Not feeling up to all the work the upcoming holiday season requires? Wanting to downsize the holidays this year to make the holiday season more enjoyable for you and your family? Me, too! For personal reasons of my own, I’m looking to downsize the holidays at my home and I’m actually really excited about it. I’m casting all guilt and pressure aside to do what’s best for me so I can cope and enjoy the holiday season without resentment and stress. Want to join me? Trust me, no matter what others may try to tell you, there are ways you can downsize your celebrations and still experience a great holiday season with your family and friends. Let me show you how.
#1 Go Natural
Maybe you’re not physically able to tote a fake Christmas tree up and down from the attic, or maybe you’re in a small space and don’t have room for storage. Whatever the reason, going natural is the perfect solution. By using a real tree, wreath and evergreens to decorate your home this year, you eliminate the clean up, too. It’s so much easier just trashing it all once the season is over and simply forgetting about it. Some organizations take orders before the holidays and actually deliver the items to your home for no extra charge, so be on the lookout. The bonus is that you can easily give your home a rustic holiday look with natural elements, which is really popular these days!
#2 Keep Decorations Simple
There’s no need to compete with the neighbors for the best lighted up home this year. Instead, stick to the basics. With little effort you can make your home inviting for the holidays and not have to dread all the work required to take it down. A Christmas tree in the window, wreath on the door, nativity on the table and maybe a few window candles in your home is a classic look that never goes out of style. Or maybe you want to put up a tree and call it a day. Do whatever works for your home and don’t worry about what others think. Remember this is YOUR holiday.
#3 Stay Out of the Kitchen
Another way to downsize the holidays if you don’t enjoy cooking is to hire out your baking needs. Don’t waste precious time in the kitchen when you can purchase a perfectly good meal elsewhere. I’ve bought ham and turkey from the Honeybaked Ham store before to cut down on my time in the kitchen and it was well worth the expense. You can even purchase a whole dinner from restaurants like Cracker Barrel and Bojangles. If baking isn’t your thing, visit your local bakery for pies and cakes. Even Sam’s Club has delicious desserts your family will love.
#4 Shop Online
While others like to spend hours upon hours at shopping malls during the holiday season, there are other ways I’d rather spend my time. Shopping online is an excellent option for those of us wanting to dodge the lines and sometimes prices at shopping centers. Shopping online can definitely take away the holiday stress of shopping for and wrapping gifts. Grab your shopping list, find the best deal online then have your gifts gift wrapped and mailed to you. All you have to do is put them under the tree. Perfect! You can even have them mailed directly to the recipient if you wish. Maybe you want to go one step further and purchase gift certificates for your family and friends. You can do that easily online, too, and they’ll receive an email notification.
#5 Trade Host for Guest
Perhaps you usually host your family for Christmas year after year and as much as you enjoy it, this year you need a break. Persuade someone else to take over this year so that you can become the guest. Not only will you get a rest, but you’ll give someone else the opportunity to learn what it’s like to be hostess.
Nobody ever said the holiday season had to be complicated, but in our culture it can happen easily. With all the gifting, decorating, baking, hosting and attending events, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Be sure to use these tips to downsize the holidays in your home this year and enjoy the season instead of dreading it.
Leave a Reply