How to ace a stress-free Christmas: My 8 life hacks to keeping cool, calm and celebratory!

There's a reason why just a couple of days after Christmas, and following a whirlwind six-month engagement, that I am getting married this year! Once every two years my large family (six kids and an ever-growing number of grandkids plus my very patient parents!) meets in Auckland to spend Christmas together. And this year it's at my place.

With well over 100 people expected to descend upon Chez Kendy over those few days with Christmas and the wedding parties, I neeeeeed to get some huge time-saver hacks and #wins in to ensure the sanity of all (OK... mostly me!).

Plus I am wrapping up work with my fab team at Socialites, and already smashing planning for 2019. It's enough to run off with Rudolf and his troupe!

So cue listicle time for my amazing 8 Xmas hacks that save time, money, sweat in the kitchen and migraines, and lets you do all the cool stuff like turn off the phone, drink champagne, and recharge and reset.

So here goes...

1. Create Family Traditions

Creating family traditions is an awesome way of - weirdly - keeping things simple. Stress vanishes when you know what's expected at Christmas time. A little bit of predictability can be your best friend!

In our family, as you'll have seen in previous posts, we love to wear a funny costume like the daggy Xmas sweaters above. This year is no different and is guaranteed to be something corny.

Then on Christmas Day when we're all together, we play Kiwi Pong, and when we're apart it's J?ger bombs across the different time zones via Skype or Facetime, because we're classy like that!

We also make time to get to the park for a solid round of Kiwi cricket. (We did try karaoke one year, it was horrendous...really, really bad. Never again!).

Like this? Then you'll love:

2. Get A Food Box

This is a no-brainer for me. I do not want to spend anymore time than I have to at the supermarket (online or in real life) or in the kitchen on what promises to be yet another humid (but gorgeous!) Auckland day. So I have pre-ordered my food box, and I highly recommend this for taken a huge load off!

There are so many fun Christmas menus to choose from My Food Bag, The Kai Box (vegan), WOOP, Bargain Box. So just do it!

People can also bring their Christmas faves to add to the menu - my brother Brian who lives in Vancouver always brings Christmas ham or turkey; mine's a fruit salad! - and you're good to go!

I bought three linen tablecloths super cheap at Ezibuy online, and we'll join three tables together for an afternoon-evening Christmas feast.

3. Have a Family Secret Santa

Nothing cuts down the cost and stress of Christmas more than having a family Secret Santa. My family are not big into thing-things and none of us need more stuff, so we buy for one person, with a $30 limit, and gifts have to be wearable or consumable. Some fail safes are Havaianas (you can buy online from as little at $9.99 from Catch of the Day, $19.99 from North Beach, and $25 at The Warehouse. BOOM!

Or a scented candle (I've only met one person who doesn't like candles!!), cool grooming products - Kiwi brand Dodgy Bastard sorts out the guys - and a lippy or nail polish is another winner for the gals!

Keep the costs low and take advantage of those gold coin donation gift wrapping stations in malls so you're also supporting worthy charities.

Like this? Then you'll love: Why finding your Tribe is so important to mental health and resilience.

4. Make Stuff

When a rainy day sends us indoors (if you're in Auckland, you can count on this!), making gifts is a win-win. I used to make all my girlfriends mini Christmas fruitcakes from an Alison Holst recipe, and it might be on the agenda this weekend!

My youngest daughter Mieke made her friends all edible slime for Christmas - thanks Nanogirl! Think marshmallows and sugar. It looks super cute!

I've also bought some temporary chalk spray-paint from Mitre 10 that washes off in water for the girls to decorate our driveway with Christmas messages and drawings first thing on Christmas Day. It'll be the gift that keeps on giving this Christmas.

5. Think Of Others

Now is the perfect time to sort through your kids and your clothes and knick knacks and give them to someone who needs them more. Christmas can be a tough time for some, and unfortunately, domestic violence goes up, so Women's Refuge, among others, are even more in need than ever.

Do a purge and drop off the stuff you don't need (or get the organisation to collect). Throw in a lovely gift - either unwrapped so the organisation can see the gift, or in an open paper bag or clear cellophane - something lovely or useful. Kids can always use a backpack, and mums no doubt love a pampering treat as we all do.

We did our wardrobe clear-out last weekend and are passing on everything to a friend in Waiheke. It's great to give what you already have and at the same time become a reuse, recycle boss!

Like this? Then you'll love: How to do stuff you don't want to do and smash it anyway!

6. Shop Online + Shop Smart

My girls are at that stage that shopping at bricks and mortar shops is fun, so I will be taking a couple of hours off with them to stroll down Queen Street this year. But otherwise all my shopping is done online.

With only one family present to buy, and of course a few for my girls and husband-to-be, online is where it's at. Just make sure you check the delivery dates!

7. Go Gospel

This is not something I have managed to do but I love the idea of! One of my friends attends different Christmas Eve services or midnight masses around the city each year. It's a great way to celebrate humankind and I think a lovely way to capture the magic of Christmas!

8. Make Time For You!

Every Christmas I start the day unwrapping Santa's gifts with my girls (some years this has been a very early start!!!), then I go for a run and a swim at the beach before it's packed.

It's so special seeing the pohutukawa trees in bloom over the beach. It's such a perfect way to have important me time, before the crazy begins!!

Like this? Then you'll love: It's my Birthday... which means it's listicle time: Here's 40 things I have learned in my life on planet earth so far!

Whatever you do this holiday season, make it as stress-free as possible so you can enjoy time with the people you love most!

From our family to yours, may you have a safe, happy and very Merry Christmas!

#celebratethewins

Wendy Thompson, CEO & Founder, Socialites