How to stress less this Christmas

Christmas is a great time of year for socialising, catching up with family and friends, letting our hair down and taking a well-earned rest from work.

However for some it can be a stressful time. We worry about Christmas shopping, finding the right gifts for people, get caught up in the shopping frenzy with queues on the high streets, we try to cram in social engagements with everyone we know … and that’s without the stress of the big day itself whether we are hosting and cooking or spending time travelling across the country trying to see family and friends.  

Over the course of a few weeks we will consume probably twice as many calories as we normally would. We burn that candle at both ends (and sometimes in the middle) We party like there is no tomorrow, get less sleep, and work hard in the days leading up to the break. So here are a few simple tips to help you get through the festive season as stress free as possible…

1. First things first, make a plan.

Give yourself adequate time to shop for gifts on the high street or online (allowing time for delivery). Whether you are organising the food, contributing to the spread or entertainment. If you run out of time be flexible and choose easier options e.g. buy prepared food or have some back-up ideas for things to do.

2. Give up unrealistic demands

We put so much pressure on ourselves at Christmas with the organising and usually giving ourselves extra jobs around the house to make it the 'perfect' Christmas. It’s the Internal demands you make upon yourself such as, 'I must be the perfect organiser', or 'Everybody must enjoy themselves'. Try to take a more flexible approach for less stress if things don’t quite go to plan! e.g. 'I'll just do my best to organise events within the time and resources I have, no more no less' or 'I'm not responsible for other peoples' enjoyment. They are responsible too'.

3. Don’t commit to too much

Ask yourself, 'Do I really have to visit everybody on Christmas Day?' It can be a stressful time packing and unpacking the car and spending hours on motorways with the rest of the country trying to do the same. Consider spacing out visits or even making plans for the New Year and don't be afraid to say 'No' occasionally. Think about yourself and what you need instead of trying to please everybody else which can have a detrimental impact on your wellbeing. Its not selfish, its self-care. January can feel like a long month so its great to have something to look forward to!

4. Try to plan your work in the lead up to holidays

A lot of us can spend the days leading up to the break stressing about getting everything done and working late in the office. Depending on your job, this may be your busiest time of year! Try to prioritise as far as you can and manage people’s expectations. Ask people - what do they (absolutely) need before Xmas? What will they realistically be able to do with the information they receive now? This way, you may be able to tackle the most important or urgent things first and have a plan for work the days between Christmas and New Year if you are working, or plan for when you come back in January.

5. Keep active!

Physical outdoor activity is excellent for children and adults. For most people the big day tends to revolve around eating, drinking, watching films, more eating, playing games, eating… Our active routines generally go out of the window for a coupe of weeks. If your evenings are spent socialising, maybe try a morning or lunchtime work out so that you are still getting some exercise to combat the indulgence?

6. Don’t over-indulge!

Enjoy the Christmas parties, the nights out and the rich festive foods, but don’t overdo it! It can be easy to mindlessly devour whole boxes of chocolates or gigantic wedges of cheese without batting an eye over a couple of days. Sharing meals and eating different foods is a great way to socialise and people love to feed others at this time of year. Christmas is a great time for treats, but it’s the knock on effect of regularly consuming rich or sweet food, alcohol and not being as active that makes us really feel the effects in January!

7. Take a break

Take some time out to relax for yourself when you can. Christmas can be a stressful time for families and partners if you don’t usually spend as much time together and especially if you are trying to keep family happy and entertained. We all need a little breathing space, so take a bit of time out for a walk, run or a snooze…whatever you do that helps you relax. A moment of mindfulness can do wonders, and you will come back to the festivities refreshed and ready to socialise and enjoy the day.

8. Last tip… Enjoy the day! Relax, and unwind!

Remember what is important - you are spending the day with the people you choose to be with (mostly ;) We often forget how lucky we are compared to many others at this time of year. There will be plenty of opportunities to meet up with friends and family after Christmas. Does it really matter if you don’t manage to get something that is on somebody’s Christmas list, or if the roast potatoes are not as crispy you hoped? It only happens once a year, so chill out and embrace … feeling as stuffed as the Turkey, the Christmas films that you have seen a hundred times before, the never ending board games, the bad losers, the toxic aroma that fills the living room post Christmas Dinner!

So enjoy your week leading up to Christmas and before you stress, just think … Does it really matter? Remember … The things that are really important can’t be bought!