Christmas is just around the corner, and we are all busy planning and getting things in place so that we can enjoy the day without any hiccups. Here, we share some tips to help you on your way to a stress-free day.
Check Your Boiler
No one wants to be replacing an old boiler at any time of the year, but if your boiler breaks down over Christmas, you are in for a very chilly and very expensive festive period – and that’s not much fun for anyone!
Give your system a once over now, and if it looks a bit suspicious, call someone to get it checked out soon. While you are thinking about it, bleed your radiators of any hot air trapped in the system to make sure they are working as well as they should.
Book Your Shopping
Unless you are the sort of person who likes to fight the crowds in the supermarket in the run-up to Christmas, then get your big Christmas shop booked in NOW. Do it a few days before if you can, so if you have forgotten that jar of cranberry sauce or the all-important pigs in blankets, or they are out of stock and have been substituted for something a little random, you have enough time to hit the shops and get them.
Run Down Your Fridge & Freezer
Once you have booked your collection or delivery spot for your shopping, make sure you have enough room in your fridge and freezer for everything. It might mean a couple of weeks of random meals and pulling out containers and hoping that it is chilli that you have just defrosted and not a tub of gravy, but you will have plenty of space to fit in all your festive goodies!
Give Everywhere a Good Clean
This time of year is germ-central, so add in a higher than usual stream of visitors and the extra stress that can leave us a little more vulnerable to bacteria, and you have the perfect recipe to be hit with an illness just in time for the big day.
Spend some time giving everywhere a good clean – pay particular attention to germ hotspots such as door handles, light switches, TV remotes, and banisters and handrails. Try to open the window for a short time every day to let fresh air circulate and leave the house feeling fresher.
Don’t Go Overboard
The temptation to go all out at this time of year is high, especially when you look on social media and see piles of presents up to the ceiling and tables collapsing under the sheer volume of food.
Christmas is about spending time with the ones you love, not the amount of money you have spent. Remember, it is only for one day – no one is going to notice if you didn’t buy three different types of crackers for the cheese – but they’ll notice if you’re stressed!
Got Something to Add?
Do you have any tips for helping to limit the stress around the home at Christmas? Let us know in the comments section below.
Until next time, thanks for reading.
Helen, Nial and Lewis
Welcome to Pikalily, an award-winning food, travel and lifestyle blog. We are Nial and Helen, a happily married couple from Northern Ireland, who share a passion for food and travel among many things. We became parents to our beautiful boy Lewis in 2017. Follow our adventures through the blog.
