I don’t know about you but December is probably the most stressful month of the year for most of us. With gifts to be bought, plans to be arranged, and cooking and baking to be done amongst regular life, it can get very overwhelming. That’s why I’ve made a plan for how to slow down in December and you should too.
I’ve gathered a few tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way in dealing with all the craziness at this time of year. Here’s how to slow down in December, starting today!
Get prepared as early as possible
This applies to everything: gifts, food, and planning in general. Even with just a couple of weeks to go now, there is still plenty of time if you can afford to. Buy gifts now, wrap them whilst you remember, and start planning your Christmas food menu. When it comes to food, we prepare as much as possible on Christmas Eve and buy a few days before. Pre-cook vegetables, roast potatoes, and Yorkshire puddings and bake any desserts before. Pretty much everything can be cooked or baked in advance!
Don’t take on too many plans
At this time of year, many of us cram our social calendars and by the time these plans arrive, we’ve lost our enthusiasm. Whilst I have a small friendship group, I do have a larger extended family on my mum’s side. However, since Covid, we’ve decided not to go to larger gatherings. Instead, we take a Chinese takeaway around to my nanna’s and enjoy a couple of hours together. My friends and I usually go out for tea somewhere instead of present-buying. Don’t feel you have to say yes to everything. Learning to say no can save your bank balance and your sanity!
Schedule some solo time
This is an antidote for the above point: make sure you plan some quiet time for yourself. It could be time to focus on a hobby, self-care, or doing absolutely nothing on the sofa! Whatever your body needs (movement, rest, etc), this is the time to do it! I’m a big fan of self-care daily, taking time out of every day to do something for myself. That could be a workout, journalling, going for a walk, or all of the above!
Make your space cosy
Whilst I’m a big fan of Christmas decorations, I like to extend my decor to winter hygge. We’re talking about lots of blankets, pillows, cosy socks, dim lighting, candles (not for me), and anything that makes you feel warm and cosy! One thing on my to-do list right now is to create a hot chocolate station. I have one every day but there’s something about December that makes me want to jazz them up. I need to find some jars to decant hot chocolate powder, marshmallows, and all the toppings! Maybe I’ll get myself some new Christmas mugs
Don’t compare your December to everyone else’s!
Let’s face it, this is basically social media’s fault. Imposter syndrome is something most of us suffer from, especially those who create content. Even offline, you might be comparing your life to your extended family, co-workers, or friends. However, this time of year seems to get more. There’s always someone who seems to be able to fit a week’s worth of activities into one day and they’re going on all kinds of days out. The rest of us are just plodding along with a to-do list that never seems to get any smaller. Try to remember that those who share their lives online don’t share everything!
Take each day as it comes
One of the best ways how to slow down in December is to just take it one day at a time. I’m big on planning so write my to-do list the night before. However, sometimes you just need to put down your many lists and just do what needs to get done. I’m a big fan of the power hour, where you set a timer, stick on your headphones, and just get as much done in those sixty minutes. I tend to use this method for housework because it makes it slightly more bearable.
Enjoy yourself!
The main problem with this time of year is that we get so stressed about making it perfect that we don’t enjoy ourselves. Some of my favourite ways to make mundane tasks fun include:
- Wrapping presents whilst watching a Christmas movie
- Blasting out Christmas songs whilst cooking or baking
- Treating myself to new pyjamas and bedding for Christmas time
- Making my to-do lists and planning pretty with colourful pens, stickers and sticky notes
I’d love to know your tips on how to slow down in December. It’s something I work on every year and there’s always room for improvement! Leave a comment below or share your thoughts by sending me a DM on Instagram!
