Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year isn’t it? We need to remain positive and hopeful that against all odds, we will and shall have reasons to be joyful and triumphant. If we get prepared now then the next few months don’t need to be a dread and we may have a shot at retaining Christmas sanity this year. Here we share our top Christmas sanity savers for possibly one of the strangest yuletides we’ve seen in our lifetimes.

Festively fashion your face coverings

Face coverings are mandatory. I’m fully supportive but that doesn’t stop me feeling like I have a gusset strapped to my cheeks. So given it will be like this for the foreseeable future, let’s at least enjoy them. I favour reusable, cotton face coverings and am in love with the current bandana trend. I wash them after every single use. I keep a little basket by the washing machine so all contamination is kept to a minimum.

With school drop offs and pickups, I get through at least three coverings a day. Coordinating it with my outfits is fun and while it’s a bit nippy out, they keep my face warm. While I still wear SPF 40, I don’t wear makeup so my skin can have a lovely break through these winter months and no one needs to know that underneath that face covering I look like a prepubescent teen. Win-win and with the season to me merry upon us, why not get into the spirit of things and flaunt some fabulous festive colours on the school drops. 

The ultimate Christmas sanity saver: Shop while you flop

We no longer need to spend hours queuing in a car park to discover that the one toy our precious child yearned for is out of stock…. Clickety click while you’re sat in your comfies. I’m smug about this but, I shit you not, all my festive shopping is taken care of. I even have the wrapping paper and the tags and the special little tape dispenser. I start purchasing things in September because it spreads the cost and takes the pressure off. We all know it’s coming every year so keep your Christmas sanity in check, get prepared and you’ll marvel at how much easier it is. 

Control their minds (in a nice way!)

I probably can’t get away with this for much longer but as my little humbugs are only 6 and 3, I start dropping subliminal messages about toys I want them to have. By December they are gagging for it. No last minute panicking here. They have a main present and their stockings each from the Big Man but the rest is from Mummy and Daddy. Most importantly, I retain my Christmas sanity.

Stuff the turkey

Let’s be realistic. It won’t be at all sensible to have huge family gatherings this year. 

WHOO HOO to that! 

Have smaller, more meaningful sit down soirees and…. Enjoy them! Less people, less fuss, less chaos. How many times have you had to endure a limp, cold, soggy dinner. Not this year guys….

The Sunday roastings

What better way to practise and perfect your roasted spuds. Every Sunday we’ve been having a different roast so I can experiment with my potatoes, veg and meats. Currently the mother-in-law is smashing the potato competition but there’s still time. It’s all about the hot oil and I will master it. I’ve only burned my hands one week so far

Think ahead

Given my struggles with anxiety, it’s no surprise that my life is better when I’m prepared for the worse so…. I make my gravy the day before. Gone are the worries that it will be too pale, too watery. No, my friends. It’s a perfect little jellified jug of glory that just needs heating up.

Trials and tribulations

Every weekend, trial a new canape. Buy them frozen or make your own. I did have a small baking disaster involving some soft baked pretzels. I practised with some play doh until I had perfected the art of the knot. Having a touch of the OCDs is not helpful because no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get them uniform. The first two were passable. The next were more like bagels and the last batch resembled little piles of dog turd so….

The moral of the story is… don’t stress about the things you can’t do. Pretzels are off the menu in my house now. I’ll concentrate on the baked goods that I excel in. Because when someone tells you how delicious something is and you made it… it gets the endorphins going and that’s the only way we are going to get through this shit show!

Brace yourself for Brexit

Yes I own a tin of Spam and no, no one will ever eat it and I’m not even sure how it got there. 

But one thing I’ve taken from the last few months is that it doesn’t hurt to be one step ahead of the game. But do it mindfully. 

We have a rather regimented weekly shop. When I open a jar, tin or packet, I always have an unopened one. It isn’t hoarding, it isn’t stockpiling it’s savvy and it keeps my blood pressure down!

Positive vibes

There are two types of people in this world, drains and radiators. The rule of 6 is a perfect opportunity to ditch the moaning Minnies and fill your like with love and light. What better excuse to take out the trash and re-evaluate your friendships. Life is too short and way too complicated at the moment to be dragged down by misery and negativity. 

And breathe

It is so important to take some time for yourself. Whether it’s an uninterrupted cuppa, a quick power walk with a friend or on your own. Take a minute to appreciate all you have. Think about the little things that make you smile and feel warm and fuzzy inside. Because although it might not feel like the most wonderful time of the year, we are here, we are alive and we have everything to be hopeful for.  

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