In our home, Christmas won’t be all hustle and bustle this year. We won’t be running around to holiday parties or baking tons of cookies from scratch. I doubt we’ll be rounding through a bucket list of “holiday magic” that is carefully choreographed for creating ultimate merry memories. Nope, not this year. This year, we are having a low-key Christmas. In August, I was in an accident and have been working my way through the physical recovery ever since.
Unfortunately, I am scheduled for another surgery December 20th and I will be “laid up” for the holiday. There is never a good time for surgery, but December 20th seems especially hard. From a work perspective, it will actually be good, as things tend to shut down for the holiday about that time and not pick up again until after the new year. I feel like I will be able to let go of work and focus on healing.
But the Merry Mom in me is trying to figure out how I can still make Christmas special for my kids even if I can’t do all the things we normally would. So this year, I am making a different kind of holiday list.
Are you looking for a low-key Christmas? Check out my list of ways to slow down and do less this Christmas. Maybe changing up your plans might help you feel more rested and less stressed this season.
Get the shopping done early!
There is no way for me to do a Christmas Eve run. I am making sure to get all the shopping and wrapping out of the way early. Order online and make wrapping a date. Get a babysitter to take the kids out or send them to a friends house. Order dinner in and make it a night in with your other half to get the wrapping all wrapped up.
Better living through King Soopers.
This year I am not going to be able to stand, (ankle surgery) so spending hours in the kitchen just isn’t in the cards. So I will buy some cookies for Santa and make plans to order in Christmas dinner in and just let it go this year. You can order a whole Christmas dinner with all the sides for pick up through King Soopers online.
Get a house cleaner!
This season has been especially tough. I haven’t been able to keep up with house and I have no shame. I’m getting my house cleaned. I set up a deep clean early in the month and weekly visits after that until I can get back on my feet. I consider it a Christmas gift to myself and worth every penny.
Low-key Christmas = low-key memories.
I am pulling together all the Christmas books and a list of Christmas movies. This year’s quality time is going to be snuggled up with a hot mug of cheer, my kiddos and holiday books and movies since that is all the excitement I will be up for. Hopefully, they will remember this Christmas as one we spent together in our Christmas jammies curled up together.
Just say no!
Say no to company, decorating, obligations, guilt. Say no to overdoing it. And say no to feeling like you aren’t doing enough. You are doing enough. You are enough! Enjoy this holiday with those you hold most dear and bask in the joy of taking it slow for a change. There will be a time to run around like crazy again but this is not that time. This year, let us try a new approach to the holidays, let’s slow down and take it all in.
