Enjoying Christmas – Christmas Day

It is time to think about Christmas catch up with the family. There are so many versions of “family” in this modern era that Christmas Day can involve more co-ordination than a military mission.

So take time now to get the conversation started about where Christmas breakfast, lunch and dinner will be held. Who will be there? What to bring? How does that work in with everyone’s extended family?

Then of course Christmas planning has to consider some family issues (or problems) like Uncle George’s drinking problem. Maybe have a brunch rather than a dinner where fresh juice and tea and coffee and the drinks on the menu. If one of your relatives is negative, perhaps this year give everyone a card that has a conversation starter on it. Making sure the conversation starters are about happy, fun, exciting or funny things. For example, “your favourite holiday destination”, “where you dream of going in the world”, “A funny thing happened on the way to…”

Take into account the needs of small children who may need naps and an early bedtime. Make sure the events you are attending are appropriate for their needs.

If Christmas lunch or dinner is at someone’s house, how can you support and help? Divide up the meals so that everyone can bring something. Entrée, main, veggies, salad’s, bread, dessert, drinks. The person whose house it is at has to clean the house, set the table, manage the meal, clean up and clear up. That is a load of work without even cooking anything. Make it as simple as possible.

I know plenty of families who hold their Christmas Day the weekend before Christmas, Christmas Eve or on Boxing Day. Be flexible so that it is about the people who you are with rather than just “the day”.

Something else to think about at this time of year is whether you know anyone who might be alone at Christmas and can you visit them or invite them along to share Christmas with your family.

It is important to remember that what Christmas may mean to you, it may mean something completely different to someone else, so be careful and sensitive to people’s needs.

It is a time of enjoyment and celebration and with planning it can be just that. Planning is the key.

Enjoying Christmas – Clutter-Free Shopping

I am big on reducing clutter as many of my newsletter community would be aware of. It seems that we are drowning in clutter. Our children have too many toys, we have too many things. Did you know that we live in bigger houses with less people and we are still overflowing?

I mentioned about clutter-free shopping a couple of weeks ago. I would love it if we could focus on giving memories and experiences rather than clutter this Christmas.

The thing about always giving tactile (or physical) gifts is that we have to store them. Many attendees at my “DeClutter and Take Back Control” Workshops talk about how they can’t get rid of (insert item here) because it was a gift.

I honestly believe that when we give a gift, we don’t ever want to burden someone with the item. However, so many, and I really mean so many people can’t give away items in their home because they were gifts. They feel obligated and bound to keep them forever.

So let’s not burden family and friends any longer. Let’s give them memories and experiences. It is my mother-in-law’s birthday tomorrow and we are giving her a manicure and pedicure. A simple gift but guess what, her granddaughters (aged 8 and 12) are taking her to the shop and what she doesn’t know is that they are all having a manicure and pedicure. What grandmother wouldn’t want that sort of a gift? They will all be able to talk about it for years in the future and there is not one bit of clutter involved. It is a wonderful memory for them all.

I can just picture her telling all her friends of how her granddaughters took her to the beauty shop and they all got their nails done. Won’t they be jealous friends!!! (In a nice way)

For Christmas, we have bought my brother-in-law time in a flight simulator. Once again an experience to enjoy and something that we wouldn’t buy for ourselves. We still get to give him something physical – the gift voucher – but the experience will be sensational.

For Mother’s Day we purchased a restaurant dinner for my mother-in-law and her eldest grandson took her to dinner. My mother-in-law is a real “foodie” and this was a restaurant we knew she would love, but she wouldn’t ever go there. To go with her grandson was so wonderful for her.

There are so many simple but wonderful ideas out there to give people so that they have memories, not just an object. Think about what you would love to give to the ones who are most important to you this year. Who knows perhaps this year’s gift may become a family tradition down the track.

Enjoying Christmas – Your Calendar

For some reason, there are so many people we need to catch up with at the end of the year. Why we have this logic, I don’t know. It is something that seems to be part of the festive season traditions that have been established.

Take some time this week to think about who you want to spend your time with in the lead up to Christmas. Then make the calls (emails or SMS) to book the dates, preferably in October and November rather than cramming it all into December.

You will find that catching up with your friends earlier means you are all more relaxed and can enjoy the occasion. You are not overloading yourself with too much food and will actually enjoy the catch up.

