I have to say, I’ve been a little stressed the past week. I don’t like the pressure of too much to do and too little time! Hubby and I both work 40 hours a week, plus occasional overtime. We’re grateful to have jobs (!) and we’re happily saving up our money, but working that much really, really eats your life. I have calculated that after working, commuting, and sleeping, a mere 17% of each weekday is actually available for my own pursuits.
And come Christmastime, there’s lots of fun holiday stuff I like to do in my free time (getting a tree, decorating the house, baking cookies, making cards, making gifts, visiting with family & friends), but it seems like the days go even faster at this time of the year, and I don’t have the time to squeeze in all the things I’d like to do. I really love making Christmas cards, gifts, and cookies myself, because homemade stuff is more special and meaningful. BUT, they require time to make. You either take the time to make them, or spend the money to buy them. As with mostly everything, it comes down to time or money!
So if you don’t have much extra time, hand-making every single thing can feel like a burden instead of a joy. It’s time, then, to prioritize what you really want to make with your own hands…and then go ahead and just spend the money to buy some of the other, less-important things, so that you actually have time for your “priority” projects.
So this year, I am foregoing some of my plans to make things myself. Though I really enjoy taking the time to make Christmas-y stuff, feeling stressed and out of balance is no way to spend the holiday season. So when I start feeling this way, I know it’s time to back off and just buy a nice gift instead of struggling to make it! Instant stress relief. The Christmas season should be joyful and fun, so as I go along, I’m adjusting my plans and expectations in order to keep it that way! 🙂
Do you also have too little time to enjoy the holiday season? What’s your solution?
I also work outside the home full-time, and this year my solution (to gift-buying/giving at least) was to take one day off of work and knock all the shopping out at once. It was an exhausting day, and you can bet that we went out for dinner that night! But it was so nice to get everything finished and cross it off my Christmas to-do list.
Next year, I’ll be at home full-time, so maybe I’ll have a little more time then for homemade, handmade gifts. But one of the ways I love adding a little personal touch is to put together my own gift baskets. I buy the baskets and all the contents, catered to each person’s tastes and interests, then arrange them all myself. You could easily buy some of the items and also include some homemade treats, too. I think it’s so much fun and the recipients always love them!
i must say that i’ve been lurking on your blog, and during the course of your blog evolution i’ve become more and more impressed with your diversity — your knowledge and insight amazes me. cheers to you, and i hope your blog does well!
Aww, that is so nice!!! Thank you for such a warm compliment. 🙂
Emily, you are so full of great ideas! I love the take-a-day-off idea for Christmas shopping. And the gift baskets…that is PERFECT!
Gift baskets! I always forget about that good idea! It’s such a special way of presenting individualized gifts that don’t have to add up to too much money or time. PERFECT is right!