The holiday season is difficult for me, and I'm sure I'm not alone. There are so many things to do - shopping, cooking, decorating, and the list goes on and on. Having just survived Thanksgiving (only because I didn't have to do anything but desserts), I thought it might be a good time to discuss how to survive Christmas with ADHD.
It is always best to start earlier than now with Christmas preparations, but since I'm assuming you have ADHD if you're reading this, I'm betting you haven't started yet. So here's the best advice I can give for those who need to put Christmas together in three weeks or less!
A few years ago, I pared down my holiday decorating by buying coordinating decorations instead of a conglomeration of everything I happen to see that I like. My Christmas tree and home look better and there's no more deciding what to do with that decoration I love but that doesn't fit in anywhere. You may not have time to go out and purchase all new decorations this year, but you may want to keep in mind a simple color scheme and look for the after Christmas sales. I only buy decorations in burgundy, green and gold now. It has definitely simplified things on the decorating end of the holidays!
Gift buying is probably my single most difficult task during the holidays. I usually find 800 things that are perfect for about two people on my list, and nothing that is perfect for anyone else. The easiest way to handle this is to start very early and get a gift or two each month, but we have ADHD, so we didn't plan that far ahead. Actually, most people don't plan that far ahead, but I keep planning to every year. I just haven't quite got there yet! Maybe next year. For now, try to do as much catalog shopping in the first week of December as you can. This way you can avoid the ADDers tendency to overspend because those things you walk by in the store and just have to have won't tempt you. Also, plan a budget and stick to it. That's good advice for anyone, but particularly for those of us with ADHD.
I try to send a family Christmas letter each year to update the family on what's happened during the year. This is pretty easy because I write down everything in my calendar. I've learned over the years that I am completely lost without some kind of calendar to help me organize my life. I may not remember everything, but if I write it down it is more likely to happen than if I don't write it down! Anyway, I consult my calendar and write a letter based on the important things that have happened to each person in the family. You may just send Christmas cards instead of a letter. Either way, you'll need your list of addresses. I have my address book as well as a Christmas card list with names and addresses. The Christmas card list is kept with the Christmas decorations so I don't lose it. The address book is subject to be misplaced at any time! I do try to keep up with it, though, so I can add families to my Christmas list that I've met during the year.
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