As Christmas Day draws closer, it often feels like the list of remaining tasks is growing increasingly overwhelming. The holiday season should ideally be a joyous, relaxing time spent with those we love, a respite from the everyday pressures of life. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the reality. Many of us lose sight of how to remain calm during the holidays, only to find ourselves burnt out and stressed by Boxing Day, questioning why we put ourselves through this annual ordeal. But fear not! I’m here to share effective strategies that can be included in your Christmas Day preparation to ensure a stress-free celebration.
If you are seeking ways to alleviate holiday stress and enjoy a more peaceful Christmas, I’ve compiled 7 straightforward tips for your Christmas Day planning that will help you relish the day just like everyone else.
1. Create A Plan For Christmas Day
Establishing a plan is crucial for feeling in control this Christmas season. Once you determine the number of guests you’ll host on Christmas Day, how many gifts are needed, when you’ll visit family and friends, and what activities are scheduled during the festive period, you’ll start to feel much more organized.
Begin by focusing on Christmas Day itself. While strict adherence to a schedule isn’t necessary, having a rough timeline can be quite beneficial. Be sure to include meal times, arrival times for guests, when to unwrap presents, and, of utmost importance, allocate time for that post-dinner nap on the couch!
Draft a checklist for the tasks that need completion before the main event, such as writing Christmas cards, wrapping presents, and planning your menu. By having these tasks documented, you’ll be able to free your mind from worry and reduce last-minute stress.
2. Come Up With A Simple Menu
If you take cues from glossy magazines, you might get the impression that Christmas meals need to be extravagant. Think fancy canapés, cocktails, an elaborate starter, main course, dessert, a cheese board, and wine pairings for every dish. This expectation can be incredibly overwhelming. It’s time to lighten the load and design a menu that prioritizes easy-to-make dishes that can be prepped ahead of the big day.
No one wants to spend the entirety of Christmas Day locked in the kitchen while others are enjoying themselves. Opt for dishes that everyone is sure to enjoy. Sticking with the classic roast turkey is usually a safe choice, as it’s much like any regular roast dinner. Just ensure there’s a meat-free alternative available so that everyone is accommodated.
Purchasing ready-to-cook items from the supermarket is perfectly fine. Pre-prepared cauliflower cheese, stuffing, bread sauce, red cabbage, and more can save you hours of kitchen time, and once transferred to serving bowls or onto plates, no one will even notice they came from a store.
3. Delegate Tasks
Don’t hesitate to seek assistance, because who says you have to do it all? Preparing for Christmas Day should be about collaboration and dividing the workload. To alleviate some of the pressure, encourage your guests to contribute something, such as assigning each household a different course. This approach not only aids in managing holiday stress but also mitigates financial burdens. The average Christmas dinner costs £32.57 per person, so for a gathering of 8, you may find yourself spending around £260, not including beverages, snacks, and other extras. It can become quite costly!
For a truly enjoyable Christmas, it’s essential to involve everyone, including the children. You can assign tasks like setting the table, carving the turkey, serving drinks, clearing plates, and washing dishes while you focus on ensuring the sprouts don’t boil over and the turkey remains perfectly cooked. Remember, you deserve to enjoy Christmas Day just like everyone else, and this division of labor will greatly reduce your stress levels.
4. Don’t Leave It To The Last Minute
Procrastination inevitably leads to stress. To exert more control in the lead-up to Christmas, start preparing in advance.
As you prepare for Christmas Day, keep these tasks in mind:
- Complete your gift shopping early – If you’re shopping online, factor in delivery times for orders, along with potential returns or exchanges in case of issues. If you prefer in-store shopping, note that the closer to Christmas you go, the busier it will be—leading to panic purchases, increased spending, and a higher chance of items being out of stock.
- Schedule your online food delivery – Online grocery delivery slots fill up weeks ahead of time. Sign up with supermarkets that deliver to your area, and they will notify you once slots are available.
- Prepare a shopping list for groceries – It’s easy to overbuy during the holiday season, leading to food waste. To minimize this and avoid excessive eating, determine what you truly need and compile a shopping list to resist the temptation of unnecessary extras in your cart during your holiday grocery shopping.
5. Get Prepping
Preparing for Christmas Day is all about getting set in advance! The more diligent you are in your preparations, the calmer you’ll feel. There are numerous tasks that can be tackled ahead of time, allowing you to relax on the big day.
and enjoy the celebrations.
Some food items can be prepped ahead and frozen; for instance, you can parboil potatoes for roasting, prepare stuffing, bake mince pies, and make sausage rolls, among other things. Additionally, you can peel and chop vegetables the evening before, which will eliminate that task on Christmas Day. Root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and parsnips can be kept in bowls of cold water overnight, making them ready for use the next day. Meanwhile, green vegetables can be trimmed and stored in food containers in the fridge to maintain their freshness.
Setting the table and arranging decorations the night prior can also save you significant time. You might consider creating a drinks station with glasses, a bottle opener, and a corkscrew, allowing guests to help themselves whenever they wish, which will also ease your workload on the big day!
6. Schedule Some Quiet Time
Christmas Day can be quite chaotic at times. It may get loud, warm, and busy, with many activities going on. It is completely natural to feel overwhelmed, but how you address these emotions can determine whether you experience a stressful Christmas or find joy in the holiday season.
Plan for brief escapes throughout your day to take a break from the mayhem. If you have a dog, they will still require walking, so you can take on that responsibility. Savor a cup of morning coffee before anyone else wakes up, or spend a few extra moments in the bathroom if that grants you a brief pause. Do what you need to recharge.
Utilize these moments away to revitalize your energy so you can fully engage in the festivities and be your best self.
7. Embrace Flexibility
Things rarely unfold exactly as planned. However, there is no reason to be hard on yourself. People do not expect perfection, and neither should you. Ultimately, Christmas is about being with your loved ones and not about serving the most succulent turkey, buying lavish gifts, or decorating the tallest Christmas tree. So what if the Christmas pudding refuses to light? It’s not a tragedy if the crackers don’t pop. In the grand scheme of things, it isn’t the end of the world. Chances are, in a few years, you’ll look back and laugh at these moments, as they often create the most cherished Christmas memories.
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