Four quick tips to limit your Christmas stress

This Christmas, let's gift what we haven't been able to have the last few years. time outside, time with people we love. Lets limit the stress and limit the stuff. Experiences that enhance relationships, rather than desperate items that scream "I didn't know what you wanted so here's a thing that you are obligated to keep, and find space for in your house".

What I remember from my childhood is the holidays we used to go on. I look back now and feel grateful that my parents’ didn’t focus heavily on toys and fad items.

Bucket list gifting

This year I got to fly a plane for my birthday, I’ll never forget the experience!

Local experiences that you can gift, or request!

• A day at Zelandia

• Trip on the Megisiti yacht

• Voucher to Bats Theatre

• Day trip to Matiu/Sommes Island 

• Martinborough vineyard event 

• Mini golf

• Zoo close encounter experience 

• Dinner voucher for a local restaurant 

• Cafe voucher for their fave coffee place 

• A flying experience at Kapiti airport

• A day trip to Kapiti Island 

• Nga Manu nature reserve

There are so many experiences you can do with the people you love, at different price ranges and ages or ability!

 Declutter before Christmas

As much as Christmas is a time of excess for many of us; it is also a time where others feel the pressure of not having 'enough'. Charities are often very busy with donations post-Christmas, but they really feel the need in the months leading up to it. If you have an afternoon spare- give yourself the gift of calm and have that declutter with the kids before the silly season. 

Talk to your children about how some families  can't always afford new toys and food over the holiday period, and how we can donate the items that no longer serve us. Suggest that they might want to gift items they have grown out of.

When you give children autonomy over their own belongings; along with framing it in a positive light, they can be reflective and surprisingly generous. 

If you can introduce it as a yearly habit, maybe in November- you're getting children into the routine of decluttering unwanted and outgrown items; and also giving to others, which is a lovely mindset to have at Christmas. Bonus, you all feel less overwhelmed with incoming toys and belongings, and you don't have to desperately find space for all these items! 

 Intentional purchasing

If you love giving gifts (I totally do- its my love language!) think about your purchasing power. Are you going to dash to Kmart on the 23rd December to spend $200 and stand in line for three hours? Or will you support a small business or local maker by ordering something online and having it arrive in your mailbox? I bought a lovely book of NZ-themed nursery rhymes from the Chooice online store last year, for a friends’ child. Just last weekend my friend told me how much they still enjoy the book- a year on!

Set yourself parameters of budget, or locally made; and see if you can get creative within that. 

 Create new traditions

Reflect on what aspects of Christmas are important to you. I'm lucky enough to still have grandparents, so family is important to me at Christmas. I’ve also always wanted to spend the day volunteering at a community Christmas event. 

It's really hard not to feel tied to the obligations of celebration at Christmas, and advertisers really play on that. 

You don't have to follow the traditional trope of purchasing gifts for every person you know, and spending huge amounts. We all have enough already.

I know, it's terribly unromantic. I love gift giving, it's hard for me not to get sucked into the pressure. 

Can you do a secret Santa? Give thoughtful, locally made gifts, or something handmade? Generally when we put a budget limit on the secret Santa gift you're more likely to end up with something novel and disposable- so maybe make it a consumable item, or give it a theme rather than a strict dollar limit.

My mother has slowly transformed our Family Christmas into a no-gift event, and I actually really appreciate it. There's no weird, useless novelty plastic gifts to take home, and I don't have the pressure of buying! It's just a special day with my family. 

For me, Christmas is about family.

What new memories can you create this Christmas?

Have you got any ideas or special traditions that enhance your Christmas season?

Let me know below, I would love to hear your ideas.