THIS ONE IS FOR ALL THE WOMEN OUT THERE WHO LIKE TO HAVE CONTROL, OF THEIR HOME, THEIR KIDS, FOOD, MESS, YOU NAME IT, CHRISTMAS DAY CHALLENGES EVERY WOMEN WHO LIKES CONTROL.
Christmas Day has a way of bringing out the inner project manager in all of us. The mental lists, the timing of the roast, the wrapping, the cleaning, the “is everyone having a good time?” loop running in the background.
It’s a beautiful day, but it can also be a lot.
If you’re someone who naturally takes charge (or ends up in charge), letting go of control on Christmas Day can feel almost impossible. But it is possible, and it can make the day feel lighter, softer, and far more enjoyable.
Here’s how to gently loosen your grip and actually be present...... and before you read ahead, do yourself a favour, commit to doing at least a couple of these things. I will help you enjoy your day more!
1. Decide what truly matters (and let the rest be “good enough”)
Before the day arrives, take a moment to ask yourself:
What actually makes Christmas feel special to me?
Is it the food? The people? The slow morning? The kids’ excitement? The music?
Whatever your answer is, focus on that.
Everything else can be “good enough.”
Not perfect. Not Instagram-worthy. Just… enough.
2. Share the load, even if it feels uncomfortable
If you’re used to doing everything, delegating can feel like a loss of control. But it’s actually an act of generosity, it lets others contribute, feel involved, and take ownership of the day too.
Ask someone to bring a dish.
Let someone else set the table.
Let the kids decorate however they want.
Say yes when someone offers to help.
People like helping. Let them.
3. Build in pockets of quiet for yourself
Christmas doesn’t have to be “on” from morning to night.
Give yourself permission to step away for a few minutes.
A cup of tea outside.
A slow breath in the bedroom.
A moment to stretch, reset, or just be.
These tiny pauses help you stay grounded instead of overwhelmed.
4. Release the fantasy version of the day
We all carry a little movie in our heads of how Christmas should look.
But real life is messier, louder, and far more unpredictable.
Someone will be late.
Something will burn.
A present won’t fit.
Kids will get overstimulated.
Someone will forget the ice.
None of it ruins the day.
It just makes it real.
Letting go of the fantasy frees you to enjoy the imperfect, beautiful reality.
5. Choose presence over perfection
When you feel yourself slipping into “fixing mode,” pause and ask:
Will this matter in an hour? In a day? In a year?
Most of the time, the answer is no.
What will matter is the laughter, the connection, the memories, the feeling of being together.
Presence is the real magic, not the perfectly timed potatoes.
6. Give yourself permission to enjoy the day too
This one is big.
You’re not the host, the organiser, the cleaner, the emotional anchor, the chef, the gift-wrapper, the entertainer, and the peacekeeper all at once.
You’re a person who deserves to enjoy Christmas just as much as everyone else.
Sit down.
Eat while the food is hot.
Let someone else take over for a moment.
Allow yourself to receive, not just give.
7. Remember: the day isn’t meant to be controlled, it’s meant to be lived
Christmas is a collection of moments, not a performance.
When you loosen your grip, you make space for joy, spontaneity, and connection — the things that actually make the day memorable.
Let it unfold.
Let it be imperfect.
Let it be enough.
And most importantly, let yourself be part of it.
At the end of the day, Christmas isn’t something to manage, it’s something to feel. When you loosen your grip, even just a little, you make space for the moments that actually matter: the laughter, the connection, the quiet pauses you’ll remember long after the dishes are done. Let the day unfold in its own imperfect, lovely way. Let yourself be part of it, not in charge of it. And most of all, give yourself permission to enjoy the magic you work so hard to create for everyone else
Enjoy your Christmas, 2025.
The Peony Parcel Team xx
