How to cope with the stress of Christmas!
Our tips for a more relaxed and stress free time...
Christmas is always portrayed as a season to look forward to and yet for many people it’s a time of stress and arguments to be dreaded. So here's our advice and tips to keep the peace in households this Christmas.
The key to a stress free Christmas is to acknowledge the stress points in advance.
Prepare accordingly and keep it in perspective. Ultimately, it’s your relationships, not the tasks that are important. Here are some of the most common festive issues we gets asked about:
The workload: “Try not to get hooked on the lists of tasks but aim to enjoy as many of them as possible by asking other people to help you, not only to share the workload but also so you’ve got someone to talk to. Also try to keep tasks in perspective. For example, laying the table isn’t about the cutlery and the napkins but about the people you’re going to be sharing the meal with – and who are going to be helping with the washing up afterwards!”
Extended Family: “Think about all the people coming to visit or stay over Christmas; Whose company do you really enjoy - and whose you don’t.
Recognise who winds you up and what they are likely to say or do that provokes you. Make a conscious choice not to react; if necessary say to yourself ‘I’m not going to rise to this’ and leave the room. You are under no obligation to like someone but it only takes one person to be mature enough to avoid the argument to ensure it doesn’t happen. There’s a lot to be said for taking a few deep breaths and letting it go.”
Excess alcohol and food: “Lots of people get tired, cranky and irritable with each other after a few drinks or a big meal, not helped by long hours spent indoors with other people. Get out and go for a walk each day over the festive period, even on your own if you find yourself being wound up by others.”
Presents: “People get so stressed trying to find and give the perfect present. Try to remember that a present is a token, a way to tell someone they’re special to you. Will they really love or respect you any the less if your present isn’t spot-on?
Also, a well-written card or letter can say so much more than a badly chosen present. Let the recipient know that you appreciate having them in your life – you do the talking, not the present.
Christmas Parties: “There’s such pressure on us to enjoy parties but many people dislike them and it’s absolutely OK to say ‘no’ to parties you don’t want to go to. If you are a party animal, think about what can happen if you overdo it. And more importantly, what's at risk if you do. While parties can be a great chance to let your hair down, they can also be seen as an excuse for behaviour that can cause problems way beyond the following morning.”
Relationships: “Christmas can be a time of high stress for relationships. Don’t foist your idea of a perfect Christmas on your partner. Allow space for people to experience their preferred type of Christmas – we don’t all have to join in everything!”