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Original poster

Is anyone else just not losing their shit over Christmas?

142 replies

Undercoverbanana · 13/12/2018 12:38

Just that really.

No decs - can’t be bothered. Gave up doing cards years ago. Don’t buy crap and plastic tat for people. Refuse to be manipulated by things I don’t want just because they’ve got holly on them.

I’m quite content with life. I’m just jogging along. Everyone else seems to be losing their shit over stuff.

One friend panicking over money. Another friend having family rows about who is visiting who and when. Another couple “have no time at this time of year - so many commitments that we don’t really enjoy”. Christmas work parties - why????? Just don’t go if you don’t want to.

Anyone else opting out?

OP posts:
Cakemonger · 14/12/2018 14:30

Yes to this thread.

I only do the bits of christmas I enjoy. Which are mostly food related. I do put a tree up and some lights, and we exchange gifts. Nothing lavish.

It really is a relief.

Theoryofmould · 14/12/2018 14:32

We have a tree and some decorations up, I've bought some presents but it's stuff they actually want or need, we'll buy some nice food but I don't and never have really stressed about it. I'm far too lazy for that and have enough actual real stress in my life and no desire to add to it.

Can I point out the that if I see one more reference to 'The Big Day Itself', my lazy arse will rise and I become quite violent 😂

Orangeblossom1976 · 14/12/2018 14:58

It's making me feel better reading this thread.

Getting pressure from DH and family now, to do more. I'm happy to do the basics for the children, the tree, some presents for children, etc is fine but not going overboard and getting everything 'perfect'. It is meant to be fun not a guilt inducing ordeal.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Events & celebrations
Orangeblossom1976 · 14/12/2018 14:58

Town today was horrible with crowds and stress, glad to get home and escape and miss that.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 14/12/2018 15:09

Me and you both @theoryofmould

Or “X sleeps”... fine if this is children getting excited but I’m talking grown ass adults here fgs

MrsCrapBag · 14/12/2018 15:28

Very minimal Christmas here.

I have OCD so change of routine & clutter affects my MH.

Been cutting back bit by bit for the last few years but this year I've really pressed my fuck it button. Minimal decs, sensible gift buying, minimal visiting, no parties. Just me, DH, nice food & a bottle of fizz.

If people wants to judge & call me Scrooge so be it.

Everyone should do what suits them without being judged.

DarlingNikita · 14/12/2018 15:29

It can be very stressful whether you 'do' it or try to avoid it, IME. If you try to downplay/avoid it, which I like to, you still have to deal with people wanting to know why/texting/phoning to wish you happy Xmas and all the other stuff I'd really rather just didn't exist.

Ideally I like to go away, but I'm not this year. I still get texts and messages and stuff even when I do, and a faint sense of guilt. Don't know what to do about it really.

MrsGollach · 14/12/2018 15:47

We always opt out. Going away skiing over xmas and new year and come back once the madness is over.

hmargaretj · 14/12/2018 15:48

I really don't want to tell my daughter the father Christmas lie. But I guess it's kind of impossible to get away from? She's not yet 2 so doesn't really know right now.

kateandme · 14/12/2018 16:00

to th point of stress that distresses is bad.buuuut I think part of the light losing of shit is what makes this time of year joyous.how many times do you remember with lagughter the chaos of Christmas.and I am talking about the nice kind.the busy families gathering the argument over the ridiculous.
love the roast and the food.admit its ridiculous buying though.
the pressure is shocking for most but I do want all the good bits of Christmas possibly how it was a fair few years ago when it was nice excited chaos not pressurised struggle for some

RyderWhiteSwan · 14/12/2018 18:47

Getting pressure from DH and family now, to do more

Let THEM do more, if they want to! Grin

I CBA with Christmas any more. Just another day to me. I have a selection box. Done! Grin

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 14/12/2018 19:01

You have it bang on @DarlingNikita

I’m now in the maelstrom of having a week of utter shite at work as everyone is pushing to get stuff done before they go on leave morph into an ultra stressful week next week when I’m covering for two managers with no authority to be able to do anything of actual use.

If my family were Christmas nuts I’d probably have absconded to Greece by now or something.

Fadingmemory · 14/12/2018 19:46

We have a low key but very enjoyable Christmas. Have decorated the tree together. I do send cards. One main present each plus a stocking. Turkey with all the trimmings, good wine and relaxation. However, opting out is good if it works for you and yours.

