With Christmas just around the corner many people will be getting excited for the most wonderful time of the year, but for others they will be filled with dread at the thought of creating a perfect Christmas and trying to please everyone. So today we’re going to be discussing five things that you shouldn’t feel you have to do this Christmas.
Spend a lot of money
Christmas is expensive. From food and drink to presents, Christmas trees and even increased utility bills. But you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a nice Christmas though, spend within your budget and don’t try and stretch yourself or you’ll just end up feeling miserable with the pressure of it all. Shop at budget supermarkets for your festive food and drink and make sure you have a Christmas presents budget (and actually stick to it!) You don’t need to spend lots of money on presents to try and prove to family how much you love them, they already know!
Buy presents for everyone
You don’t need to buy for everyone in your family it’s just not necessary. Don’t feel like you have to spend money on every family member because you don’t. When our second niece came along we made the decision to no longer buy for our siblings and only spend on the children, of course our siblings understood so don’t ever feel pressure to buy lots of presents.
Have family over/visit family
A lot of people see Christmas as family time which can put a hell of a lot of pressure on people who just aren’t big on family time or have their own families that they want to spend time with. This can be anything from now having your own children or just wanting to spend Christmas as a couple if you don’t have kids. When Josh and I moved in together we both agreed that we would never start the whole having one set of parents round for dinner one year, another the next and so on. Both Josh and I’s parents are separated and if we start it, it’ll never end. That’s not how we want to spend Christmas so we’re not doing it. You are absolutely not obliged to have family over or visit family if that’s not what you want.
Go out on New Year’s Eve
Why is it that there’s so much pressure to see in the New Year in the most spectacular way that usually involves getting really drunk? We haven’t been out for New Year in about 6 years now and I love my New Year’s Eves at home with a couple of drinks and some party food. If going out isn’t your thing, you absolutely don’t have to.
Reflect on how great the past year has been
I’ve always wrote a blog post looking back at the previous year and I’ll probably do the same this year. Even though it hasn’t been a great year, they’re are a couple of moments I’d like to highlight and remember. I think it’s super important to remember though that what you see on social media is very heavily edited, people often choose to only show the good, especially when it comes to things like New Year reflection posts. Don’t ever feel pressure to create your own reflection posts or to even like and comment on those that friends and family create if you’re not in the right place to do so.
Christmas should be about making yourself happy, there are no rules and trust me when I say, you will never have a more perfect Christmas than when you start celebrating how you want to not how you think you should.
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This is spot on! I never spend much money at Christmas and try to be as frugal as possible, Hands Up I have spent more this year because I haven’t been able to do as much sale shopping as I would normally but I have cut back my buying list as well.
I do generally put so much pressure on myself to see everyone and do everything that I am looking forward to NOT doing that this year x
I grew up having to spend my Christmas Day going around visiting everyone and I was determined that once I had my own place I would not be doing that. I ask that if people want to visit they come in the morning then the rest of the day is just for the two of us!
OMG I love this! You are so right. People often get so stressed this time of year because they feel pressured to do these things. Great post!
Thank you so much! It’s not worth the stress, it’s meant to be a nice time of year and you should spend it how you want!
It is so easy to get caught up in what we are ‘suppose’ to do around the holidays. Feeling obligated to do all of these things can make the season so much more stressful and less enjoyable. Thanks for reminding me that I can choose how I want to spend my holiday!
You’re welcome! You’re right though, it is really easy to get caught up in things we think we’re supposed to do.
This was a really good read! We usually have a few close friends over for NYE & their kids & it is always one of the best pms of the year! Good friends, Good food & wine= perfection!
It sounds lovely!
This is a great reminder that Christmas should be about joy, not obligation. It’s important to prioritize your well-being and do what feels right for you.