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Introduction

My fellow families, holiday season is upon us! Though exciting, this approaching season can make families feel quite overwhelmed. It can be a lot of tackling holiday related gatherings, celebrations in addition to day-to-day schedules, commitments, etc. Rest assured, there are various strategies and fun ideas below that can help make this holiday more enjoyable, less stressful, and more suited to the uniqueness of your family.

1.Stability with Routine during Holiday

Holiday Season with An Organized Plan

Is it wise to invest in a visual calendar to maintain dates of various events, appointments, gatherings, etc.? Short answer is yes. Simply, visual calendars keep life a bit more organized. Visual calendars visibly seen by all in the home reduces both the number of reminders and repeated questions. Also, unforeseeable events are notorious for popping up all the time; use of a visual calendar may be an even easier method to communicate such events to family. Online calendars also serve similar benefits as well should your family prefer communication digitally. Families could use visual calendars to help younger children countdown to the upcoming holidays that your family celebrates.

Key takeaway here, the holiday season can be a time of organized chaos and excitement. So consider a visual calendar as a great investment.

Morning and Evening Routine

In November, Daylight saving times, the dreadful ultimate shift in time occurs for most states. Going back an hour sounds appealing right? Truthfully, this shift can bring havoc to your family’s established morning and evening routine. What else? Kids can become thrown off by drastic shifts; it’s no longer lighter in the evening times, and your family may feel tired much earlier. Similarly to tackling challenges, your family can either proactively plan for this time shift weeks prior or transition following the shift.

Morning routine for your family may consist of getting dressed, eating breakfast, preparing lunches, and getting out the door. In order to ensure the mentioned tasks are done quickly, your family is encouraged to prep the night before. Choosing outfits, laying out outfits, showering at night, taking any food items out of the freezer for your family’s meals for the next day could be ways to prep.

The time your family eats dinner may need to be slightly adjusted. The adjusted time may depend on the previous times your family was consuming dinner. For instance, if your family was eating at 6pm, aim to eat at 5pm. This way, meals are still being eaten around the same time as before. This very example could be applied to bathtime, as well as bedtime.

Since it gets darker earlier, your family could possibly use the evening time to head to the library, indoor swimming pool and/or open gym instead of partaking on a walk or heading to the playground.

Key Takeaway, it may be darker earlier, but life can still continue on with intentional prep and persistency with follow-through

2.Create New, Inclusive Traditions.

Think out of the box activities

Your family may want to find different activities to partake in around the upcoming holiday. Why not try something different? There are endless possibilities. Some activities that your family could try may include seeing a new movie at the movie theater, hosting a sock exchange party, or having a Fall- art themed get together.

Key takeaway, it’s good to switch things up each year or ever so often when creating traditions alongside your family.

Celebrating outside the date of Actual Holiday

Does the traditional Thanksgiving and/or Christmas dinner have to be consumed on the actual holiday? I think not. For family members classified as an essential worker, those with demanding jobs, or even blended families where children alternate holidays across households often come together on alternate dates. Fortunately, families of all types are free to celebrate holidays as it suits their family. It’s important to not stress or worry if your holiday celebration happens outside of the identified holiday.

Key takeaway, being intentional, being present, and being together and with those that mean the most is what’s important regardless of the day.

3. Incorporate Wellness and Self-Care during the Holidays

Prioritize sleep

During the holiday season, families may find themselves sleep deprived by the chaotic schedule and overloaded by the consumed sweets and delights. Moderation is a key element here. Sleep is the driving force to overall functioning. Even with caffeine and sugar, eventually, families will be depleted of energy.

The first way to prioritize sleep may include utilizing your children’s school days off as rest days, partial fun and relaxing days. The first part of the day could consist of the kids getting fresh air and being active in some capacity, but then, the latter part of the day could involve a choice of resting and/or engaging in quiet leisure activities at home.

As for you parents, depending on work schedules, coordinate times out of the month, where you can have allocated time to rest and/or engage in self-care activities. If at any point outside of scheduled rest days, family members begin to feel sluggish, stressed, or even moody, it may be time to simply take a break and recharge.

Maintain Healthy eating habits

In addition to healthy amounts of sleep, fueling our bodies with meals of great balance and nourishment too serves great benefits. Below are some generated ideas on quick breakfasts, lunch and/or dinner options, as well as snacks.

Smoothies and oatmeal are healthy breakfast options that can be prepared fairly quickly and in multiple ways. Some examples include smoothies including oatmeal, smoothie bowls, overnight oats, oatmeal fruit pizza and/or oatmeal with garnished fruit and nuts.

Salads, soups, and even crock pot meals are meals that can either be eaten for lunch or dinner. Again, noted items are quick, but most importantly healthy.

Snacks are great for in-between meals, good for on the go, and for those late-night munchies. Some suggested snack items could be wafer cookies, marshmallows, a trail mix that includes antioxidants, rice cakes, popcorn, and/or apple sauce, The suggested items come in a multitude of flavors and could cover everyone’s desired tastes and preferences.

4. Simplify Gifting and Wrapping Process

Gifting in Alternate Ways

There are various ways in gifting your family over the holiday season. Therefore, don’t allow the societal pressures to impact your decision making. Maybe this year, instead of gifts, your family may want to take that dream vacation or simply vacation around the holiday season. Do it! Or you want to gift with more intentionality, maybe consider gifting in this manner: something to wear, something to do, something to read, and/or an experience gift. Also, a great option!

Again, the holiday season should suit your family, and this includes family gifting.

Streamline Gift wrapping

Regardless of the size of your family, less time on gift wrapping is the way to go. Allocate days out of the upcoming month(s) to wrap gifts for each individual from your family. Try wrapping gifts as once received in order to reduce time again in overall wrapping. If wrapping is not your thing or your family may want to switch things up, consider gift bags or even draw string bags. It may be worth using different colored labels, different pattern wrapping paper, and/ or ribbon for each identified family member.

Conclusion

The good news is that the holiday season can be organized and fine-tuned to your family’s liking. There are endless possibilities on ways to celebrate the holidays including establishing new and fun traditions. Aim to find a great balance in sleep and indulging throughout this crazy and busy time. With the number festivities and gatherings and need to be places, be sure to prioritize sleep, take time to rest, recharge and refuel with balanced meals. Remember, gifting can be presented in various ways, giftwrapping can be curtailed to your preference and organized in a way where you don’t feel bogged down.

I hope you find great benefit with the provided strategies and tips . Be sure to comment on your thoughts, what tips your family plans to try this holiday season. Also, be sure to share away other tips you family may have!