Kemer2018 · 14/12/2018 20:28

Yep.
No cards.
Advised some that I'm not exchanging gifts this year for adults. Just kids.
Declined my works do
Unfortunately, have been dumped with attending his works do.....with folk i worked with 3 years ago....who cba getting a card when i left after 4 years...
I'm sooooooo drinking BEFORE we get on that minibus.
My colleagues are getting stressed over too many pressies, too many cards with pricey stamps (big cards), one is worrying about her diet/exercise regime going to pot.
They seem to get the rage that I'm not worried or e xcited about Christmas.
It's a roast dinner with family. The shops shut for a day.
All that stuff they're queueing to buy....I'll buy a day later when it's half price. Fab.

greenpop21 · 14/12/2018 20:43

Just DH and our 2 teen DC this year and I can't wait as we have never don this before. Just ourselves to please. Will have a big family gathering in the following days though. Haven't done cards. Since WhatsApp groups I don't see the point. Everyone I care about is on one of the groups so will send a message/photo to all.Never gone overboard with presents anyway but this year have only bought consumables that I know people like/will use. Soooo easy gift buying this year. Happy Christmas!

greenpop21 · 14/12/2018 20:45

Oh and declined work do this year and feel so liberated!

StartingGrid · 14/12/2018 20:49

Im hoping some Jehovahs Witnesses knock at the weekend so I can convert (too lazy to go find any!), I've done nothing for Christmas except open advent calendars...

MacarenaFerreiro · 14/12/2018 20:56

Not stressed, but doing the bare minimum and counting the days until it's all over.

Hate Christmas. Hate the cold. Hate the winter. Roll on next weekend when it starts getting lighter again.

speakout · 14/12/2018 21:02

Love christmas- but I just do the bits I enjoy.

I have my 8 foot real tree, wreath on the door, cards all posted.

Most of the presents bought, just the really fun things going on, cinema trips, mulled wine, friends over for bubbly, making yule logs, hot chocolate.

Darkestnight · 14/12/2018 21:06

I'm doing the bare minimum to I'm more looking forward to new year

ChristmasWrappingTheWaitresses · 14/12/2018 21:11

I don't get stressed at all really over Christmas. With boxes of decorations in the loft that come out same ones every year and they look lovely and sparkly lots of lights because I hate the darkness of this time of year so I think I'd have lights up whether or not there was Christmas.

I do all my own shopping online and I do my mum's for her as well bless her and get it all delivered then we have a day wrapping and getting everything ready usually pretty early on so we're all done by now and I can just sit back and chill out.

All our family are local so we have a really nice Christmas day just bobbing around and seeing first husband's side of the family for Christmas breakfast and then we have Christmas dinner at my mum's around 4 p.m.

Then we tend to go away after Christmas and this year it's fallen really nice as the kids don't go back to the 7th of January so we fitting in a week to the sun. What I hate about this time of year is the darkness and the crowds and the traffic congestion and so if I can avoid all that im happy.

Wincher · 14/12/2018 21:54

Every year I think I won't get into a stress about Christmas, but every year I find it stupidly stressful. We are lucky enough to not have to worry about money, which does make life way easier than it used to be at this time of year as I can just buy stuff without having to shop round endlessly, but there is just So Much going on. Work - there are always huge Christmas deadlines, and I'm working my way through an epic pre-Christmas to do list. I don't bother with the main work Christmas party but we did find time today for team drinks in the pub, which was nice. School - just so many letters and things to remember - sign up for Christmas dinner, Christmas jumper day, assorted shows and plays and concerts and card designs and helping the kids write cards for their friends. Church - carol service and readings and rotas etc. I sing in a choir and do the publicity and programmes for our Christmas concert, plus extra rehearsals, carol singing gigs in the town centre, etc. Presents - buying for family, trying to find ideas for DH, stockings for kids, teacher presents, writing a few Christmas cards etc etc etc. Friends - finding time to meet up for various Christmas drinks and meals, taking the right cards and presents to the right meet ups. Not to mention buying and cooking the food on the day, which I haven't thought about yet. Luckily there are only six of us on the day so not too stress.

Plus hanging over all of this is the ever present threat of the lurgy - you are destined to get it at some point in December so always hoping it doesn't interrupt too many plans.

RadioGagga · 14/12/2018 22:00

I think it would be nice if we didn't all put the tree up too early. This weekend is probably the right time to do it although we did it last weekend. It's just such a long wait for the kids and they get confused because they don't understand why it's not Christmas yet because it's been shoved in our faces since November.

ChristmasWrappingTheWaitresses · 14/12/2018 22:20

We've had our tree up since 1st December. It looks lovely and no one is the slightest bit confused in our household 🎄🎄🎄

KatherinaMinola · 14/12/2018 22:25

Plus hanging over all of this is the ever present threat of the lurgy - you are destined to get it at some point in December so always hoping it doesn't interrupt too many plans.

Ha! So true.