5 Ways to Have a Peaceful Christmas

December is usually not described as peaceful. Oh, we sing about peace on earth in our carols, but for most of us, days 1 through 25 are spent hurrying around shopping, baking, doing endless lists of things. Sure, we might go to a fun party or special event, but we generally take little time to slow down. To make matters even more stressful, our children stay in a perpetual state of heightened excitement as the days of Christmas draw nearer.

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What’s a parent to do? Here are five suggestions for having yourself a very peaceful Christmas.

1. Talk about your Christmas expectations. With December underway, now’s the time to have a family meeting about what’s important for everyone this season. Is it trimming the tree together? Going to the grandparents on Christmas Eve? Have everyone say the number-one thing they are looking forward to, then focus on those things first. Everything else can be left behind.

2. Develop hearts of gratitude. For all of us, Christmas can become a time of getting, and we can let that go to our heads when we really want that special something. Whatever your ideal gift is, we lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas when we focus only on what we might get instead of what we have. One way to combat the greed of the season is to designate a Thankfulness Jar. Have every family member write down something they are thankful for at least once a week. Then on Christmas Eve or close to that date, sit down with hot chocolate and read the notes aloud together. This will help you get your hearts in the right frame of mind for opening gifts and visiting with family.

3. Think outside yourselves. Whether it’s a family member or a community need, be a blessing to someone else. It could be a simple as shopping together for Toys for Tots, or as elaborate as adopting a family for Christmas. Get your kids involved—as them what they would like to do to help someone else this holiday. You’ll be surprised by what they can come up with once you get their thoughts focused outside of themselves.

4. Downsize the toys. We all have too much stuff, so let’s get rid of some of it before Christmas. With your children, go through their toys or things, mandating that they must give away or toss a certain amount (depending on what you are starting with). Guide them in their choices, but let them make the decisions. Having less is always a good way to go into Christmas—and it’s easier to find places for the new things to come.

5. Stop and smell the pine needles. This time of year, we can become so busy that we hardly have a moment to ourselves. Deliberately plan down time for the entire family to spend watching a favorite holiday flick or singing carols around the fireplace. Spend an afternoon or evening sharing favorite Christmas memories. Little things like this can be relaxing and enjoyable for all members of your family—and help you find a little peace amid the chaos of the season.

Take Advantage of Back-to-School

Whether your kids are in public or private, it's that back-to-school time of year. Here are a few ways you can take full advantage of a kid-free home (at least for a few hours a day).

Review your work schedule. Now's the time to make sure you're working smart while the children are not at home. For example, schedule tasks that require more concentration first thing in the morning, to give you plenty of time to finish before the dismissal bell.

Watch time-wasters. Make sure you're not frittering away work time by spending too much time surfing the Internet or updating your FB status. If you need to use Facebook and Twitter for marketing purposes, set a timer and do the promotional stuff first, then check on what you're friends have been up to.

Begin holiday preparations now. I know it's only September, but if you want to have a less stressful fall holiday season, it's time to start planning. For example, if you celebrate Halloween or dress up for a fall festival, start planning for costumes now to avoid staying up past midnight on October 30 hunched over teh sewing machine. Think about what presents you have to buy and what homemade goodies you want to make. Jot down a timeline that will enable you to keep up with your work, home and family while not leaving all the holiday prep until the last minute.

Check your tax receipts. Now's the time to do a quick inventory of your tax situation. Do you have all tax-related receipts from January 1 in one place? Have you kept up with your mileage (if applicable)? If you donate used goods to charities, have you entered the information into It's Deductible? This is especially important if you traveled for business over the summer.

Think long-term. All those projects you put off because of vacations or other summer activities? Get out your calendar and see where you can fit those into your fall schedule.

These are just a few of the ways you can kick off the school year with a refreshed outlook for the fall. I'd love to hear what my readers are doing to keep on track in the fall.

Until next time,

Sarah

Holiday Celebrations

Now is the time to start seriously thinking about your end-of-the-year celebration or client gifts. With pre-planning, you can be ready for the holiday season without losing your mind.

If you host an annual open house in December, pick a date and theme, if applicable. Plan the menu and decide on whether you'll prepare the food yourself or hire a caterer. Divide the number of weeks left before the event and assign tasks each week to avoid being overwhelmed the week or two before the party.

If you send out annual Christmas cards to clients, consider buying them now and start addressing them. If you write a certain number per week, you won't have to stay up late in December madly scribbling personal messages on the cards. Starting early means you can write more meaningful notes. Play Christmas music while you write to get you in the holiday mood. Put the completed cards in a stack and then mail them in early December.

If you put together small gifts for clients, pick what you'll give or make now to avoid the pressure of the holidays, which can make us overspend our budgets. For example, I give baskets of homemade goodies to neighbors and friends at Christmastime, and spend the summer gathering baskets and jars at yard sales. In September, I sit down with my recipe books and pick which cookies or candies I'll make for the baskets. Then I schedule my baking to avoid having to make six different treats on one day.

Whatever your holiday plans, don't forget to advertise your business. By thinking of the holidays before December rolls around, you'll be better perpared to actually enjoy them.

Until next time,
Sarah