Saying No to the things you don’t want to do can really help you to enjoy everything else much more. If you always get stressed in the run up to the festive season, maybe this year is the time to set some boundaries ahead of time? Emotions run high at this time of year and it can be a difficult time for many.īut there are a whole lot of other stresses that we largely bring upon ourselves in the pursuit of the perfect Christmas, and to meet the expectations of ourselves and others. Some kinds of holiday season stress are unavoidable, and for many people it can be a time of increased loneliness, depression, family issues, mental health problems, or financial stress. Opt out of the things you don’t want to do this Christmas I’m a firm believer in the mantra that Christmas Isn’t a Season, It’s a Feeling.
Things like family, and slowing down, and eating too much, and watching the same old movies and singing the same old songs. The actual important things about Christmas are not the More things. Whatever it is, figure it out and go from there. Maybe you’re working over Christmas and need others to step up and help you organise. Maybe you want to take a few days with your immediate family to just be. If you can let go of all that pressure and focus on the things that matter to YOU, whether it’s going all out to turn your home into Santa’s Grotto, or paring back your decorations completely. But potentially more stress and more disappointment if you feel like you’re not living up to it all. The pressure comes from everywhere to do more, buy more, decorate more, give more, eat more. We’re conditioned to have a certain idea (or ideal!) of Christmas, based on nostalgia, advertising, and social media to name just a few. Honestly, this is probably the most important factor in being able to really enjoy the festive season. Decide what matters to you this Christmas If you’re prone to Christmas-planning stress, and feel exhausted by the time the day actually arrives, then read on for some ideas for taking the stress out of this season. Ideas for a Less Stressful Christmas Season But the schedule is relaxed and there will be plenty of time for quietly preparing a stress-free Christmas. This year I’ve booked a few Christmas activities for December: ice skating, Christmas market, and a Santa visit. But one of the things I learned during the pandemic Christmas was that NOT rushing around everywhere during December was amazing. The calendar is almost completely back to normal this year after the different and mostly virtual Christmas celebrations of the covid years. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to submit the form A Less-Busy Christmas So how can you manage to have a stress-free Christmas? Here’s your guide to slowing down for an easier, more enjoyable holiday season.
PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS SCENERY SERIES
If you’re organising Christmas for a family, hosting others for the holidays, or just generally trying to juggle working, childcare and all-round magic-making, you probably have a series of holiday season lists: gifts to buy, events to attend, friends to see, menu plans, cards and wrapping, shopping lists, who has to be where when, who’s coming to visit/stay, various school and nursery dates-for-the-diary, moving the godforsaken elf…and all the rest. I’m completely unapologetic about this.īut let’s be honest: this time of year is usually just so busy. I love the smell of Christmas – pine trees and frost, cinnamon and cloves, gluhwein and hot chocolate. I love Christmas markets, light displays, and pantomime. I love the season of advent, of counting down the days. I’m definitely a Christmas person and I always look forward to this time of year with a clichéd sense of excitement.
Mostly I’m really excited about the stress-free Christmas I’m planning! The decorations are going up in a couple of weeks, the advent calendars are bought and waiting, and I might have already eaten a whole Terry’s chocolate orange. We’re heading into December now and I’m starting to feel Christmassy. Get ahead for next year – you will thank yourself in about 11 months' time! Have simple stress-free Christmas traditions for everyone to look forward to Let go of the idea of the Perfect Christmas Turn the Christmas gift wrapping into an enjoyable experience You don't need to do all the Christmas decorating at once Plan Christmas early so you can actually enjoy December Make a Christmas list of stuff you WANT to do (not have to do) Opt out of the things you don't want to do this Christmas Start by doing one thing to get yourself in the Christmas mood Ideas for a Less Stressful Christmas Season.
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