11 Important Things to Remember this Christmas

Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or stressful. Or joyful. Or exhausting. Depends on how you look at it, right?

The first trick to keeping happy at this time of year is to get organised. Write down everything you need to do and when you need to do it by. Mumtastic has a free printable calendar for that – handy. The food, the presents, the lights, the parties, so much to do and we cram it all into a single month. It’s not good for our wellbeing, even though it’s supposed to be.

We all get so busy that we can sometimes forget what Christmas is really all about. So I’m here to remind you. Christmas is about kindness and being grateful and being yourself. It’s about surrounding yourself with the people you love, doing the things you love to do. Christmas is about US.

Click through my slideshow to find yourself and enjoy the true spirit of Christmas. I’ve included lots of free printables in my list of things to remember this Christmas, in case you need some visual reminders to help maintain perspective this silly season.

More ways to celebrate Christmas:

Images: Credited in slideshow

11 Important Things to Remember this Christmas

Kindness Is Key

'Tis the season to be kind. Be kind to the shop assistant who has been on her feet for 8 hours dealing with crabby customers. Be kind to the kids even when they're on a candy cane sugar rush and making irrational demands. Be kind to yourself. Undoubtedly, kindness should be a daily aim no matter the time of the year. Amping up the kindness at Christmas can help shift our focus from those icky feelings of end-of-year exhaustion, impatience and stress.

Image: Secret Weapon Creative
Give Thanks

In amongst all the end of year assemblies and concerts, battling the shopping centre car park and late night shopping, make sure you take the time to stop, look around, marvel and soak it all.

Image: Oh Creative Day
Just Do You

I fall down a Pinterest rabbit hole in the lead-up to Christmas. I start wondering whether I'm doing enough activities to create lasting memories for kids. Why don't my decorations look like Martha Stewart's? How can I make my table settings as photogenic as possible? This Christmas, stop the comparisons. Do Christmas your way. Just do you. You're perfect at it.

Image: Stella+Ink - Get the free printable at Oh Creative Day
Just Breathe

Deep breaths now, people.

When it all starts to feel like a bit much- breathe in the busy, breathe out the calm.

Image: Paper Gumboots
Express Gratitude

Take some time to let people know how much you've appreciated them this year.

A phone call. A card. A text. Get your gratitude on.

Image: Oh Creative Day
Spread Yourself Thick

This one is all about simplifying. Don't spread yourself thin. Cut back. Cull your to-do list. I often think of this saying when I'm trying to do 17 things at once.

Find more tips for spreading yourself thicker and get the free printable at Patchwork Cactus.

Image: Patchwork Cactus
Give Someone A Compliment

As you're trying to plough through your festive to-do list, take a moment to make somebody's day. Throw those compliments around like confetti.

Find this free printable at Tomfo.

Image: Tomfo
Wherever You Are, Be All There

Put the phone down. Look around. Soak it all in. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

Image: Oh Creative Day
Take Some Time

Nobody wants to arrive on Christmas Day, run-down, cranky and exhausted. Make sure as you move towards the 25th that you take some chill time, okay?

Image: Stella+Ink.
Do Less With More Focus

Take a look at your to-do list. Is it absolutely necessary to do everything on the list? Could you delegate? Cull some items? Less is more!

Image: Miekes Makes
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

No matter how you celebrate Christmas, the team at Mumtastic wish you a festive season filled with good cheer, good food and good times with good people.

Image: Oh Creative Day