Ever feel like the “most wonderful time of the year” turns into the most stressful?

Between parties, gift exchanges, and all the extra activities that seem to come along with the season, it’s easy to get caught in the hustle and bustle and miss the meaning of the season.

But if your wish for this year is a season that is quieter and more focused on family, here are some tips to make that happen.

Go easy on the decorating

You may have boxes and boxes of decorations sitting in storage, but that doesn’t mean you have to display all of them. Keep it simple and choose the ones that you love the most and the ones that mean the most to you or that have special memories attached to them.

If you only want to put up the tree, do that.

If you only want to display your favorite Christmas village or knick knacks, then make that the plan for this year.

It’s tempting to “Keep up with the Joneses” but doing your own thing that works for your family will guarantee a much more peaceful season than Mr. and Mrs. Jones.

Make a list of things you *really* want to do

Making a plan or list of the things that matter most to you this season will help you keep a clearer schedule. That way you can filter all the options and invitations through your priorities and wish list to see if there’s room for that activity this year. And don’t be afraid to say “No!”

Keep a clearer schedule

It may be the season of giving, but that doesn’t mean you have to give ALL of your time away. It’s also the season to focus on family and the true meaning of Christmas, so don’t let the hustle and bustle get in your way of that.

Believe me, I know it can be tempting to accept every invitation that’s sent your way, but I’d encourage you to take a good look at the calendar to see what you can realistically fit in without sacrificing family time.

Simplify gift giving

Gift giving is the part of Christmastime that tends to stress me out the most! I want to find the perfect gift, something that they’ll love. But sometimes that’s hard to do, especially for some people on my list.

However, I do have a few tips that I’ve found to make the process a little bit easier:

• Insist on a wish list – this way you know what you’re buying them is something they *really* do want or need.
• Stick with a theme
• Make sure you have a budget
• Or, a certain number of gifts

Focus on family time

What are some things you can do to really make memories as a family?

• Drive around to look at Christmas lights with thermoses full of hot chocolate
• Build a gingerbread house together (We did this for a contest for a couple years. I have fond memories of our Christmas airport! Santa was flying a plane that my dad put together out of gingerbread. It was a true family effort and the result was so fun!)
• Decorate the tree together with Christmas music playing in the background and a Christmas candle burning
• Bake cookies (Some years we were able to bake lots of different kinds and make gift plates to give to friends.)

If your goal for this holiday season is less stress and more cheer, simplify your schedule and to-do list and focus on family and what really matters. Do what’s realistic in this season of life and you’ll start the new year with precious memories.