So, your schedule is probably “heating up” as we move closer to Christmas. Mine certainly is, although I’m trying hard to tamp it down and keep things as calm, healthy and sexy as possible. You probably don’t have much time to read and I don’t have much time to write, so here are five quick tips for enjoying a calmer Christmas and keeping things calm from now through the end of the holiday season. Later this week I’ll share some quick tips for keeping things healthy and keeping things sexy too.
- Take 10 minutes in the evening to get things organized for the morning. This great idea comes from Joshua Becker at Becoming Minimalist (and thanks to Lori at The Generous Wife for sharing it). Joshua’s post focuses on getting rid of clutter in the evening as a way to get the next morning off to a smooth start. This is a great idea exactly as written, but it’s also something you could customize for your own family, home and schedule. And during the Christmas season, your 10-minute plan may differ from the plan you’d use during the rest of the year.
- Take time today to organize and prioritize your holiday to-do lists. I have to admit that I’m way off track on this one, and it’s starting to get on my nerves. My to-do and gift lists are still in my head, which is a scary place to be right now! I’m doing the things that have to be done each day, but I’m not seeing the big picture of everything that needs to be done before Christmas. At some point, that’s going to come back to haunt me. Hopefully you’re in a better place than me, and at least have some lists going. Either way take 15-30 minutes today or tomorrow to organize your lists. Then, because you’re striving to be calm during this busy season, prioritize and get rid of anything that won’t contribute to enjoying a peaceful Christmas with the people who are most important to you.
- Tackle the one thing that is annoying you the most that can be done in 30 minutes or less. This might be a holiday thing, or it could be a regular thing. Either way, pick something that’s bugging you that you can accomplish in 30 minutes, and just do it. It could be something on your Little Annoying Tasks (LAT) List, or something that needs to be done to get ready for Christmas. Either way, tackle it today or tomorrow and be done with it. For me, this has to be organizing the pantry. It’s a mess, it’s been getting on my nerves for a long time, and it needs to be done before the Christmas cooking begins. I can do it in 30 minutes if I jump into it “with both feet,” so I’m committing now to getting it done within the next two days.
- Go outside and take a walk. If you’re too busy to take a walk every day, you’re too busy. Really.
- Take a warm bath, read a book for pleasure, listen to beautiful music, watch a relaxing TV show or movie – anything you enjoy that relaxes you. Again, if you’re too busy to do this at least every other day, you’re too busy. Cross some things off your to-do list or assign them to someone else.
What quick tips do you have for staying calm in order to enjoy this beautiful season? Please share them in the Comments section – I would love to hear from you.
kathythechickenchick says
Thank you for linking up with the Clever Chicks this week; I hope you’ll join us again!
Cheers,
Kathy Shea Mormino
The Chicken Chick
http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com
GC says
Thank you, Kathy.
Gaye
Stacy Bowen says
Give your husband a very detailed grocery list and let him do the shopping.I was amazed at what I was able to check off my “to do” list while he was at the store. An added bonus is that he spends lot less on groceries than I do because he sticks to my list. Even I can’t do that!
GC says
Oh, I am loving that idea! Very smart indeed!
Bree @ Twinkle in the Eye says
My problem is my to-do list is HUGE! I’m an organised person, but even an organised person can just have too much on their plate!
GC says
I know – it may be time for some things to be cut from our lists!
Gaye
Paula J says
Great tips! I’m usually calm during the entire season up until 3days before Christmas. That’s when I freak out wishing I had worried a bit more sooner lol.
Thanks for sharing with my NO RULES Weekend Blog Party 🙂
Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
GC says
Hi Paula – Hope you can avoid the “freak out” phase this year!
Gaye
I Gotta Try That says
More great tips! I love it, I need a calmer season. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing at “I Gotta Try That” Have a great weekend.
Marcie
GC says
Thanks Marcie!
Gaye
1momintheusa says
Hi Gaye,
I’m your newest follower from the Empowered Living Blog Hop.
I recently started walking everywhere. Now, I walk everywhere so often that my 3 y/o doesn’t want to ride in the car. She wants to walk. YAY! Great post.
Karina
GC says
Hi Karina – I love the idea of walking to get to the places you need to go, and your daughter loving to do it. That’s something that’s missing in a lot of places in the U.S. – we can’t walk to most of the places we need to go.
Thanks so much for stopping by and for following.
Gaye
marty says
Love the idea of taking ten minutes each night to prepare for the next day. The biggest place I have found this to be most helpful is my kitchen…there is a major difference in how my day goes depending I what I face in that room each morning. I’m either walking into a room ready to be used for the day or two steps behind because I’m still dealing with yesterday’s mess.
GC says
Hi Marty – I agree – the state of the kitchen in the morning can make a huge difference. And I really love this idea of taking 10 minutes or so to get things ready for the next day. I’m going to start doing that in the evenings.
Thanks for stopping by.
Gaye
Sally Self says
To get my head and heart back in sync from the hustle and bustle, I cozy up in my favorite chair with a cup of Apple cider and listen to Christmas music. Peaceful!
GC says
Hi Sally – Oh, that sounds so good right about now! I have been running all day, and still am not done. I need to do something similar when I get home.
Gaye
Jamie "ChatterBlossom says
Taking a walk is really good advice! I spend waaaaay too much time click clacking away and never get up and move around!
-Jamie
http://chatterblossom.blogspot.com/
GC says
Thanks Jamie! I love the phrase “click clacking away” – that is so descriptive of something we spend too much time doing!
Gaye