If you’re like most people, it goes without saying that you love the holidays, and with good reason. It’s the time of year when everything becomes just a little bit more magical, beautiful, and meaningful, especially if you have plenty of friends and loved ones to spend it with.
However, picture perfect Christmases don’t just happen. They’re usually the result of a ton of planning, hard work, expense, and hustle. They don’t have to be though.
The following tips are all amazing ways to simplify your Christmas festivities without losing a bit of the magic in the process.
1. Simplify Your Baking Routine
Of course, Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without the multitude of delicious holiday cookies everyone looks forward to all year round.
However, baking can quickly burn through your planning time (and your patience) if you’re not careful, so resist the urge to make absolutely everything from scratch this year.
Save your efforts for the beloved specialties your kids or partner can’t do without. Then give yourself permission to make up the difference with pre-made options from the grocery store or your local bakery.
You can also plan a baking party for splitting the labor among friends if you prefer.
Related: 60 Christmas recipes for working moms
2. Switch to an Artificial Tree
Although there’s a lot to love about natural trees, they definitely come with their fair share of inconvenience as well. They can be messy, dirty, and require a ton of maintenance.
Plus, they’re expensive, can aggravate allergies, and require a potentially stressful trip to a tree lot every year.
Switching to a high-quality artificial tree from a premium manufacturer instantly puts a stop to all that hassle.
Plus popular options like Balsam Hill trees are easily as beautiful and picturesque as even the best real tree. (The many glowing Balsam Hill reviews on Amazon are proof positive.)
Best of all, when the holidays are over, you get to simply put your beautiful tree away, happy in the knowledge that it will be ready and waiting for you next year.
3. Swap Cards for Postcards
If you have a lengthy list of people that you send Christmas cards to every year, it doesn’t take long for things to get time-consuming, not to mention expensive.
Don’t worry. You don’t have to cut this beloved holiday tradition out of your plans this year in the name of keeping things simple. However, you may want to consider sending a round of Christmas postcards instead of traditional cards.
They’re easier to address, as well as cheaper to send. Plus, a postcard stands out from the rest of the pack when it comes to people’s holiday post, and it makes a charming addition to any fridge front.
4. Focus on Your Primary “Reason for the Season”
Here in the 21st century, Christmas can mean many things to many people.
However, you don’t have to tie yourself in knots trying to cover all the possible bases. Is this a holy, religious time you use to grow spiritually when it comes to your faith?
Is it a jolly time of magic and anticipation that’s all about waiting for Santa? Maybe it’s just a really nice time to celebrate family, friends, and togetherness.
Try keeping the focus on whatever Christmas means to you and your family to cut back on the hassle of overplanning. Your guests won’t miss anything, and the holiday might well be infinitely more personal and meaningful for your family.
It’s a common misconception that doing Christmas right has to mean being over-stressed, over-worked, and over-extended.
It doesn’t have to mean spending a small fortune either. The best Christmases stay focused on what matters most to each household. How will you shift that focus for your holiday this year?
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