Holiday Hustle and Bustle

Last night as my daughter and I were dancing around the living room with garland draped around our shoulders to Christmas music in our attempt to decorate the tree I did not think twice about the sink full of dishes and the laundry that needed washed.  I knew that they would still be there, but this moment with my daughter would only be here once and I needed to enjoy this time with her.  It is for sure a memory I will cherish forever.  The smile on her face and the twinkle in her eyes let me know how much she appreciated it as well.

The holiday season is upon us and so many of us get caught up in the holiday to dos in addition to all of life’s daily events.  Many of us work full time and are racing against the clock to get the kids from school, stop by the grocery store to pick up dinner, rush home get dinner started, maybe throw in that load of laundry.  Whatever your daily lives entail, sometimes it feels almost impossible to get it all done and most evenings you are left exhausted from the daily hustle and bustle.  As we are getting ready for the holidays, here are some helpful hints that might make things a little easier and a little less chaotic for you so you have time to enjoy this holiday season.

Plan out your meals: Sit down the night before you plan on going to the grocery store and plan out what you are going to make for the coming up week.  Get your calendar out see what you have going on in the upcoming week and plan meals accordingly.  If you know little Susie has a Christmas concert Monday evening, plan a crockpot meal so all you have to do is come home and eat.  Make your grocery list at the same time so you know exactly what you are going to get at the store which can also save money and time.

Christmas shopping list: Make a list of all of the individuals you shop for at Christmas time.  Next to each person’s name write down your gift ideas and as you shop cross off those folks who you have finished buying for.  It’s a great way to ensure you do not forget anyone.

Weekly schedule: I have found that during the month of December things get pretty busy between Christmas programs at school for the kiddos and Christmas parties, it’s so hard to keep track of it all.  Write down the dates week by week and fill in the events.  This ensures you do not miss out on any of the fun holiday events.

It can be so overwhelming to try and remember everything that needs to get done between the Christmas shopping, the holiday baking and the day to day events you have on your plate.  With a little bit of pre-planning and organization it can ease some of the pressure that most of us experience during the holiday season.