Christmas: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
Don’t get me wrong, there are many things to love about Christmas - the lights, music, decorations, seeing the joy and excitement on your kids’ faces, giving and receiving gifts, and celebrating the birth of Jesus. But there are many things that can be challenging about this season as well - the time it takes to come up with gift ideas, buy the gifts, and wrap them; the financial strain it places on some of us, finding it harder to stick to our healthy meals or exercise routines, getting outside less now that the weather is colder.
Not to mention it can be an especially difficult time of year for those who have lost loved ones; whether it’s the first year without them or the tenth, Christmas is a time when you miss them a little more, wishing so badly they could be there to enjoy it with you, and remembering the special moments you had together in the past.
I always find myself coming into this season with mixed emotions despite there being so much I love about this time of year. There are many great opportunities to spend time with loved ones and create joyful and even “magical” experiences for our children. But it can also be a time when it becomes very hard to care for ourselves. Between the extra activities that take up our time, stress over gifts sometimes consuming our minds, and maybe the pain of missing loved ones, it is much easier to slip out of the habits that typically keep us grounded.
I do not say all of this to bring anyone down! Quite the opposite. I simply want to let you know that you are not alone in having mixed emotions this time of year, and offer a few solutions to help relieve some of the stress:
Look at your finances and consider your morals when it comes to gifts. Be intentional about how much you spend, making sure it is in alignment with your financial and moral goals. This can be especially important when it comes to buying gifts for our children. Do you buy everything on their lists? Or pick one or two items, as well as a few other items that they need or can be enjoyed together as a family.
Ask for help. According to a 2024 TODAY.com survey, moms are responsible for 97% of holiday preparation, including shopping for and wrapping Christmas presents. I know, personally, my husband is willing to help with these tasks, BUT, he needs me to ask him/tell him what he can do to help because unfortunately, men do not always recognize these things on their own. Instead of being angry that so much of the work is on you, communicate your needs and ASK FOR HELP. Of course this is not limited to wives asking husbands, but could also mean asking our parents or other loved ones for help.
Stick to your normal routines as much as possible. Keep exercising. Continue to meal plan. There may be more parties or get togethers this time of year when it is harder to eat healthy, but for all other meals, stick to your routine/healthy habits.
Get outside. I KNOW. I am not particularly fond of the colder weather. But going outside for walks even when it is cold outside is still so refreshing. It can turn your mood and energy level around in an instant.
Schedule fun activities. There are so many fun events going on around the holiday season. Make sure amidst the busyness that you do not neglect time on your calendar for FUN. It can give us something to look forward to and provide us an opportunity to get out of the house to give you a break from the holiday stress (just make sure you are not shopping on your phone while you are out - this is HARD!).
Read the Bible. If you celebrate Christmas, hopefully that means you also celebrate the reason for the season - the birth of Jesus. Stay grounded in this meaning amidst the materialism. The Bible app/Youversion has plans specifically focused on the advent season.
I hope you will find these tips to be helpful. If you are struggling in this season and don’t know where to turn, please know you can always reach out to me. Nothing is worse than going through hard things ALONE. The enemy wants to keep us isolated; our greatest strength comes in community with each other.
Happy Holidays!! Wishing you all of the peace, love, and joy that this season is meant to bring. 🙂
