6 ways to get organised and unlock extra family time this Christmas


Family
11/12/2019
Less time spent stressing over your festive to-do list = more time snuggling up with the family. Result!

It may be the season of peace, love and goodwill, but Christmas can also be a crazy time of year too. With a seemingly endless to-do list and a jam-packed seasonal social diary, but still only 24 hours a day in which to pack them into, it’s no wonder that many of us feel frazzled throughout the festivities.

The fact is, it’s hard to enjoy the fun when everything seems so full-on, so it’s important to factor in some down time to recharge. Not only will it mean you’re more likely to enjoy being out and about more, but it’s also easier for your body to fight off the seasonal sniffles if you’re feeling rested.

But how do you find time to snuggle up on the sofa with the family when there’s so much to do? Try our tips to carve out a bit of me-time amongst the madness…

1. Organise your orders
Online shopping can be an absolute godsend at this time of year. It’s quick and easy, and you can get it all done in less time than it takes to get to the shops. Where it can start to become a pain is when you have to wait in for deliveries, or worse, spend every Saturday morning queuing at the Post Office with a pile of ‘While you were out…’ cards.

To avoid this, don’t buy things as and when you find them but wait until you’ve found everything you want to order. Check delivery timings and place your orders so that everything arrives on the same day. With a bit of luck, you should be able to do this without springing extra cash for next-day or timed delivery slots.

2. Use online cards
Previously they might have been considered a giveaway that you’d either forgotten someone or missed the last posting dates, but these days e-cards are a smart and sustainable alternative to yet more stuff being chucked in the recycling bin come January. Even better, you can send them from the comfort of your sofa while you’re snuggling with your nearest and dearest!

3. Gifts for good
It’s a bold move that you’ll probably need to suss out with friends and family beforehand to avoid tears and tantrums on the 25th, but a great way of avoiding Christmas shopping and still doing your bit for the planet is to give charity gifts. You could adopt a jaguar through the WWF for your cat-crazy cousin, or donate a Christmas dinner to a homeless shelter on behalf of your wannabe-chef sister.

With many people becoming more aware of the sheer amount of stuff in their lives, and questioning if they really want or need anything else, you might find that your loved ones will embrace the idea. And of course, as you can do it all online you can be snuggled up at the same time!

4. Batch freeze meals
Creating magical memories for the kids is a big part of Christmas. But it can be hard to focus on their smiling faces meeting Santa or their wobbles on the ice-skating rink if you’ve got half a mind on what to feed them when you get home. Spend a Sunday afternoon in late November batch cooking a few meals that you can freeze, so that there’s something quick, tasty and nourishing ready to go when you get in.

5. Get guest ready
If you have people staying with you over Christmas, prepare as much as you can in advance so that you can just chill and enjoy spending time with them once they arrive. Get extra keys cut, give the spare room a good clean and get the bedding ready.

Make sure you have enough duvets and blankets to keep everyone toasty, and launder all the sheets in advance, using Fairy Non Bio Pods coupled with Fairy Snuggly Soft Fabric Conditioner for gorgeous softness that’s kind to even the most sensitive of skins.

6. Do something daily
Getting sorted for the festive season can be a mammoth task, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Rather than tackling it all at once, resolve to do one thing a day to make it more manageable. That could be wrapping a few presents each time you do the ironing (the ironing board makes a great wrapping table!), or picking up emergency gifts (think wine/chocolates/candles) with your weekly shop.