Executive Functioning Hacks for a Stress-Free Festive Season
Note to Reader: In this article, we explore practical executive functioning hacks to help you navigate the festive season with less stress and more joy. From pacing your energy and breaking tasks into manageable chunks to simplifying gift-giving and streamlining wrapping techniques, this guide is packed with tips to help you feel more organised and in control. Whether it’s creating meaningful memories or embracing shortcuts to save time, you’ll find helpful ideas to make the holidays enjoyable and manageable.
Topic: Stress-free Christmas tips, executive functioning holiday hack, simplify Christmas, gift-wrapping ideas, manage festive season stress.
The Festive Season Made Simple: Hacks for a Stress-Free Christmas
The festive season should be magical, but let’s be honest—it often feels like an endless list of things to do. From decking the halls to wrapping presents, the pressure can easily become overwhelming. That’s why I’ve put together a collection of practical executive functioning hacks to help you manage the chaos, focus on what matters, and enjoy the season. Together, we’ll explore tips for pacing yourself, simplifying gift-giving, and mastering effortless wrapping techniques.
Pace Yourself: Christmas Doesn’t Need to Be Picture-Perfect
Here’s a little festive truth: Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect to be special. The adverts and social media posts showing flawless trees, perfectly wrapped presents, and a dinner table that looks like it belongs in a magazine can set unrealistic expectations. Trying to achieve this ideal can lead to unnecessary stress and exhaustion.
Instead, consider what feels right for you and your family. Break large tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. For instance, rather than tackling all your shopping, decorating, and wrapping in one go, spread them out over several days or weeks. Dedicate one evening to choosing gifts, another to wrapping, and another to putting up the decorations.
Decorating your home is a great example of how this approach works. Rather than transforming your house in one evening, why not break it into steps? Spend one evening setting up the Christmas tree, another hanging the lights, and another arranging garlands or festive candles. If that feels too structured, simply aim to do 20 minutes at a time, adding a little more whenever you feel like it. This way, the process becomes enjoyable rather than exhausting.
Most importantly, let go of perfection. If the tree lights are a bit uneven or your mince pies are slightly overbaked, it’s still Christmas, and it’s still wonderful. Focus on the joy of creating memories, not achieving a flawless finish.
Simplify Gift-Giving: Thoughtful, Not Stressful
Gift-giving can be one of the highlights of Christmas, but it’s also a source of unnecessary pressure. The good news? It doesn’t need to be complicated.
Choose gifts that are both practical and thoughtful. A bottle of wine, a potted plant, or a beautifully packaged gift set all make excellent choices. These options often come pre-packaged, saving you time on wrapping. Gift cards are another fantastic option—they allow the recipient to choose something they truly want while taking the guesswork out of your shopping.
For children, themed gifts can make life much easier. A baking kit, a set of craft supplies, or setting a theme such as “Minecraft” helps to keep things cohesive and straightforward. If you want to go the extra mile, consider giving experience-based presents. Tickets to the theatre, a zoo membership, or a voucher for a family day out create lasting memories and don’t require any wrapping—what’s not to love?
Gift-Wrapping Hacks: Make It Effortless
Wrapping gifts can feel like a battle with tape, scissors, and that one rogue bit of wrapping paper that refuses to fold. Here are some hacks to make the whole process quicker and easier:
Stickers instead of tape: Festive stickers can replace fiddly tape and add a decorative touch.
Wrap with a scarf: A scarf doubles as part of the present, looks elegant, and eliminates the need for tape or scissors.
Gift bags to the rescue: Just pop the present into a bag, add a sprinkle of tissue paper, and you’re done. Reusable bags also cut down on waste.
Colour-coded wrapping paper: Assign each person their own wrapping paper pattern or colour. Even if you skip the tags, you’ll know exactly whose present is whose.
Create a Christmas That Works for You
Christmas is meant to be a time of joy, connection, and celebration - not exhaustion. By pacing yourself, simplifying your approach to gifts, and taking shortcuts with wrapping, you can create a holiday season that feels calm, enjoyable, and uniquely yours.
This year, give yourself permission to let go of the pursuit of perfection. Focus on the moments that truly matter, whether it’s sharing a laugh with loved ones, savouring a quiet evening by the tree, or indulging in that extra mince pie. With these simple hacks, you’ll be able to navigate the festive season with ease and enjoy it to the fullest.
At ND Perspective, we’re here to support you through the festive season and beyond. Join our online community for free before December 31st and connect with others who understand the importance of navigating life in a way that works for you.
Supporting and Celebrating our Neurodivergent Community,
Jess x x
This article was adapted from a recent Wellbeing Webinar “An ND Affirmative Christmas”