Do you get caught up in the Christmas overwhelm each year, regardless of how well prepared you are?
I love Christmas, but mixing my German traditions with my family's expectation of an Aussie Christmas and getting it right - it's stressful!
Over the years, I've been getting better at planning, making a schedule ahead of time, having a list of absolute priorities, and being able to let go of nice-to-haves if my stress levels are rising.
So if this sounds like something you'd like to hear more about, keep reading 😉
We'll talk about:
- Christmas Budgeting, (Christmas gift budget AND food & drink budget)
- Things you can tick off your list in November
- Eco-friendly decorations and gift wrapping options
- Meal Planning
- Gifting
- Selfcare and keeping your sanity during the holidays
Print or save this blog to your favourites so you can come back to it later, and share it if you think it'll help someone else, too.
So, first things first... If you're the one responsible for organising Christmas this year... Do you know what the one secret ingredient is to creating a magical Christmas for everyone? It's you mumma!
Which means, the main things to remember when reading and implementing this guide are:
- fill your cup
- watch for early signs of overwhelm
- rest when you can
- embrace imperfection.
Last Note: Adapt and change this guide to suit your circumstances and desired holiday feels. This is what works for me, but for you it may look different.
Okay, let's get started:
1. Keep the end in mind: always remember what you want Christmas to feel like. For me, I want to sit back and do as little as possible on the day, enjoy time with the family, go for a dip at the beach, ideally sipping a Salted Caramel Espresso Martinis (recipe included at the end) in bliss at the end of it all.
Step 1: November - Set the Foundation
1.1 Start a Christmas Journal
You can use a pretty paper notebook or a digital planner (I created a ‘project’ in the ToDoIst App, which has a free version, yay).
Make yourself a delicious cup of coffee, take a deep breath, and start jotting down everything Christmas related you've been keeping in your head until now under different headings, e.g.: decorations, gift ideas, budget, food/drinks, etc.
1.2 Budgeting
Consider everyone you want to buy gifts for this year and set a budget. I’ve created a gift tracker to capture gift ideas, tick them off once they are bought and again when they are wrapped. So simple but it’s been a life changer for me. If you’d like a copy, just message the word ‘gift tracker’ here and I’ll send you a copy to download/print.
Don’t forget to set a reasonable budget for decorations, special holiday meals, treats and festivity activities as well, it all adds up.
I find having written down what I’ll spend is really key to a stress-free Christmas for me, especially this year when it feels like everything has just exploded in price. It also makes me more savvy going after deals and avoid buying things I don’t need just because they’re discounted.
Getting started early with your budget planning also avoids having to splash out for last minute purchases – winning!
1.3 Eco-Friendly Decorations
First off, look at what you already have. Do you really need more? Once you've decided what's missing, consider sustainable and eco-friendly decoration options like reusable fabric bunting and natural materials. Make DIY decorations a family activity while listening to your fav spotify play list for Christmas – it’s budget friendly and can be a fun way to get into the holiday spirit together.
I like to go foraging with my little one and get branches, dried leaves, etc. for a Christmas wreath.
You can also check local op-shops and browse Facebook marketplace, I just bought a Christmas table cloth and place mats at Vinnies.
Reassess: How are you going with your budget? If you've been savvy so far, maybe there's some money to get a few new additions? Local markets or Etsy are great for beautifully unique or handmade decorations, I love my Macrame Muma decorations I bought on Etsy.
Step 2: Plan the Details
2.1 Tick off your Gift List
Finalise gift list for family and friends. If your kids write letters to Santa, send them now, so you can complete your gift tracker and keep on top of your budget.
Consider consumable gifts, supporting small business or local market stallholders where you can, while knowing that your gift is less likely to collect dust and more likely to actually get used. I sometimes gift products from our coffee skincare range to family or friends when I know they're interested in ditching chemicals in their skincare but aren't sure if natural ingredients will actually work for them.
