I’m sorry if the following comes as a shock, but: There are 37 days until Christmas. Or if you prefer, 5 weeks and 2 days. Which ever way you look at it, that isn’t a huge amount of time to prepare, especially if you are working for 25 or more of those days.Despite being a list maker I have often had a mental block with Christmas, choosing not to face up to it until the first week of December. I have fooled myself that its much more christmassy to do everything much closer to Christmas itself, thinking it ridiculous to be shopping in November.
This is all well and good but Christmas shopping after work the week before Christmas is not really Christmassy, its just a bit mad. Hastily writing Christmas cards the day before the final postal date, does not make for the calmest of evenings, even if accompanied by a glass of Bailey’s. And staying up until 1am to wrap presents in the days before we go away for Christmas is frankly exhausting. Of course I always decide in the week or two before Christmas that I want to create homemade gifts or Christmas crackers or chutneys or whatever else. None of this leads to the calm build up to Christmas I would really like.
So, this year I am doing my best to make sure it is different. I have my lists. My master lists, my present and card lists and my things to create lists. I have set myself deadlines which end in the first week of December and I have planned into my calendar the actual times I am going to do all the individual things on my list. All this I am hoping will lead to a much more enjoyable December, with time to enjoy the build up rather than feeling frazzled.
All of his is a pre amble to allow me to tell you why this ‘Inspiring the Weekend’ I am recommending ‘Mindful Christmas’ Magazine. Unlike most magazines around this time of year which tell you how to have ‘the best Christmas ever’, this one helps you think about how to make your Christmas more thoughtful. I have really enjoyed reading through it. The focus is very much on wellbeing at this time of year and offers suggestions on how to alter the mindset from one of stress around shopping and spending to one of calm and joy.
I Iove the layout of the magazine, the Scandi style images, the thought provoking sections on holiday down time and gifting and giving, home sections on how to bring more natural decorations inside this year. There is even an article on mindful wrapping and winefulness. I haven’t read that one yet, but I fully intend to embrace it when I do!
I am going away this weekend and this magazine is safely stowed into my bag for some pre Christmas reading.
Mindful Christmas is available from the Calm Moment website. Or, it was on sale in Waitrose.
Have a wonderful weekend X