Isn’t it interesting how we seem to be more tired, stressed and impatient at Christmas compared to the rest of the year?
So often we look forward to Christmas as a time to relax and kick back. We dream of it all year while we slog away at jobs and everyday tasks. Without even realizing, though, we sabotage ourselves both before the break and during it!
Getting ready for Christmas, we crazily clear our diaries, get all those jobs done and madly rush around. We spend all our energy getting organised, so we don’t have to do anything while on holidays. By the time Christmas arrives,though, we’re doubly exhausted and tired!
Car parks, shopping centers and the general traffic on the roads adds to the mix as well. People cut you off, change lanes without indicating or reverse out of a car park without looking. Then they change lanes and slow down in front of you so you must slow down too.
Christmas shopping lists become an extra load, both financially and emotionally. “How do I get Aunt Flo a decent present for under $30?” you ask yourself. You jostle and hustle with the crowds while dragging your ever increasingly heavy shopping bags around. Then, when you get home, you kick off your shoes only to realise you forgot Cousin Fred’s present or the butter from the grocery list!
After all our preparations, we then overeat and drink, and moan because we are overweight or hungover!
This year I tried to do things differently. My husband and I decided NOT to give each other a present. Instead we decided to spend quality time together with family and friends. To make it even more manageable, the kids and grand kids got money or specific presents that were agreed on. The rest of our family and friends were warned they’d be getting op shopped presents too. With this in mind, I began shopping for op shop presents in October.
Did it work? Oh yes!
Some of my presents? A silk dressing gown, an embroidered and appliqued cushion cover, a hand knitted tea cosy, some lovely watercolor paper and a quirky holder for my pens!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone!