Some other considerations for your calendar include when you will spring clean the house in the lead up to Christmas, when you will declutter. I know for some of you that may sound like a big task; however, my declutter prior to Christmas having children means clearing out the toy room of any toys they no longer need or use so that there is space for more to come in.

This one step alone makes a big difference after Christmas when it is time to pack everything away.

Block in some time to decorate the house. We decorate both inside and outside the house. The outside is with lots of lights so that is a big job. That means we block out a whole day to get it done before December.

Book in your December hairdressing appointment or any other appointments that you will need before Christmas.

By doing all this planning early, it allows you to feel more in control and the reason – because you are more in control.

Enjoying Christmas – Gifts

Gifts are a big part of Christmas for many families, although not so much for others. There is no right or wrong; however, this article will focus on elements of gift giving.

If you are crafty and you like to make your Christmas gifts, now is the time to start thinking about what you are going to make, the materials you need and start shopping for them. Some gifts may have to be made closer to the gift giving date; however, for the other gifts, it may be wise to start making them now.

Many people set a budget for their Christmas spending. If you do, then it is time to plan what your Christmas budget is going to be. There are a number of ways to set a Christmas budget. One is work out how much money you are going to spend at Christmas, then write down who you will be buying Christmas gifts for and divide the two. Other people write their list and estimate how much they want to spend on different people. There are other ways as well. My main point is, it is time to start thinking about your Christmas budget.

Other factors for your Christmas budge include clothing, parties you are attending, drinks, and dinners. They all add up so that come the New Year you may have a bigger debt than you had wanted.

If you have a present box, basket, shelf, cupboard or draw, it is time to go through it and take stock. See what you have purchased over the year when you have seen something and add it to the master gift list.

Take some time to develop a Gifts Ideas Planner. Write down the people you plan to buy Christmas gifts for, from family members, to friends, neighbours, teachers, coaches and work colleagues. Think about what would be a nice gift for them. Another idea is to think about stocking stuffers if you have young children. You know those small gifts that add bulk and excitement to the Christmas morning.

One more element that I would love you to consider is not just buying gifts for the sake of having something to give. Buy an experience instead. Some suggestions include movie tickets, a day out at a sporting event, concert tickets, adventure experience. My brother took my children last year to a cricket match with his children. The tickets were only $2.50 each yet the experience of spending a whole day with their cousins was “the best ever” according to the kids.

Once you have done this preparation, it is time to think about going shopping. If you start shopping now, you are going to save yourself time. Why? The shops aren’t as crowded, you get served quicker, you can work more easily, and the shop assistants have time to help you, getting a car park is easier.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. It should be enjoyed.

Enjoying Christmas – Chunking Our Tasks

 Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, so it should be enjoyed. Instead, so many people I meet feel overwhelmed and exhausted by the time we get to Christmas Day.

My videos, articles, Twitter and Facebook updates for the next three months are going to relate to steps we can take to enjoy Christmas. If you have any additional advice and tips that I miss, it would be fantastic to email me and let me know so that we can spread the ripple effect of helping our community enjoy the festive season.

For many of you that have attended my “Systematise Yourself to a Productive Day” would have heard about the term “chunking”. Chunking is when you take a big task and break it down into smaller steps.

That is what we will be doing over the next few months. We will be taking our preparation for Christmas and “chunking” it down into smaller steps.

For many of us, it will be all about “the lists” we develop and follow over the next few months. You can make list the old-fashioned way with pen and paper, on your phone, on your computer or iPad. It doesn’t matter what you use so long as what you use is the right method for you. When you make a list, you are clearing your head. With a clear head, you operate more effectively.

Some of the lists we will be making include:

• Presents to buy
• Friends to catch up with
• Budget
• Menus
• Holiday plans
• Christmas cards to send
• Shopping
• Cleaning
• Decorating

The first step will be some advanced planning which really means just some thinking time. Take some time to think about:

• What you want to happen this Christmas
• Who you want to spend time with
• What you want your house to look like
• Whether you will be sending Christmas cards this year and to all the people you always do or will you revise your list.
• What will your Christmas budget be?
• When do you want to have all the Christmas shopping completed by?
• Where you will spend Christmas Day?

Part of being organised is having a plan. Having a plan comes from spending some time thinking and being clear on your outcomes.