The goal of this challenge is to get some decisions, organizational things, and errands done in November so that you can enjoy the Advent season to the fullest.

We want to start December stress-free, and for this reason, we're declaring war on Christmas stress and the mental overload of Advent with our #decemberfree challenge . On Instagram, we asked: "What stresses you out about Christmas?"

This has resulted in four areas that we can tackle together in November. In this blog post, we'll explain our approach and thoughts on these topics and provide you with truly practical, no-bullshit tips and tasks. So nothing stands in the way of preparing for YOUR Christmas.

1. My Christmas

What stresses you the most? The answer was quite clear: "Having to meet the expectations or demands of family and relatives." Expectations are the biggest stress factor. We feel like we have to please everyone and make everything look good. The counter question: Is that really true? Do grandma and grandpa, our siblings, and children really expect all of this from us?
Christmas is about relationships. Everyone wants to be seen and be important to others. Some do this through gifts (too expensive and often too much), others through presence (Grandma and Grandpa want to spend Christmas Eve with the kids), and still others through bad jokes or showing off. You might do it by taking on the responsibility and thinking everyone expects it of you.

So before you start writing lists and organizing Christmas presents, you should first think about what MY Christmas should look like this year.

✏️ Task:
Consider what's truly important to you and where you might be able to let go and give in. Decide how you want to BE this Christmas. Write down your intention for YOUR Christmas.

(If you're one of those people who doesn't want to or can't make this decision for yourself, talk to your family and ask them what's important to them about Christmas, so you can also include their wishes.)

2. Fulfill wishes

Let's get to the ultimate boss: GIFTS! Gifts serve many purposes, but their usefulness isn't one of them. With gifts, no matter how big, small, expensive, or inexpensive, perhaps even homemade, we want to show other people how well we know them and how much we appreciate them. As Marie Kondo once said, gifts only serve one purpose: to show someone "I care about YOU," "I know YOU," "YOU are important to me."

For many people, saying, "We're not giving each other presents" is the last resort to escape the overwhelming decision-making pressure. A good thing, but a shame, because giving presents is actually quite simple, and it brings the greatest joy to others and yourself.

Tip 1: Consider your own gift-giving tradition
To counteract the decision-making overload, simply develop your own gift-giving tradition.
For example, one Christmas I, Caro, consistently gave everyone a book. This narrows down the choices considerably. However, I can still give each person a personalized gift. Other ideas for great gifts include spending time together, food, or doing good deeds.

Tip 2: Don’t go overboard with the gift budget
Get rid of the price tag. "I have to give something for €50" or "that's too cheap!" Let's be honest, we could buy most gifts ourselves; what matters is the thought behind them and who the gift is from. Try to convince Grandma and Grandpa to change their minds, too. And if you want to keep things even financially, you can put the remaining amount in your piggy bank.

Tip 3: Buy gifts with a plan
Buying gifts is nothing more than a shopping exercise for your decision-making muscle. Too much choice paralyzes us. Therefore, never go shopping in town without a plan. Make quick and decisive purchasing decisions. And with every gift idea, ask yourself: "Am I excited to give this gift to XY?" If you feel the itch, then it's the right one!

Tip 4: Wish list for children's gifts or simply let go
When it comes to children, things can quickly become complicated. Just the question of "Who gives what to which child?" But it can be so simple!

1. Make a wish list with the kids. The kids can draw what they want on a piece of paper. Or cut out items from toy catalogs or similar items and stick them on a piece of paper. A quick tip: using stickers and glitter makes the whole thing a lot more fun 😉⁠. Then assign the gifts to the recipients. Leave the shopping and wrapping to the others.
2. Another option, and one that's certainly very difficult for many, is to simply let go. We often tend to want to control everything. But you don't have to control what others give your child. You can simply let the grandparents or godparents choose a gift themselves OR encourage them to think it through with the child. The key phrase: "I know YOU." This is a great opportunity to engage more deeply with the children and their wishes and ideas. And perhaps even get to know them a little better.

✏️ Task:
Make a gift campaign out of the gift purchase, instead of four weeks of mental stress!

1. Take two hours and sit down at the kitchen table with a pad and pen (no cell phone) and write down the names of all the people you want to buy a gift for.
2. Next to each name, write down what comes to mind about the person. What do they like, what are they proud of? What gift would emphasize this?
3. Then set aside another half day to get everything done in one go.

