suggest me some tips in making christmas more happier

[srav123]

Hi members , I want to make my christmas more happier this year . please help me and suggest more tips on the way to celebrate .

My biggest tip is self care, make sure it's about you and your family. It doesn't matter whether you buy a million presents, or just one, it doesn't matter if you have the biggest turkey or even (insert favourite meal here), it doesn't matter about any "traditions" or "it's christmas' you spend it how you love to spend your days.

For me it's being with my two girls, my DP and visits from our parents and siblings. We play games, eat ALOT, watch some movies, maybe go for some walks, plenty of pj days and just being us. So what you want OP and have a wonderful time doing it xxx

Christmas music. It ALWAYS makes Christmas happier.

less Plan less, do less, buy less, eat less, go out less. Simplify every aspect of Christmas that you possibly can (including your expectations). Winter is naturally a time to slow down and take things easy, to conserve energy, to sleep and eat well. Zooming around frantically at this time of year is bad for our physical and mental health.
Indulge your senses with warmth, nice smells, a little music, and something beautiful to look at but respond to your own preferences for all these things, rather than slavishly following social norms. Get outdoors every single day. Wrap up well and get some grass under your feet and wind in your face if you possibly can.
Don’t push your real feelings away, and try to be jolly. It’s perfectly ok to feel however you feel. Christmas as an adult can be very difficult. It can be day a day of service and obligation, or a day of secret mourning. You may not want to inflict your feelings on other people, especially dc, but giving yourself permission to feel what you really feel instead of what some saccharine Hollywood money-spinner has told you you should feel is vital.
Happiness, in my experience, is very different to the movies. For me, it’s not a big feeling, but small moments of contentment. It’s the feeling of warm hands round a mug of tea, noticing my dc playing nicely together, putting my toes into soft slippers, and just generally being grateful for the small stuff.
Christmas can be so crammed with stuff to clean, to buy, to organize; with people to see, to deal with, to pacify; with crowds and traffic jams, and strain and debt... that there’s no time to stop and notice warm tea and soft socks. That’s why I think the secret to enjoying it is not to grasp at a perfect Christmas but to give yourself permission to do and have less, so that you have moments to notice the good bits of the Christmas you actually have.
I have absolutely no idea if this makes any sense at all!

Wow @Alanamackree you are so right. And beautifully put.

Spend time with the people you love
Don’t spend too much money
Do something charitable even if it’s buying for the food bank. Giving and helping makes us feel better.

Don't believe the adverts with perfect/contrived family situations. They are all actors and don't know the people that are in advert with.

The "if you buy this from us, you'll have a Christmas just as fab as this" is a big, fat, barefaced, lie.

Falalalala-lala-lalaaaa

☃️🎅🤶🎄❄️

I’ve realised over the last few years that what I like about Christmas is the build up - so I love to decorate the house and get some stollen etc, but the day itself is always a bit of a let down and then I feel sad about dead parents for a few days afterwards (I call it my emotional hangover!). So this year I’m embracing the bits I enjoy and focusing on the kids’ joy for the actual day, and then being kind to myself while I feel sad.

@Alanamackree Nailed it!

That's lovely alanamackree. For me christmas gets stressful when people have different expectations or don't behave or react the way you are hoping they will. Maybe you put a big effort in for something and don't get the response you want or are hoping for some quiet time and people are disappointed you're not letting your hair down. I will try and be less precious about he detail this year but take time to find out what is really important to my family and focus on that.

@Alanamackree I want to be you. That’s beautiful

I was finding Christmas stressful, not able to sleep Xmas eve etc. Not only all the shopping and prep but all the dos inc theatre shows, work, general pressure to be experiencing everything and rushing around. I decided to slow it right down / scale back this year. Haven’t booked anything in the run up and declined all work dos. Booked the week before off work. Done most of the presents. Am going to aim for days in front of Xmas films with the tree lights on, xmassy walks (weather permitting), seeing local family, trips to the pub. Trying to go back to xmas past of childhood when it was low key and more enjoyable.

I love this
Just blatantly placemarking

I put so much pressure on myself every year and always regret it a few days later because I didn’t just stop and soak it in

My mental health has really suffered this past year and I’m not on ADs so this year is more important for me than ever to just bloody relax!

So what if one of the DC are crying in the Santa photo or doesn’t want to open their presents, or if the napkins don’t match the place mats or no-one eats the sprouts - who actually cares??
I won’t this year! 🎄

@Alanamackree Amazing post!

