Have a Stress Free Christmas!
1. Be realistic – we all dream of perfect Santa down the chimney covered in snow Christmases but in reality this is hard to achieve so keep your expectations real. Perfect Christmases come from accepting what is not good and taking action to improve it rather than wishing it will all come right on the day – if you don’t get on with your family the rest of the year then getting together at Christmas is going to really confirm that.
How to deal with it – remember that Christmas day is just one day so if you have commitments that you have to honour on that day, create your own perfect day on another date in the holiday period – book a pampery day at a spa, invite all your friends round for a party or disappear off to the seaside with your loved ones.
2. Be tolerant – Christmas is a very emotive time so expect nerves to be a bit more tingly than usual. Christmas tends to bring back childlike emotions in all of sulky and us that makes us more demanding if we don’t get our own way and this can cause real friction.
How it deal with it – Its all about communication and team work – if you can all agree that you don’t want to disagree over Christmas then get any concerns out in the open well in advance.
3. Step out of the routine – We often feel obliged to do things because we feel that is what someone else what’s us to do. Just because someone said how much they enjoyed having everyone over on Christmas day or loved the socks you bought them does not mean they will get the same enjoyment year in year out. We may well think our elderly parents love having you all bickering around the Christmas table and you feel resentment because you want to be doing something else but has anyone bothered to talk about this.
How to deal with it – talk to everyone involved, you may well find that everyone has been longing to break the routine but all thought that everyone else loved it so didn’t want to hurt their feelings.
4. Stop making it a chore – Christmas is not compulsory but so many people start complaining about it months in advance as if it is some sort of endurance test. Christmas is supposed to be a pleasurable time and if you start off with a negative attitude, you can guarantee that it will be a very negative event.
How to deal with it - We all have problems in our life that won’t disappear just because it is Christmas. Take positive steps to bring pleasure and satisfaction into your life over the holiday period and put your problems on hold – Say to yourself you are going to do everything that you can to make Christmas as enjoyable as possible and this will involve addressing negative aspects that could prevent that from happening.
5. Relax – one of the reasons why we are supposed to love Christmas is because it is a holiday. We can spend time with those we love doing pleasurable things while recharging our batteries and reminding ourselves why we work so hard the rest of the time. In reality we seem obliged to load as many stressful situations on ourselves as possible.
How to deal with it – does it really matter if the mince pies are not homemade and the house is not immaculate? Always take the easy option and free up sometime to do exactly what Christmas should be. Plan in time to relax even if it is just half an hour a day.
6. Get organized – Are you one of those many that is still shopping on Christmas eve and up all night cleaning the carpets? If you dread Christmas then you will probably spend all autumn worrying about it then all December trying to fit all the preparations in.
How to deal with it – the best way to deal with stress is to take action. Start early and make a plan with one small task to complete each week. This decreases anxiety and means you don’t get in a panic too late.
7. Indulge your body – Our idea of indulgence is probably not the same as our body. We throw in huge amounts of rich food and alcohol and then wonder why we feel so tired, irritable, bloated and run down.
How to deal with it – Indulge but not constantly. If you know you are partying all night give yourself an easy day the next. Eat plenty of pure basics foods such as lean meat, fish and vegetables and drink plenty of water to keep your system cleansed.
8. Manage your energy levels – Christmas can be very exhausting, all, shopping, preparation, rich food and drink combined with little mental of physical activity is a real energy drainer.
How to deal with it – Get outdoors and do some enjoyable activities such as winter walks or playing with the kids. Even if it is just a 5 minute trot round the block, this will help clear your head and reenergize your body.
9. Don’t be superwoman – Do you take every aspect of Christmas on and feel you have to show how well you can do it?
How to deal with it – there are no awards for being worn out and if you act like a doormat then everyone will treat you like one. If there are other people involved in your Christmas let them play a part. Allocate jobs before hand such as providing the crackers or laying the table, even the children would be happy to help if it makes you more fun to be with.
10. Keep the spirit of Christmas – Christmas is a time of good will to all men and help to those less fortunate but all you want to say is humbug!
How to deal with it – Focus on what you have got and make the most of that. If you always have to have a grumpy old relative for dinner feel pity rather than anger. If people are negative it usually means they are not happy so don’t let their comments get to you. Try always starting a conversation with a complement or a positive statement and see how long they can keep the moaning up!