Time is probably the most precious currency we have these days, so gifting an experience or spending time together can even work for kids if we explain why we choose giving this way over buying lots of things at the shops. One of the main gifts for our kids (and us) is usually an annual pass to our local waterslide park Jamberoo, and we've made such beautiful family memories over the summers.
For gifts you're planning to get online, make sure you're on the mailing list for your fav brands to find out about their discounts and promotions for Black Friday first, sign up to email lists of your fav brands. Mark it in your calendar as a reoccurring event, it’s always the last Friday in November so you can schedule once and forget (this year it’s Nov 29)
2.2 Meal/Food Planning
Want to change up the meals or dishes you'll make these holidays? I'd say, be guided by: keep the crowd favourites you know how to make, and keep it simple. But... if you do feel like trying a few new recipes - try them now!
Don't wait to make them for the first time for the actual occasion. My kids are more than happy to trial a new gingerbread recipe in November, and at least it can give you the chance to pivot if it's not a winner.
If you’ll be hosting this Christmas, create a menu or allocate Nibbles, Starters, Mains & Desserts so guests can start their planning, too.
Why not try keep it fresh and gut friendly as much as you can these holidays? We're so conditioned to overindulge on Christmas, when healthier choices that won't make us feel like crap after can actually be really tasty, too.
Don't forget to plan for drinks as well. Do you want to serve alcohol, make cocktails, or offer a few delicious non-alcoholic drinks that are not sugar-laden? Again, if you're having big meals, simple probably works best - again 😉
Remember alcohol, caffeine and sugar can irritate the gut, so consider lower/no alcohol options (yay for so many more options on the shelves these days!), a delicious low acid coffee and using natural sweeteners in desserts where possible.
2.3 Advent Calendar and Santa Photos
If you have capacity, prepare an eco-friendly advent calendar with your family which includes daily notes with small activities, such as nature walks, crafting ornaments, writing Christmas cards or a 5 min meditation practice. If not but you still want your kids to have a calendar, don't stress, just get one at the shops.
Love the annual santa photo for the kiddies? Think about where you’ll get them and when, at the local shopping centre, with a private photographer or at the Surf Life Saving Club? Book them in so it's in the calendar.
Missed booking in for photos? Get your kids dressed up and just use your phone to take photos in front of your Christmas set up at home - they'll still be beautiful and will save you the stress of getting everyone out of the house and happy and smiling with a stranger santa at an overcrowded shopping centre.
Remember, it's okay to say No and not tick all the Christmas options.
Step 3: Early December - Get into the Spirit
3.1 Self-Care Rituals
You don't need to sign up to elaborate selfcare rituals, this is not the time to add more things to your busy schedule, even in the name of selfcare.
But as the holiday bustle turns up a notch, try and consciously incorporate small breaks throughout the day to breathe, step away from the busyness and into calm.
Take 5 min in the morning to sit with your favourite cup of coffee (or tea), savouring each sip.
At night, an extra 5 minutes for your skincare ritual using a gua sha and your fav face oil might be enough to calm your nervous system and reconnect with yourself.
3.2 Mindful Gifting and Wrapping
If you’ve shopped Black Friday Deals, you’ll now have a number of presents you can wrap and tick of your gift tracker. Choose eco-conscious options like reusable cloth wraps or recycled paper where possible.
I decorate paper shopping bags with bits of left over Christmas wrapping paper. They look great under the tree and can be reused for many years.
3.3 Christmas Carols
If Christmas Carols are your thing, schedule them in and combine it with catching up with your local family and friends. They’re perfect for a low-key picnic with people you may not see over the holidays but want to catch up with before.
Step 4: Mid-December - Keep the Peace
4.1 Mental Health Check-In
Check in with yourself regularly. If stress creeps in, take a break, a breather and re-assess: What can you let go off, delegate, postpone?