This year I’m trying to get things done early - aiming to get the cards distributed and the tree up this week for example and then I can enjoy and take my time over the build up in December.

just relax and try not to take it to seriously - its one day

Travel caused all the stress in our household. Now we simply don't do it. People are more than welcome to visit.

Alanamackree totally makes sense and a really lovely post... Got me a bit teary actually!

Having hosted a few family Christmases i’ve now got a good feel for the potential flashpoints and what people’s buttons are. So i’ve made a point of talking people through the plans in advance and specifically asking them if it’s ok. Are you paying for the turkey? Are you comfortable staying overnight? Is this pudding ok for your allergies? Are you staying for lunch on Boxing Day? There’ll be another moment of tension on the day because someone had expectations that weren’t fulfilled, but starting a robust, proactive discussion now will hopefully help people to feel that they can specify what they’d like while there is still time to do something about it.

This is a lovely (and helpful) idea for a thread OP . Alanamackree nailed it, I really enjoyed reading that! Lots of other good tips especially Treats suggestion of talking to people in advance about things which can press buttons horribly - talking now means the pressure hasn't had all of December to build too.

My addition would be if funds allow especially if you've been frugal in other areas is to try and get away with any significant other and kids for one night, even if you don't go far. We're going away to a hotel about an hour away where there is a pool we can use, lots of lovely walks nearby and we'll have dinner in the bar to save a few quid. We just intend to read books, walk and it will just be the tree of us for 24 blissful hours. With no cooking!

We've done it for two years now and tend to go between Christmas day and New Years Eve which is always a bit of a lull I find.

Decided we'll do it every year now even if we just do a Premier Inn somewhere new!

A few things I think make it better:

• Presents aren't everything, neither is the money spent on them
• Take advantage of free events in town to make memories and spend time with your children.

• Don't force yourself to invite people over, spend time with them just because it's christmas. Spend time with those you cherish and value.

Oh and you may find it useful to avoid social media at times so you don't see all the total bollocks "Perfect Christmas/#blessed" and other posts where the usual numpties up the ante of Doing Life Perfectly.

Can you tell I have SM issues?!

Make the most of the build up to Christmas rather than focusing too much on the big day itself. We have a couple of family trips booked (panto, Santa train ride) and I'll also do Xmas crafts and baking with my ds.

If you're hosting, don't put too much stress on yourself to have the perfect day. I'm cooking a gammon in advance and serving with easier veg than the full roast to take a bit of the pressure off (and stop me smelling like roast meat too!)

Consider visiting church. I was brought up a Christian but am an aethiest now, though I still enjoy the peace that comes from visiting my local church or city cathedral. Beautiful services and connects you to what Xmas is all about.

Simplify simplify simplify.

Do what you and your immediate family want to do whether thats going out to see things or slobbing at home in front of tv eating crap, playing board games, xbox games. snoozing after dinner.
If you dont want inundated with visitors tell them.

There are no rules.

You do exactly whats good for you and yours, what makes you happy and content.
Its not about what you have bought or who has the most presents its about just having time together just being family, no expectations, no rushing for school/homework etc just a relaxed time however much time you have.

Look at your local area to see whats on and maybe go to something you would like, many things are free, or go for a walk just to get out for a bit, doesnt have to be a route march, just a stroll round the streets to see the house lights can be nice, or a local park if you have one. Whatever floats your boat.

It will never be 'perfect' thats totally unreachable.

The kids will argue, moan, want to eat too much crap, you will be angry at them or fed up with all the mess in the kitchen, thats normal. Perfection doesnt exist apart from movies and on social media. Nobody is posting about how much the kids are complaining they didnt get x or y and how Johnny has more presents than Sam or how nobody has volunteered to help with the clearing up. They are all projecting what they think should be happening and how they think it is in everyone elses house.

Dont overthink it just enjoy it. Its your Xmas not anyone elses.

I have issues with the whole idea of the so-called perfect family Christmas! Everyone raves about how lovely Christmas Eve is and how it's such a magical day of preparation and excitement - we always end up falling out, despite my best efforts! Everyone's rushing round, trying to get everything done and I just end up losing the plot and shouting at the kids, probably when all they're doing is being excited.

So this year, I've decided to knock it all on the head! Christmas Eve boxes are out of the window - the stuff never gets played with, crafts don't get done, don't have time to watch the films, etc.

Instead, I've put myself down to work from 7am til 8pm! My DH will keep the children (8+5) up until I get home, we'll do the whole mince pies for Father Christmas thing, then I'll put them to bed.

I've decided that you have to do what works for you and your family, not what society as a whole expects of you.