Christmas is a time when everyone takes a break from work, study and routine to be with family and friends. There's no other time when everyone does this in unison, and that's why it really is ‘the most wonderful time of year’. This special time, however, can be hard-earned! 

As we approach the holidays, many of us are in a frenzy of both personal and professional deadlines. Over the years, I've picked up several helpful habits to make the Christmas season less stressful and more restful.

Make a budget 

Expectations at Christmas can run very high. Planning is key if you want to set a more realistic tone, stay relaxed, and not get swept away with the intoxicating commercialism and busyness that is everywhere. Decide early what your budget is and then make a list of categories that you'll spend it on.

Categories might include gifts, appointments, decorations, groceries, entertainment, fuel (a big one this year!) and a sinking fund for those things you might have forgotten. I will admit that I rarely manage to stay within budget but keeping a list and refining from year to year will help over time. Selling items, especially unwanted toys and buying second-hand or in sales also helps.

Get smart with gift-giving

Buying presents for everyone can be an overwhelming (and expensive) task. To combat this, we do Secret Santa at home which greatly reduces the amount of presents everyone has to buy. It also means that we can set a higher budget per present, meaning people get one present they'll really appreciate which, I find, prevents waste over the years. 

Christmas is also a time when we like to acknowledge those people who have been supportive to us during the year. For this reason, I generally stock up on Christmas cards and generic gifts such as candles, wine and chocolate so that I'm not stressed thinking of different gift ideas in the days before Christmas. It also ensures that I'm not left empty-handed if someone calls to the house unexpectedly! The great thing is it means that I'm never stressed and can fully enjoy all my visitors. It's also important to remember that there are plenty of other opportunities to acknowledge and show our appreciation for the people around us throughout the year. 

Prepare food ahead of time

I try to have all my grocery shopping done by the 23rd for right up until the 4th January so that I can relax during the holidays. To this end, menus are great because they facilitate targeted grocery shopping and allow you to plan so that you are not running to the shop every day, and they also reduce waste. I also batch cook a lot in the days and weeks before Christmas so that my freezer is full of meals I can defrost and heat up with minimum cooking and cleaning, and it leaves me with more space in my fridge. This is also great as it allows you to whip out something quickly if you end up with a crowd for dinner unexpectedly! 

I have never cooked an entire Christmas dinner – we have always gone to my mother’s and we love it. Previously, my mother would have done the lion’s share, but now the work is very much divided. I find that most of the preparation can be done on Christmas Eve (including cooking the ham) and I get all my kids involved so that it is not too much of a load but rather a fun family time with carols playing in the background. With regards to the finished product, perfection is the enemy of the good and I have found that things often do not go perfectly. But I don’t think anyone is overly concerned with the quality of the cuisine as much as sitting around the table together. In fact, mishaps can bring the greatest laughs! I will however say that spatchcocking the turkey and having a meat thermometer are game changers!

Remember the why of Christmas

In the midst of all of the hustle and bustle, we light our advent wreath in the sitting room each night and remember the beauty of the stable in Bethlehem and why we plan, gift, cook, share and celebrate at this time each year. Happy Christmas!