This is what the community on Instagram says about gifts

And if you need a few more Christmas ideas, feel free to get inspiration from the community's responses. Unfortunately, we can only share a portion of the answers here, but many were duplicates, so here's a condensed version.

Gift ideas for the father-in-law

Seed box, alcohol (whiskey, wine, beer from different countries), aftershave, perfume, book, computer support voucher, murder mystery dinner, hardware store voucher or a beer brewing course.

Gift ideas for the mother-in-law

A trip with the children, candles, a photo shoot with grandchildren and children, natural cosmetics, a book, a vegetable/fruit rescue box subscription, vouchers (massage, wellness, manicure), homemade gifts (beeswax wraps, calendars), tickets for events (musicals, theater, murder mystery dinners) or a family reunion where the recipient doesn't have to worry about anything.

Gift ideas for postmen, housekeepers, babysitters, etc.

Christmas card and homemade cookies, homemade treats, money or vouchers (bakery, massage, cinema), hand warmers, regional products ( honey or jam)

Unusual and special gift ideas

A book subscription for a year, a weekly foot massage from my husband, a vacation diary from our trip together, a Hugo backpack 😜, a puzzle with family photos, a marriage proposal, an invitation to a musical, hand-crocheted wool socks, or a city trip together.

3. Call me managing director

The annual back and forth of "Who celebrates Christmas, when, where, and, above all, with whom?" These questions are often difficult to answer, as we want to please everyone, no matter how eccentric the family member may be. Nevertheless, this part of Christmas preparation requires a certain degree of sensitivity and backbone from us at the same time.
It's important to become aware of your role in the family and remember who you want to be this year. Keyword: MY Christmas.

✏️ Task:
Make a plan. Write down the schedule for the holidays. The following questions can help:

- What's a must-have for you? (Not for your parents, but for you as a new family?)

- What can you leave alone?

- Who can you include?

- Who should you take into consideration?

- What is beyond your control and can you simply accept?

Please be aware that not everyone is fortunate enough to celebrate Christmas with their loved ones. Many people are alone during the holidays, so we should be grateful for those who appreciate and love us.

4. Showdown

Eat

Another important item on the seemingly endless preparation list is meal planning. It's crucial that the hosts set the tone here!
Accept that you can't please everyone – because there will always be someone who is a little bit out of step.

Keep your holiday menu as simple as possible. Split individual menu items, such as dessert or salad, between people so you don't have to prepare everything. Especially for larger dinner parties, we recommend hosting raclette, fondue, or a bring-your-own buffet. This way, everyone will find something they enjoy and can contribute to the planning accordingly.

Remember to shop for the days surrounding the event as well. It's best to stock up on simple, quick kids' meals like tarte flambée or soups.

✏️ Task

1. Create a meal plan for Christmas Eve and the holiday weekend
2. Write a shopping list
3. Delegate individual dishes or meals

OR reserve a seat in the restaurant!

decoration

To really get into the Christmas spirit, you can't go without the right Christmas decorations. The motto here is: less is more, and what you have is what you have. BUT you can also get something new every now and then!
To avoid accumulating unnecessary Christmas knick-knacks, I've made it a tradition to buy one high-quality, beautiful decorative item each year. This way, I avoid unnecessary consumption and surround myself with things that I will truly and deeply enjoy for a long time. This makes decorating much more fun.

✏️ Task

1. Get your Christmas boxes out and sort through the Christmas decorations. Anything you don't love goes!
2. Check fairy lights and timers, buy batteries and candles if necessary
3. Order Advent wreath
4. Decide on an Advent calendar and buy it or prepare it

So, all the important decisions have been made. Tasks have been assigned, and some of them, ideally, are already prepared. Now you can enjoy the Advent season to the fullest without having to force yourself to do anything. Time for contemplative hours with the family.

What was the best thing about Christmas for you as a child? What do you remember fondly? Share your memories with your children, talk about them with your wife/husband. Sit down for 15 minutes over coffee and hot chocolate to share your memories AND find your own traditions that bring you joy as a family.

🎅 Here are 24 more ideas for the Advent season with the family

Do you need more Advent calendar ideas?

We've got something up our sleeve: The best Advent calendar ideas, including links. This way, you can keep your mental load so low that you won't even notice it.

Hopefully, these tips and tasks have helped you avoid the mental load and start the most wonderful time of the year stress-free.

Merry Christmas and remember: this is just a phase.