Harnessing the power of the internet and technology this Christmas may just be what you need to get over this extraordinarily stressful period. While many of you maybe all sorted for the big day, there are still many of us who aren’t.
Many of us are still attending daily Christmas gatherings, still working, still trying to entertain kids, shop & most importantly, work out what we are going to serve to 25 people on Christmas day!!
So, let me share with you my top tips on how we can all use the wonders of the internet and technology to get through:
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E-Cards
If you haven’t done these yet – and let’s be honest very few do now – then scrap this idea immediately. But if your guilt just can’t be silenced then check out ecards. I personally love Smilebox but Lifewire has put together a list of the top ecard sites. But remember, always use a reputable site so your recipients as more likely to open them. Cybercrims have been known to send unsuspecting recipients ecards with the aim of trying to extract their personal information.
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Online Gift Shopping
Getting to the bottom of the Christmas gift list takes time. So, if you still have presents to buy then avoid the crowds and get online. There are still plenty of retailers who are guaranteeing delivery before Christmas. So, make yourself a cup of tea and set the timer for an hour. You’ll be surprised how much you can get done when you have a deadline! Finder.com has put together a list of the top 50 Australian shopping sites – check it out! I do have to disclose I have a soft spot for Peter’s of Kensington, Country Road and Myer online. Great service and speedy delivery!
But please remember to observe safe online shopping habits. Only buy from trusted retailers, look for a padlock at the start of a web address to ensure transactions are encrypted, avoid offers that are ‘too good to be true’ and don’t ever use public Wi-Fi to do your shopping.
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Get Some Extra Help Online
If you haven’t yet used Airtasker to help you work through your to-do list, then you need to start ASAP. Airtasker brings jobs and helpers together in an easy to use app. If your house needs a clean or the garden needs a makeover before the relatives arrive, then log on and create a job and wait for Airtaskers to bid on it. So easy!
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Create an Online To-Do List
There’s nothing like a bit of planning to reduce pressure. Why not create a to-do list in Google Docs or an Excel spreadsheet to identify which family member is responsible for what on the big day? Alternatively, you could create your to-do list in an app like Todoist and then send each person’s task directly to their inbox? Very organised indeed!
So, let’s all take a deep breath. Christmas 2018 is going to be fantastic. Let’s get technology working for us so we can get through our to-do lists and be super parents – even though we all know they just don’t exist!
Merry Christmas
Alex xx
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