Wouldn’t it be nice, once all the tinsel and torn paper is tidied away, the tree’s gone and you’ve put your gifts to work, that you could look back on Christmas and smile at the memories?
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Christmas is always such a busy time of year — which is crazy if you think about it, isn’t it. The longest, most significant holiday in our calendar and yet at the end of it, it feels like you need another break!
And all too often, after a week or two back at work, Christmas seems like such a distant fragment of the previous year.
Friends and colleagues will ask: “Did you have a good Christmas?”
The closest we can muster is a vague “yeah.” Even if you had a lovely time and worked your ass off to make it happen. It all goes by in a flash.
After all the effort, stress and planning, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to look back on this Christmas and recall the best bits?
This story was part of this year’s issue of Hint Magazine, our online guide to Christmas where you’ll find more stories like this, delicious recipes and a bumper gift guide to help with this year’s festive decisions.
Get your free copy of Hint Magazine here!
By the way, I’m not shilling a memory course or a some ‘learn how to speed read’ method here. That’s not what this is. And it’s absolutely not relationship advice.
We don’t do that.
Instead, it’s a few pointers that might help keep us all present over Christmas so we not only make the most of those late December days, but so we can keep joyful memories of them too.
These Christmas baubles that you can put photos in are awesome – this is Jim as a baby with his grandparents. Don’t ask him about it being black and white – he gets a bit defensive!
Take Photos
Even if people get grumpy about it at the time, having some pictures of the festivities is priceless. Remember, this time will never come again… I mean Christmas will, but not this specific one.
A couple of candid snaps of people opening presents, the dinner spread, folks playing games or watching the cricket all make up to the story of this Christmas. Then make sure you share them on the family chat as January clicks over.
Write It Down
Keeping a note — even just on your phone — of the funny things people say or do or that happen over Christmas is a lot of fun. You don’t have to be a war correspondent about it, but by the time the new year’s kicked in, those moments will fade.
I’ve kept a note on my phone of all the funny (and wise) things Christina’s said over the years and it’s honestly the best.
This is an olive and cheese Christmas tree ‘dip’! delicious and quite easy. Click on the image for the recipe!
Christmas is about family time, there’s no doubt about that. But it’s important to remember that your parter — the one you chose to spend your life with — is as much your family as anyone.
Quality Time
Make sure you find time to be together away from the craziness.
It doesn’t have to be long, just a few stolen minutes here or there if you’re super busy. Or maybe just a quick hold of hands between courses at the dinner table. But it makes all the difference.
Check in With Each Other
Just a quick ‘how’s everything going?’ or ‘are you winning?’ makes a lot of difference, but the real trick comes next.
First, if your partner asks you how you’re doing, you have to be honest (and realistic) with them. Second, if you’ve asked the question, be prepared to listen to and act on the answer!
Communication is everything. And so is patience.
Make Your Parter Your Priority
I know this is hard sometimes when there’s so much going on, but making sure they’ve got a drink or they’ve had chance to sit down at some stage is important.
And keep an eye out for a rescue. We all have that dodgy uncle or rambling aunt that — once they’ve got you in their tractor beam — there’s no escape!
Above all, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make everything perfect. It doesn’t have to be the Christmas that everyone says ‘do you remember that Christmas’, but it can be the one that you all smile about when you look back on it.
