It’s Chanukah this week and Christmas is just around the corner. Have you started to freak out yet? Or are you on top of your game? Do you have your plans all set? Is dinner at your house, or are you traveling? Feeling calm about everything?

Or not?

This time of year is always stressful for me. Buying gifts, getting the house in order for guests. Figuring out the meal(s), making sure there’s food in the house. And the list goes on.

If you have ADHD, multiply the stress by 100 or more. Sadly, most people, even family, don’t always understand what you’re going through.

  • “Just DO it- everyone else does”
  • “What’s so hard about setting a table?”
  • “Don’t be so sensitive over every little thing- you’re taking it the wrong way”

…etc. etc.

 Well, if you have ADHD, these things ARE difficult and our feelings DO get hurt easily. That’s all part of having ADHD.  But maybe this year, you can do things differently to make the holidays more enjoyable. Here are some ideas:

  1. Carry food in instead of cooking
  2. Consider eating out
  3. Have a potluck and ask your favorite cook to tackle the main dish
  4. Don’t invite critical people.
  5. Don’t invite any people- just have your immediate family
  6. Slow down the pace. Maybe instead of two parties, you have one.
  7. If you don’t want to GO to a party, just say no (but offer a kind excuse).
  8. Pare down the spending. Just because your kids want the latest and the greatest doesn’t mean you have to take out a second mortgage to make them happy
  9. Shop online for all your gifts and save yourself the headache (scroll down for ideas)

What can you do differently so that you can enjoy the holidays instead of stress over them? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

**Need some help? Join The Queens of Distraction and we’ll get you through this, with loads of support from your fellow women with ADHD as well as from me. Join today HERE.