Simplify Your Christmas: This holiday season keep it simple
Here are five ideas for cutting back on the buying, baking and basting that have become stressful traditions:
Cards – Give up all that signing and licking by simply not sending any cards this year. Instead, make a list of your 10 most missed friends of family members and send them a Christmas email (or a postcard after Christmas – when they actually have time to read it).
Family obligations – Cut back on the social gatherings. Explain to friends and family that you’re trying to avoid Christmas burnout, not their company. Suggest an “after-Christmas” party at your home in January so you can pamper your loved ones after the festive frenzy.
Decorations – Embrace imperfection and put out only a few favourite decorations. Resist the temptation to buy another illuminated reindeer and, instead, give that money to charity. But if you must buy another decoration, visit a store that supports fair trade by selling handcrafted items from developing countries.
Presents – Canadians spend billions of dollars each year on presents. Make this Christmas more memorable by sponsoring a child or buying a gift through World Vision’s Gift Catalogue. You can also give the gift of time: instead of giving friends wrapped presents, schedule some get-togethers for the new year.
Baking – Limit yourself to one or two special goodies and share some of them in a cookie exchange with friends. But if you can’t resist a rolling pin, find out if a local soup kitchen needs some help.
