To say that this year has been a stressful one would be an understatement, and now, with the arrival of the Omicron variant, we face more uncertainty just in time for Christmas. The festive period can be stress-inducing in itself without the additional strain of a global pandemic; as a nation, we feel the pressure to make the festive season as exciting and enjoyable as possible for the whole family. From gift buying and meal planning to fitting in magical moments for the children, it can all feel somewhat overwhelming and our overall wellbeing can take quite the hit. So let’s look at the practical measures we can take to ensure we can enjoy the festivities, wherever we spend them and whatever the weather! Here are our ideas for a restful Christmas 2021. 
Sort and Tidy
As the parcels start arriving and the shopping bags begin piling up, it’s easy to feel cramped and frustrated within your home. An untidy living space will simply add to your stress, so start the season by having a good clear out. Go through drawers and cupboards and sell, donate or dispose of any unwanted items. This should free up some space for gifts, treats and other festive essentials so they’re out of the way until Christmas. Your home will look less cluttered, you’ll feel far more organised and your home will be ready for those all-important festive decorations!
Create a Cosy Haven
Regardless of last minute Covid challenges, the chances are that most of us will be spending a significant proportion of the festive period in our own homes. With the weather becoming increasingly colder and the first snow having fallen, it’s a sensible idea to make your home comforting and cosy. If you’ve not already heard of it, the popular Scandi lifestyle concept of Hygge is one you may wish to consider researching. With cosiness at its very core, a Hygge-inspired home will be focused on warmth and togetherness. Think chunky knit throws, fluffy cushions, roaring fires and candlelit corners, all in the company of your loved ones. Bliss!
A Family Affair
Instead of taking on that never-ending list of tasks all by yourself, try and get the rest of the family involved. Many hands make light work, especially when it comes to wrapping presents! You might even be surprised by how enjoyable the seemingly mundane jobs can become when tackled as a team. Play some festive tunes, serve a few light snacks and get together as family to turn gift wrapping, cleaning, tree decorating and meal prepping into enjoyable ‘together’ time. Not only will it lighten the load on you somewhat but you’ll also create lasting memories.
Fitting all the Christmas preparations in between working, running errands and doing our usual daily tasks can leave little to no time for relaxation. Plan ahead and make sure you reserve a time slot for you (sounds so easy doesn’t it…). Just an hour each day during which you can relax with a good book or watch an episode of your favourite Netflix show, might just alleviate the build up of stresses and strains. If you can set a rough schedule for the daily must-dos, you’ll feel good about what you’ve achieved and be able to identify free periods for doing as you please!
Festive Finances
One of the leading causes of stress during the festive period is the financial strain it places on us. As much as we want to put on a lavish feast and shower our loved ones with gifts, our budgets don’t always allow the extravagance. To avoid spending Christmas worrying about how much you’ve spent, think about little changes you can make which will reduce the cost. Family walks in the snow and afternoons spent sledging can be just as much fun as those ticketed Christmas events. Importantly they won’t cost a penny. Homemade goodies and handcrafted presents are gifts of love and will surely be well received. Ask your family members which aspects of Christmas matter the most to them and base your Christmas entertainment around these feel-good factors.
At Hartleys we’ll be taking our festive break from the 22nd December, returning on the 4th January, but until then if you’d like to chat with one of our designers about your bespoke storage plans for 2022, they’d love to hear from you. You can call us on 01756 700471 or peruse our website and request a design visit to your home. In the meantime the Hartleys team wish you a very merry and relaxing Christmas!