Your ultimate guide to decreasing Christmas Chaos
Are you overwhelmed at EVERY single holiday?
Are you running around to MULTIPLE homes in the same day just to appease everyone else?
Do you feel pulled in a thousand different directions?
I used to feel this way and it became very cumbersome to me and my family. After listening to so many people fuss about the hustle bustle, drama, and family chaos I decided to take this into a blog topic. The below tips will help you decrease the "chaos" of Christmas coming up. It is difficult to find real solutions for every day life issues but look no further.
CHRISTMAS CHAOS. THE DIRTY TRUTH
JUST SAY NO! -This is the hardest. Most people feel guilty and obligated to go to a family member's home for the holidays. NOT ME!! And I don't feel guilty saying no. It took a while to get here but here I am living my best life. Just because "it's your mom" (mind you I no longer talk to my mother) or "your sister will be disappointed if you don't go" doesn't mean you have to go. JUST SAY NO! Stay home with your family or go to a friend's house instead. It won't be the end of the world and if your family really loves you, they will understand the invite decline.
THE LAST INVITE- If you are the last one invited.... you weren't in their plans anyway. How many times have you gotten your invite 3 days before the holiday get together? Me? MANY! I do not show up to places I don't think that I am truly wanted or welcomed. I have learned to be okay with this. Don't let it upset you. Just move on and take it as a sign that you avoided a toxic situation.
MULTIPLE PLACES- How many of you are expected, yes EXPECTED to "house hop" every single holiday? Even Christmas when you have small children? Small children get worn out from the "house hop". Work with your family to try and split the "task" of going to multiple places. For example, Christmas Eve go to see Mom and Dad. Christmas day go to see Grandma. And Jesus Christ.... let your children wake up at home on Christmas morning and have breakfast and a little slow down before cramming them in the car to go anywhere.
THE PREPARATION- I listened to so many people say that their Thanksgiving break wasn't a break. Cooking nonstop. Excessive spending. Crowd fighting for a turkey or ham. Don't let that carry over into Christmas too. How many of you do the majority of the cooking all for someone else to not contribute a side dish or something and then they take multiple plates home? WHAT THE F***!!! This is stressful and annoying. Make a set menu and assign items to bring ahead of time so that the workload is evenly distributed. Don't do it all on your own. Stand up and make that shit happen.
Holidays shouldn't be stressful. Life in general is SO HARD. Control what you can and prioritize yourself. Remember it's ok to say NO. It's ok to split the tasks even if it pisses people off. It's ok to spend more time with your immediate family that the ones that you receive the "obligatory invite" from. Don't let other people steal your positivity during this season.
LOVE,
Coach
Answer the below question for an extra giggle :)
What is the hardest holiday task for you?
Missing loved ones that have passed on
Being pulled in so many different directions
FAMILY DRAMA! (why I don't participate)
Carrying the burden of holiday tasks alone
I can strongly say I have learned to say no. I will not do the house hopping and I make sure me and the kiddos are good and that’s it!!! 💕 it was hard initially to say no, but growth happened and I learned!!!