Get the most out of your holiday season

It was just August long weekend, wasn’t it? Now somehow it’s a month before Christmas. I’m bound and determined to slow down & enjoy the holiday season to the fullest with my family. I have a few ideas that may help you do the same!

Think back to last January 2… you’re likely exhausted, the house might have been a mess and all that’s left are a few stale Christmas cookies and a box of Kraft Dinner in the cupboard. You made it through the holidays, but did you enjoy them?

This week, take a couple hours to decide how you’re going to make a memorable AND joyful holiday season for you and your family.

Our life with kids, working full time and running a small business is obviously full.. I’ve found that the key to relaxing and getting the most out of life is planning for it and not just hoping it happens.

I want our kids to remember mom playing games with them and watching Christmas movies in her jammies instead of running around like a wild woman before, during and after the big day.

We’ll still be cooking and cleaning up as needed, however during the times I’ve planned to be present and have quality time with my family, that’s all I’ll be doing.

Planning it all in advance will let you to stop worrying about if you forgot this or that. You won’t have to lock eyes with a pile of laundry on Christmas eve and stress about what everybody’s going to wear to Grandma’s the next day..

You’ve got a month of anticipation and excitement ahead of you, another week between Christmas and New Years.. and this year, another week after that until those little angels head back to class! Buckle up, plan it out and enjoy it.

7 Steps to Make the Most of the Holiday Season

1. Schedule your personal time. At least once a week give yourself a couple hours to sit down and read a book, sit in the bath uninterrupted, or go out with your partner or friends for coffee. I used to just go go go until I dropped. I finally found out that giving myself a couple guilt free hours to relax at least once a week makes all the difference. This doesn’t include folding laundry while watching Yellowstone.. Knowing I have that down time scheduled keeps my spirits and motivation up.

2. Do yourself a favour and get your hands on a Red Door Ranch Winter Meat Box. Fill your freezer with a seasons worth of quality beef cuts, smoked ham roasts and chicken. Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the season throw off your budget and healthy habits by forcing you to eat out or make one too many frozen pizzas. It’s a January hangover/credit card bill we can all avoid!

   On that note make sure to meal plan - big and small! Draw up a quick and easy meal plan for the month of December.

   Here’s an easy meal plan guide to follow:
   -Cook up a chicken every week to use for 3 whole healthy family meals!
   -Plan on beef twice a week, keep it simple, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel! Cook enough once for two meals.
   -Pork one night.
   -Homemade pizzas or breakfast for supper another night.

   The big family holiday dinners don’t have to be a chaotic stressful mess. Plan an afternoon in early December to make a couple casseroles, roast a squash, bake a dessert and put them in the freezer for the big day. Gather the rest of your ingredients at your next grocery shop so you don’t have to think about it closer to the time.

   Maybe whip up a couple quiche to stash away for Christmas morning to go with toast and coffee (and baileys of course) and pop by the LCBO this week before it gets so busy the week before Christmas.

   
   **During this next week, double up on every supper you make ..freeze the extra half for December! When you know it’s going to be a hectic day, warm it up and away you go.

3. Shift your weekly laundry day to Dec 22 or 23. Give yourself a few hours to get it all washed and put away. While it’s running, give the bathrooms a quick scrub. It’ll feel great having the house in a little better shape before the festivities begin.

4. Mark dates on your calendar to go look at the lights, go toboganning, build a snow fort, watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation..whatever it is that brings you joy during the holidays, schedule it. Hold yourself accountable to follow through on it but don’t stress if something comes up. Give yourself a few “back up days” to reschedule the fun stuff. If it all works out, great! Now you have those back up days to do nothing. Go make some more hot chocolate and put your feet up, call your mom.

5. Set yourself a date to have the shopping done. If an idea comes up after that date.. it’s ok to ignore it and move on, nothing bad is going to happen. There, you just saved some money!

6. Limit your own phone time. For example set a limit of twice a day to check social media for important messages from friends and family. I’ve found by staying off my phone I’m so much more present and I can enjoy time with my family instead of feeling distracted. All those fancy instagram/facebook posts by other families with matching outfits who are doing all the holiday things tend to make others feel like we’re not doing enough. You can just be a rebel and ignore them.

7. Stash an easy gift in your hall closet for those pesky friends of yours who bring a “little something” for you or the kids when they come for dinner or a play date. Maybe a gift card to your fav local shop. Worste case scenario you get to keep it for yourself! And it helps support local business.

   Well, I hope that by taking a little time now to schedule downtime for yourself and fun activities with your family through December you’ll feel like you’ve actually enjoyed the season and didn’t just survive it. I also hope that by planning your meals and chores ahead of time you’ll feel less scattered and more relaxed!

   As a bonus, your body and bank account will thank you in January!!

   Can’t believe you read all the way to the end, thanks!