K.I.S.S.

You know: keep it simple, stupid. I’ve decided that it’s is my holiday motto this year.

Typically I am your holiday overachiever. I’ve painted, drawn or scrapped together holiday cards. I’ve always had wrapping paper schemes complete with the perfect bows, ribbons and tags. One year I couldn’t find any labels to match my paper so I painstakingly hand painted every tag with gold paint and glitter like a crazy person. Most years I also make at least one gift for everyone on my list. In years gone by I’ve literally made every gift, again, like a crazy person.

But this year unlike days of yore, I’ve decided to cool it a bit. I ordered cards online. I have a gift wrap scheme of sorts but no bows and certainly no customized tags. I made only one gift – a small trinket for a pal and coworker. And you know what? It’s helped me to relax and enjoy the season. Instead of killing myself over origami ornaments, I get to sit by my tree and watch Christmas episodes of Bob’s Burgers. Rather than spending nights up to my elbows in glitter, I get to listen to Christmas albums on the hi-fi while stirring up kolaczki.

I recognized that the activities that once made me feel in the holiday spirit stressed me out a bit. Don’t get me wrong – I’d love to make more gifts and craft a little more, but with a full time job and lots of entertaining (plus trying to finish up the kitchen) these festive activities felt more like chores. No one should have a meltdown over sewing a Christmas skirt (although I did).

With only a month between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I say make the most of it in the ways that fulfill you. For me, this meant maximizing nights home with Michael, spending more time with family and making more cookies. It also meant scaling back shopping a bit, simplifying the wrapping and lessening my crafty workload. It doesn’t mean I was less busy, but it meant I just felt more balanced. In the future, I’m sure all these factors will shift around, but in the meantime I’m going to enjoy the last of this pre-Christmas season the best way I know how: eating cream cheese pillows, watching the cartoon Grinch and hanging out with my fam.

Happy holidays to you and yours. Now go take a break. 🙂