of your Christmas Day preparation you should:
- Make sure you do your current shopping on time – If you shop online, make sure there is enough time for orders to be delivered (and for returns or exchanges in case of problems). And if you shop in person, you’ll be busier the closer to Christmas, you’ll be more likely to panic, potentially spend more money and run the risk of products going out of stock.
- Book your online meal delivery – Online food delivery time slots are fully booked weeks in advance. Register with all supermarkets that deliver to you and they will send you an email as soon as places become available.
- Write a shopping list – It is all too easy to buy too much food at Christmas and often not all of it gets eaten. To avoid food waste and eating more than you need, figure out which foods you really need and make a shopping list so you’re not tempted to put extras in the cart when you do your Christmas shopping.
5. Prepare
Preparing for Christmas Day is, well, it’s all about the preparation! The better prepared you are, the less stress you will have. It’s honestly that simple. There are many jobs you can complete before Christmas Day so you can enjoy the festivities afterwards.
Certain foods can be prepared in advance and then frozen. For example, you can pre-cook potatoes ready for roasting, make stuffing, chop pies, sausage rolls, etc. You can also peel and chop your vegetables the night before so you don’t spoil them. I have that job to do on Christmas Day. Root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and parsnips can be stored in bowls of cold water overnight so you can use them the next day. And green vegetables can be trimmed and placed in food containers in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.
You can also set the table and set up any decorations the night before to save time. Maybe set up a drinks station, with glasses, a bottle opener, corkscrew etc. so people can help themselves whenever they want a drink, which will also save you a job the next day!
6. Schedule some quiet time
Christmas Day can be quite hectic at times. It can be loud, hot, crowded and anything can happen. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed, but it’s how you deal with these feelings that makes the difference between a stressful Christmas or relaxing and enjoying the holidays.
Schedule breaks in your day where you can escape the madness for a short period of time. If you have a dog, he still needs a walk, so volunteer to be the one to take him. Take a moment to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning before anyone else is up. Hey, spend a little longer on the toilet than necessary if that gives you five minutes of peace. Do what is necessary.
Use this time out to recharge your social batteries so you can enjoy the celebrations and be your best self.
7. Go with the flow
Nothing ever goes completely according to plan. But there’s no need to beat yourself up about it. People don’t expect perfection, so neither should you. Remember, Christmas is about spending time with your loved ones, not about having the juiciest turkey, the most expensive gifts, or the tallest Christmas tree. So what if you can’t manage to light the Christmas pudding? A big problem if the crackers don’t burst. It’s not the end of the world. Chances are you’ll be laughing about it again in a few years, because it’s moments like these that make the best Christmas memories.
Final thoughts
These 7 simple tips for preparing for Christmas Day contain the secret to a stress-free Christmas. There’s no need for you to rush, get your panties in a mess, and worry about things that ultimately don’t matter. As long as you have a roof over your head, your family around you and food on the table, that’s all you really need for the perfect Christmas Day.
What are you doing to help with your Christmas Day preparation?
I’d love to hear how you make your Christmas day as stress-free as possible, so please feel free to contact us!
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Author biography
Becky Stafferton is a full-time content creator, web publisher and blogcoach. She continually strives to promote a realistic, sustainable and positive view of how to live a healthy life. When she’s not writing, you can find her running through muddy puddles, making lists, moaning, talking to her dog in funny voices, renovating her country house, and teaching others how to make money from their blogs.