How to have a Stress Free Christmas

We are now in the second week of December and I'm guessing that you are already screaming; where are the days rushing to?"

Pic credit: The Birmingham Times

I understand that feeling. Infact,  Yes, I recall when I used to wonder if December was indeed 31days because it always ended before you were even ready for the month to begin. 

Once schools close for the holiday, everything starts spiraling out of control and down hill. Items become annoyingly pricey especially at a time when your pocket is tight and you need to buy new decorations for the house, gifts for everyone and fuel the car for your trip. Even airplane tickets skyrocket, leaving you wondering who we offended in this country. 

Then comes the family wahala. Some extended family members whom you would rather avoid gets thrusted on you for a short period that would seem to last for an eternity, followed by the annoying cliché questions like; "when are you tying the knot or don't you want to have another baby?" Then you remember the kids would need new personal items (who cares about your personal needs), add all that to the burden of cooking several meals (which must taste and look spectacular) and if care is not taken, your Christmas might begin and end inside the kitchen. Oh let's not forget the looming school fees and house rent for the new year. Now who would not cave in under such intense stress?

I don't know what induces your stress this season, but just know that you are not alone. Almost everyone gets overworked and overwhelmed. We know Christmas is supposed to be a joyful season, a time to be merry but the more strain we take on, the more difficult it gets for us to enjoy ourselves. 

Ready for my Stress Free Christmas Therapy? Let's dive in...

What's the way out?

• Over the years, I have learned how to enjoy a Stress Free Christmas all because of a secret I discovered. The good part is that I am going to share this secret with you. 

What's the secret all about?

• Let's assume that it is generally believed and probably accepted by you that Health is  Wealth. We have also agreed that this season has a way of draining all the energy you have been reserving since January. So, in my bid to totally get rid of any form of stress at Christmas and enjoy the season with family and friends, I discovered what I simply refer to as; My Life Saver List. 

Short story: 

A friend of mine after learning of my secret decided to name hers "The bucket list". I have been trying to figure out the origin of that title simply because in my opinion there is no link between a list and a bucket. In Naija, buckets are used for several things and definitely not for keeping lists. I also strongly believe that lists go way back to the days of our ancestors they had a list of  all their livestock and had no buckets so please don't argue with me unless you want to call it a Calabash list 😂😂😂

Sorry for deviating...Don't get me wrong, feel free to call your Christmas list any name you find desirable.

NB: your list must be made to suit your household and pocket/bank account. By that I mean; do not copy and use the list provided here, it is more of a guideline.

What are the benefits?

You will find out that  having a Life Saver List keeps you; 

• Organized, thereby ensuring you manage all the chaos while still maintaining your Christmas spirit and;keeps you healthy since you have eliminated most, if not all the stress of the festive season.

How do I balance the list with my schedule? 

If you are still reading then it's okay to assume you are interested in my therapy 👏. By the way, Nikky is not an expert so these steps are not scientifically proven to be effective.

• So, balancing my list with my schedule is easy. I  always have my Life Saver worked into my daily routine. If you are a business woman, student, teacher, public, private or civil service staff all you have to do is merge your official schedule with your life saver and with good time management skills, nothing will be forgotten.That way you get to laugh in between crazy schedules and all the engagements you have to worry about. 

It makes my Christmas season happily stress-free and a lot more organized. Nobody and nothing gets overlooked. So the usual; "gosh we forgot to buy grandma a gift or oh my, is tomorrow Christmas already!!" becomes a thing of the past.

When is the best time to draft your list?

• You can do that at any time, but for me, the first week of December is preferable. Since it's not written on stone, I can tweak and add more items, names and fun events as the days go by.

What activities can you have on your list? 

Click HERE