How to Simplify Your Christmas

All too often, we are e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d by the time January 1st rolls around, and how do we effectively start a New Year when we have that type of baggage left from the year before? It seems the days steamroll forward from Halloween, and we rarely catch our breath in between. Here are some ideas to consider that may give you more quality time, help you dread some aspects less, and provide organizational skills for everyone—especially parents of young ones.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Get-Togethers
   It seems that so much of the entire Christmas holiday hinges on two actual days, into which everything is jammed: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. And, the days that lead up to those days are a blur of rush-rush preparation, thankless effort, and loss of sleep and wallet—followed by the days after fighting off the germs we are exposed to, and the bodily breakdowns our systems feel they deserve.
   
   Yes, Santa visits on the 24th, but what about the families where parents or other relatives have to work, or illness prevents the traditional grouping? Weather, travel issues or other obstacles can get in the way, too.
   
   How about establishing a different type of tradition, and letting get-togethers float as you determine who is available to take part? Some families have taken to exchanging gifts on Thanksgiving, where the meal is the focal point, and the social graces are emphasized. How about choosing a day between Christmas and New Year’s, maybe centered around a church activity, or more leisure time for dessert and conversation, a family movie near a roaring fire (preferably in the fireplace!) or another less chaotic event?
   
   Bet the kids appreciate what they receive those days, too, when they are less inundated with gifts.
2. Cards
   WHO made the rule about sending cards BEFORE the holiday?? Doesn’t it make more sense to recap the entire year after the fact, and when beginning the new year? How about a New Year’s card, when you have more down time to actually think, let alone fill out names and addresses?
   
   This way, you can share photos of your tree, the surrounding season, family members and other pertinent items of interest. With a photo as a keepsake, you may even be able to skip the Xmas letter. After all, they say a picture is worth a thousand words!
3. Baking
   Of course, we can all sing the praises of pre-sliced cookie dough, or tubs of pre-mixed batter that skip so many beginning steps of holiday baking. Ditto on the premixed frostings, for quick icing. Yes, there are the traditional cakes and such that can’t or won’t be cheapened or changed for ease, but much of our baking can be shortened appreciably. Use shortcuts, and save your fussing—if you must—for TLC with the sprinkles or other finishing touches.
   
   A cookie exchange saves time, too. These usually occur among trusted friends or family members, and entail each person baking multiple dozens of one type of cookie to bring and trade for other types of cookies. That way each person participating ends up with several dozen cookies, in a variety of tastes and styles, without having to work quite as hard at the actual baking.
   
   It’s worth mentioning what a welcome gift cookies make, too, and are a measure of more of the traditional aspect of the holiday.
4. Gift-Wrapping
   There are consumer articles out there that tell you to wrap the gifts as you shop to save yourself time and energy later. Unfortunately, that can cause problems for the gift-giver. You may forget what you bought, and end up double-buying, or run into other problems, like boxes that look dog-eared by the time they are presented.
   
   Carry a detailed list (one not accessible to prying eyes!) when shopping so you already know what you have purchased, and can match in value or other aspects for other recipients.
   
   Buy a lot of rolls of wrapping paper, and if you can manage neutral shades or designs, you can use them all year long. If you end up with typical holiday fare, or winter schemes, do this: Wrap all gifts in identifiable paper. If you have multiple kids to shop and wrap Santa gifts for, choose one design for each child, and save on gift tags, as well as the time it will take you to help Santa “deliver” the gifts for opening.
   
   For instance, wrap all the older child’s gifts in snowman paper, the middle child’s in candy canes, and the youngest’s in reindeer. Take it one step further, and help yourself when attending gatherings, too; use one pattern for your family, and one for the in-laws. Of course, you will need tags, too, but you can easily do that by cutting mini ones out of the paper itself.

Tips & Warnings

• Start thinking now how to save time and energy and work on the concept of sharing family or friend time, and you may have enough presence of mind to actually enjoy the holiday this year!