This season is probably the most hyped of all, and for good reason – Christmas and New Year is the time when its acceptable to go all out, spend obscene amounts of money and create the perfect (and often cringey, embarassing, anecdotal) memories.
However…with great rewards comes great risk.
These two festive celebrations also have the potential to be the most stressful, expensive and anti-climatic events of all.
Therefore, I have complied a list of ways you can avoid your holidays becoming a let down, and ensure that they are ones to remember.
1. Christmas hauls don’t have to be pricey to be special
Keep your budget low while you begin your Christmas shopping – once you have something for everyone you can always spend more if you have some spare cash! This will stop you getting stressed over your diminishing funds while you still need to buy party necessities. And speaking of which..
2. Don’t attempt to make your Christmas/New Year’s party the most amazing ever
It’s easy to get carried away imagining the most fabulous night of your life, whether it be a classy Christmas Ball, a cute family gathering or a messy New Year’s Eve. But the more you expect of one night, the less it will live up to your expectations. Remember – the best nights are the unplanned nights, and so forget about whether the photos will be good enough for Facebook or whether you’ll finally get that kiss under the mistletoe and just enjoy without all the pressure!
3. Always devote time to the food
It’s clear, Christmas is the best time to treat yourself, and not only when it comes to party dresses. Your stress over looking toned in that bikini is months away, and ’tis the season of snuggly, multi-layered jumpers and blankets. Clearly, winter food is the best food – massive roast dinners, indulgent puddings and cute gingerbread decorations. So don’t waste the opportunity, and make the most the most of pigs in blankets, chocolate logs – and lots and lots of champagne.
4. Spread the festive cheer
One of your biggest regrets after the festive season will be missing the chance to reunite with friends, tell family how much they mean to you and, in general, sharing the love. So surprise a friend with a card that says more than just ‘Merry Christmas’ inside, buy personal gifts for the ones you love and visit all the friends and family you don’t regularly see.
Photo credits:
http://www.nolablackprofessionals.com/blog/2014/12/30/new-years-eve-new-…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2890043/It-s-Bush-fire-Actr…
http://aphelis.net/new-years-eve-party-1952/
http://www.essentially-england.com/christmas-food.html
http://gatheredagain.com/family-christmas-party-invitation-wording/