BACOLOD CITY – As the birth of the Son of Man nears, challenges also appear, most of them related to the rush of the season, of the need to spend, prepare Noche Buena, buy gifts and all the hassle the season brings instead of deep and quiet contemplation.
Our lifestyle reporter asked planners, surfed the Web, and tapped his common sense to give you some simple tips.
When town squares start to feel like Disneyland, when old and new Christmas songs loop from morning to night in malls, buses, and other public places, and closing time changes from nine in the evening to 12-midnight, yup, it is already, they say – “the most wonderful time of the year.”
The Chistmas magic is, indeed, impossible to ignore.
But with such magic, comes the RUSH – there goes holiday traffic jams and malls start to get congested.
Is it still the most wonderful time of the year?
The answer is – it is up to you.
With proper planning and time management, your Christmas this year will be one for the books.
Here are some tips in making your Christmas a breeze:
1.) Plans gifts and “handaan” early
Sneak in a little bit of Chistmas planning in your very busy schedule. No pressure. Just think of your ‘inaanaks’ or ‘pamangkins’ that you’ll be giving gifts to. And also, never forget the food.
2.) Make a list
Of course, planning is nothing without a list to remind you of what you planned for. A pen and paper won’t hurt. Ink in paper their names, gifts, the food you will be cooking and their ingredients, and also do a little accounting on your budget. This might take a little more time but it will all be worth it.
3.) Shop early
You have a list, the next thing to do is to shop for it, NOW. Get a little bit of your rest time and go to malls and get some checks on those boxes on your list. Remember, malls get more and more congested as the 25th gets closer.
4.) Online shopping
The great thing about technology today is online shopping is very much available. In case you forgot to buy a gift for your ‘pamangkin’, the shops online are very open for you. Just make sure that it arrives before Christmas.
5.) Avoid stressful rush hours
To avoid wasting your time due to traffic jam, shop early and go home early. As much as you want to sip a good, strong americano in your favorite coffee shop, the streets have no mercy. Grab what you need in the markets or in the malls and relax in the comforts of your home.
6.) Stay home
Speaking of the comforts of home, it is always good to stay at home during Christmas. Get everyone together, spend some time together, and use it as the perfect time to relax especially if you’ve spend most of your time for work. Give this day a gift for your self, to feel free of negative thoughts and be surrounded by the ones who truly care for you.
