Anyone else find Christmas totally overwhelming

[Rosienose]

There’s just too much stuff, too much choice, I end up completely overwhelmed if I go into town and then same online.

Yes. This year better as I am not hosting, but for some of us it’s all too overwhelming. Try and only do a bit at a time is my best advice.

I do all my christmas shopping online now and that has completely removed the stress. Highly recommend.

Yes. I am trying to reduce my Christmas more and more.
I still buy for elderly relatives, but my husband and I have stopped buying for each other now. Buying Christmas presents for adults who have everything seems ridiculous.
I want to stop sending cards. I will still send to elderly relatives as I feel they’re too old to accept changes around this, but I want to stop sending cards to everyone else. I’m trying to pluck up the courage to do so, as I am concerned about upsetting people.

We still have a tree, and I always make a fresh wreath for the front door. We also have a Christmas dinner. That’s more than enough though. Everything else is overwhelming.

I used to adore Christmas and everything that goes with it, but the last 2 years it has felt truly and utterly overwhelming trying to juggle work, family stresses and making it all so magical for everyone else (and it does all fall to me as my DH, whilst lovely, is quite inept). Combined with children staying up later (when the hell does one wrap gifts??) I feel a constant low level feeling of panic and dread at when I’m going to get everything done 😩

I stopped buying for everyone apart from my 2 adult dc and teen dc and it was so much better and I havent done xmas cards for years. I just focus on my house and as selfish as that seems it's a whole lot less pressure. Most people friends and family were delighted when I said to stop buying each other and the couple who were having an issue with it was not my problem and I've stuck to that principle.

I agree I find the pressure a bit much. I am fortunate my parents enjoy hosting family (just a small group of us). We chose to do Secret Santa with a low budget except presents for DC (their grandchild). On my end I feel we spend more on my in-laws than what they spend combined on DH, me and DC over the year. I dislike this because it is just a lot of money I would rather spend on DC rather than four adults. I already organised the presents this year but will look to drop it next year to just MIL.

I don’t know the last time I sent a card or received one as we just keep it simple with writing ‘Merry Christmas’ on a gift tag instead.

I buy wrapping paper and tape early and start buying presents at least two months in advance. I keep a list of what I need to buy and order online as early as possible or buy from the shops. I wrap presents during work breaks when working from home so it’s just a small number at a time. I get nice colourful paper but put less garnish on it except for DC as I try to make it quite festive.

Right now I am more than halfway though.

Honestly? not really.

I refuse to spend my Christmas cooking, so I don't.

There are so many events to book, you could translate that as " a chore", but I am seeing weekends of ready-made entertainment so it's actually easy.

I try to have finished all the presents shopping before the tree comes up, on the 01st of December, so even if I havent' finished wrapping them by then, there's still time before Christmas.

Christmas Eve is always a big gathering with friends, so no one is expecting the kids to go to bed that early anyway 😂and they are so tired and spend so much energy on Christmas Eve, they're up later than usual on Christmas Day.

I try to have everything done, booked, paid before I get paid in November, makes my life easier.January, I book the summer holidays

It can be overwhelming if you let it.
I find it's best to decide what is your favourite part and just focus on that - someone else can deal with the rest.
For me that's decorations and presents.
The food side...not interested so don't do it.

I don't normally but this year I am feeling overwhelmed! I usually buy presents throughout the year but have struggled to see much appealing so now been panicking the last week or so.

I agree

It's the kid's birthdays too (X 2)

Not really, but I still do Christmas 90s style (my childhood). No trips, events, Elf, presents before Christmas Day, matching jammies, any of that.

Just some decorations, gifts for children, nicer than usual food, and hanging out with people I like. I do shop for gifts online due to where I live - perhaps this helps.

I really think you have to take a step back and strip some bits out. It's not supposed to be a nightmare. I appreciate this is easier said than done but needs doing.

I was a younger Mum without much support, so I did, the first decade of parenthood. It got easier.

What's overwhelming particularly?

I don't get overwhelmed really, but I'm an organiser by nature.

No I don't because I don't do xmas. I tell everyone I'm working which I'm not as an excuse and stay at home and just have a couple of days off. Im NHS so nobody knows I'm not working.
I can't be bothered with a tree living on my own, I'm on mounjaro so its unlikely I'm going to eat a lot.
Shopping is easy, I get all the gifts I have to get online. It takes me about a day, order it all online and send it off.
Im not going to get my knickers in a twist and bankrupt myself over one day a year. The only spanner in the works is my sister who wants me to make her a memory bear with her DS's baby clothes which will take me a few weeks ff's.

I have changed my focus this year. I have stopped buying gifts for the children of friends and relatives. I should have never started. Often people you never hear back from throughout the year - so that has gone. I buy for DH and two DS's. I am thinking more about buying some smaller gifts for people who have been of support to us - one DS has SN so there are a few but I will buy nice chocs so easy to get. I like cooking so don't get overwhelmed with the food element but if you don't then scale back that too. In all honesty I don't get the resentment around sending a few cards. It's as if people expect to be congratulated for not doing it. 'Well done for not taking 5 mins to send your aunty a card".

I always found it difficult from when the clocks change to Christmas.

As I got older I decided to embrace this period and went back to the way people did things in my particular childhood.

Tree up, Gifts bought prior to Advent, cake/pudding made on stir up Sunday. Then enjoy Sunday treats throughout Advent and watch cosy films relaxed.

I reject pre Christmas partying and save the partying for the 12 days of Christmas with those I am closest to and take the tree down then at the end of the 12 days. We do the Panto, Christmas lights (my children are too old now for Panto) and it's so much nicer between Christmas and New year than before like when I first struggled as a young Mum.

Yes.

But this is why I start in August and do a bit every month.

I'm in the process of batch cooking for Christmas week so I don't have to worry about that.

I have in the past, but I don't put pressure on myself anymore. It's one day a year so not worth the stress and hassle

We're even having Christmas Dinner on Christmas eve this year. Christmas day will be spent opening presents, eating and getting merry. Boxing day is a trip to the cinema 🙂

I hate Christmas, always have done. It’s the expectation that it needs to be a special perfect day and it never lives up to the expectation. Then my Mum died on Boxing Day 3 years ago so now I dislike it even more. I actually work in a school so you can imagine that I feel like the Grinch for the whole of December.

I only buy for my children and a small gift for DH.

I get really really stressed now by it all. It's always me doing it for everyone else. I get nothing out of it and end up stressed out of my head and having spent an absolute fortune. I hate it now.

Like others here, I keep it old school: gifts for closest family only, food slightly better than usual, chocolate advent calendars for the kids, tree up mid Dec, maybe one panto. Just not willing to bankrupt myself or create lots of work for myself.

I only buy for a very few people - who all share what they need ( not want )

keep it very simple and stuff all the marketing stuff

also ship first thing in the morning helps

I love Christmas! It is all about feasting, drinking and having a good time. For me it includes all the notes and be letters that come in the cards, chocolate, getting my Santa presents (I’m 69) and making Santa sacks for my family. No one has everything they want or need and it is part of the fun finding that special present for anyone who doesn’t obviously need a present. I ‘d be devastated at any Scroogie ideas to stop presents for adults or generally cut down. It is just for a few days a year and is a real high point for me.