Continue to plan small islands of rest that fill your cup during this crazy time, a bath, a 5min stretch in bed before getting up, an aromatherapy coffee scrub in the shower - schedule reminders in your calendar if you like.
4.2 Have you Got What you Need?
Check your gift tracker to see who you still need a gift for. If you’re feeling too overwhelmed to think much about ideas and just want to tick off your list, consider vouchers from local restaurants or day spa/massage places, or for kids, movie or fun park tickets usually work, as does good old cash 😉
Finalise your meal planning, make a grocery list and either order home delivery or do a shop buying everything that will keep now.
4.2 Quality Family Time
Enjoy making memories with your loved ones. The best ones can be free, like snuggling up watching a Christmas movie together, making Christmas decorations or cookies, walk or drive around the neighbourhood to check out Christmas lights and decorations.
Christmas is not only one day, embrace the joy of the festive season in little moments every day.
4.3 Embrace Imperfection
Remember, done is better than perfect. Embrace the chaos and magic of this special time. Be kind to yourself. Carry an energising roller with you with the smell reminding you of your chosen mantra, like ‘I’ve got This’ and think of it every time you apply it.
The greatest gift for your family is if YOU are in a calm and happy place mumma, it’s more precious than anything you could buy with money.
Step 5: Christmas Week – Get Swept Up in the Magic
5.1 Final Preparations
Finish up last-minute details like getting table settings ready and wrapping any remaining gifts.
If you're going to a Christmas mass or Carols, select outfits and plan your trip, e.g., will it be difficult to get parking, how much time will you need to allow for? Have snacks and water ready, change of clothes for little kids.
If you're hosting and can’t face a big wash up, opt for recycled paper/timber or compostable plates and cutlery. Encourage guests to bring reusable containers for leftovers.
5.2 Unplug and Connect
Try and go as technology-free as you can this Christmas to fully connect with your loved ones. Once you’ve got your happy snaps for the family album, capture memories in your heart, not just on your phone.
5.3 Tune into your Emotions
Feel into what brings you joy and lights up your heart this Christmas. If it’s a time that also brings up sadness, allow yourself to honour those emotions, too. Be gentle and kind to yourself and find moments of quiet to process what you’re feeling.
Step 6: Post-Christmas - Reflect and Recharge
6.1 Gratitude Journaling
Take a few moments with your family to reflect on the holiday together. Share your fav moments of this season that brought you joy and sparked thankfulness. Pick a few and put them in a jar to store away with your Christmas decoration, so you can start the next season reflecting on the good times and add to the jar each year.
6.2 Reuse and Recycle
As you pack up decorations, make a plan for eco-friendly storage. Reuse, recycle, or donate items you no longer need.
6.3 Me Time
Set aside time for selfcare post-holiday. Try to keep your schedule light to have some flexibility in your day and just allow yourself to be.
Pamper yourself with a massage, a good book, a face mask followed by your fav face oil or whatever fills your cup. Recharge and reflect on the beautiful memories created.
6.3 Reflect
Make yourself a cuppa and reflect on the holiday season. How did you feel leading up to it? What stressed you out, what made it fun? What worked better than other years, what didn’t?
Capture the key points on post it notes and put them in another jar. Again, when you start preparing for the next holiday season, you can go back to these notes as a gentle reminder on what you’d want to focus on or avoid doing.
You did it mumma! You’ve created a magical Christmas and hopefully still have some juice left in your batteries to start the new year feeling loved, nurtured and energised to make 2025 your best year yet!
I hope this guide will help you enter the holiday season prepared and confident, ready for a magical time with your loved ones. Do you have any feedback? Or any tips that have worked for you to keep your sanity in the silly season? Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you!
x Maika
As promised, here's the most delicious caramel espresso martini recipe:
- 60ml (double shot) of Mumma's Beans Espresso cooled down
- 70ml quality vodka
- 50ml coffee liquor, we like 50 Mile Coffee Liqueur made with Australian grown coffee
- 30ml salted caramel syrup
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