Tag how to manage anxiety

Is Christmas anxiety a real thing? Hmmm, yes, unless you’re a man.

Seriously though. This is a quick post today as I’m finishing up my newest book, Heartstrings. Last year, it was Finding Your More. I feel like I’m a very organized person, but every year in November, here I am finishing up a book. This time, it’s not my fault. Heartstrings was supposed to be only a short e-book. But it ended up having a life of its own. They say deadlines are good, but at Christmas?

Plus, there’s the Christmas book. I came up with an interesting twist and now have to make sure it works. And all of this reminds me of a conversation I had with my friend last month.

Christmas Anxiety

She was feeling extremely anxious because she felt she was way behind in her Christmas projects. We had this conversation in October, no less. But I get it. I used to be the same way, but not so much anymore. If you suffer from OMG-I ‘ll-never-get-it-all-done-for-Christmas anxiety, you are not alone. Every woman I know does.

The obvious

I could remind you that Christmas isn’t about gifts. But most of you know all this anyway, so I’m going to suggest something else entirely. I’m going to suggest you take yourself and your anxiety in hand and make a list. No, not necessarily a to-do list

How to handle Christmas Anxiety

Planning is the key

Planning helps with a lot of things. It makes you feel you’re in control. You have done something constructive. And action prompts other actions. So, there’s that. I included some printables to help.

The Gifts

I suggest you make a kind of spreadsheet. (The above charts are available for download.) I say kind of because it only has to work for you. I’m not talking about an Excel spreadsheet: just some paper and some columns. Write down the names of each person you plan to either buy a gift for or make a gift for. In another column, write down what gifts you have to buy for whom, the amount, where you will buy them, and when you will buy them. That part is easy.

The Crafting

But it’s the crafting part that gets a little tricky. Again, have a column that lists all the supplies you need, what you need to buy, and when and where you will buy them. This means, of course, that you take inventory of your supplies. That’s what I’m doing this week when I step away from writing.

This is my favorite part of the holidays. I love making homemade gifts and decorating the house. The problem is usually narrowing it down. I want to make it all, bake it all, and do it all. Are you like that?

The Decorating

I am emptying one box at a time. Items that look like they could be used for a craft/ DIY project I’m putting in a separate box. I’m putting decorations I’m not using this year in another box. I’m going to mark the box so that next year, so if I don’t use them again, I will donate them. Some pieces I’m tired of, and they are just looking too worn, which is funny because I love vintage. But there’s a difference. Right?

I’m making a note to myself to never store the artificial trees with anything like the polyfill-type snow. I had to use a hairbrush to clean them. It was a nightmare. Don’t. Do. That.

I want to do a much better job this year when I put everything away. I used to do a great job with it, but I’ve gotten a little lazy over the years, and I’m paying the price.

The Entertaining

Finally, if you plan on entertaining, you need another schedule altogether with columns for menus, housekeeping tasks, items to buy, etc.

I would think you would need three spreadsheets: the gift-giving part, the gift-making part, and then the entertaining part. It isn’t how you design your spreadsheet, it’s the doing of it. And then using it, of course.

I think once we write things down and see them all laid out in front of us, one of two things will happen. We will either realize that, wow, we’ve bitten off way too much (often me), OR it’s not as bad as we think. With my friend, it was the thinking about it that was the problem. She let her mind go where it shouldn’t and she suffered severe anxiety.

Christmas CAN be anxiety-free

I don’t know about you, but I intend to enjoy my Christmas season. I want to enjoy making the crafts, baking the cookies, and entertaining. I’m at a place in my life where I want more, but not the more you might think. I want more calm, more peace, and more purpose.

For me, that comes with planning. Sure, we can plan and still not get it all done, but at least with a plan, we have a better chance. With no plan, we are flying by the seat of our pants.

God had a plan

When I read Scripture and see how God planned out creation, I view planning as a spiritual activity as well as a practical one. I’ve been organizing my crafting supplies. They were scattered throughout the house. I did that because it reduces my anxiety. I find clutter a huge anxiety trigger. I looked through my cookie recipes and have selected the winners for this year.

My friend is doing better today. How about you? How much anxiety do you feel at Christmas? How do you handle it? Do lists work for you? I would love to hear what you think.

God bless, and I hope this helped.