3 Tips for an intentional Christmas & Free December Calendar

Wow it’s December!

It’s the 1st of December as I write this! I’m a bit late, my apologies! I was set to do it at the beginning of the week but my husband ended up needing eye surgery of course family comes first.

Anyway, he is on the mend and so I’m finally bringing you 3 tips for a more intentional Christmas and the free December printables planner. I’ve got my signature pink palms and also something a little more festive.

1. Get Intentional

Christmas, the holiday season or what ever you’re calling it can be an overwhelming time. It’s traditional meaning of celebrating God’s gift has turned into one of consumerism and impossible standards of picture perfect holiday scenes. It’s a time of year when we are especially bombarded with messaging to buy the perfect gift, lose weight to be the perfect size 12 and luxury food and drink to host the perfect Christmas.

I put my hand up! I’ve been caught up in the madness too! However, in the last few years, I’ve stepped back to consider what my Christmas is about. How do I want my Christmas to be? What’s important to me? 

So I pose the question to you. Before dashing out to buy the perfect non needle drop Nordman tree or the cutest fluffy cashmere Christmas jumper take a sec, slow down and think. Do I want these things? Why do I want to do this activity, buy this item? Whose approval am I trying to gain? If you want it for yourself and you can afford it, no problem! But if you’re honest and dig deeper and realise that you want that 3 tier gold platter to look good and you’re going on that crash diet to fit in a smaller dress to get compliments to feel good about yourself then perhaps that isn’t your best choice.

Maybe you’re trying to buy less material good and have more experiences? Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean you need to throw that out of the window, speak to your loved ones and explain that is something important to you and express that you’d rather tickets or a contribution to a workshop rather than a gift (that you don’t like, never use and end up throwing away) or even have them donate to your chosen charity instead?

Whatever your lifestyle, take some moments now and reflect on your core values, what’s important and how you can live this out this festive season.

2. Let go of guilt & perfection

Around this time of year, we do tend to get caught up in people pleasing and perfectionist tendencies show up. Maybe you’re a first-time mother and you’re overcome by love for your newborn. You’re finding yourself buying all the things convincing yourself that your babies first Christmas has to be perfect. I did this with my first son, I irrationally convinced myself that I had to get A, B and C to make it perfect for him and thankfully my husband helped me it just wasn’t needed. Apart from the fact they won’t remember what babies need most is love and attention from their parents. So give yourself permission to cut back, it doesn’t make you a bad mum and your baby will still have fun!

Maybe your mother always made a certain dish or pudding from scratch, that doesn’t mean you do. If you’re finding it too much and the thought of that thing brings anxiety instead of joy and excitement then perhaps cut it out this year. Let go of the guilt and perfection. Instead focus on quality time and enjoying it. Your friends and family would rather the extra time chatting by the fire with you than another dish. 

When you look back on your Christmases do you think of perfect food, exceptionally wrapped gifts or do your memories revolve around board games, cuddling on the sofa during family movies or frosty walks with loved ones? 

3. Plan in downtime

Last but not least this year I’ll be planning in downtime for self care in amongst the crazy. I’ve heard some great suggestions of swapping drinks out for brunch or lunch. You can even postpone your annual get-togethers for January that way having something to look forward to. Take the pressure off a little and spread out your socialising. 

Each week I’ll be planning in something relaxing or rejuvenating for myself. Self care is so helpful at any time of the year but especially when life is crazy busy. Maybe you want to pop something in your diary daily to restore your wellbeing mind, body and soul. It doesn’t have to take a long time or cost a lot.

Jane Travis has this list of self care activities that take 5 minutes or less http://janetravis.com/self-care-ideas/ and this super helpful article has 100 free self care activities  I also have a printable self care planner and an A5 wiro planner.