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4 Stresses Of Christmas (And How To Overcome Them)
Ah, Christmas. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Well, that’s the theory anyway. In truth, Christmas can actually be quite stressful, for all kinds of reasons. Thankfully, it only comes around once a year. But still, it doesn’t have to become the worst time of the year, as there are ways to overcome some of the common Christmas stresses. Consider the following and apply anything that is useful to your life this festive season.
Stress #1: Christmas planning
Like most of us, you probably have a lot to do before Christmas arrives. There will be food and Christmas gifts to buy, festive decorations to put up, and lots of Christmas cards to write. This is just the start, we know, as there is so much more to do. And because there is so much more to do, it might be that you get overwhelmed with everything. You might even forget something vital, such as the Christmas turkey!
Solutions:
Firstly, benefit from a Christmas to-do list. Use the linked example and add anything to it that is unique to your situation. This way, you won’t forget to do anything, and you will feel more mentally prepared when you start to tick things off the list.
Secondly, space out your planning. You don’t have to do everything within a week so pace yourself. Again, there are examples of what to do and when in the list we linked you to, so follow the advice within.
Finally, delegate where you can. Your kids could make the Christmas decorations, for example, and if you’re planning a party, your extended family members could provide some of the food. This way, you won’t have to worry about doing absolutely everything!
Stress #2: Family get-togethers
Christmas is a time for family. This is all very well if it’s just you and the people closest to you. However, if you’re planning on a party that includes extended family members, life may become stressful. This is especially true if there are people in the family that don’t get on with each other.
Solutions:
The first thing to say is this: If you don’t want to have a family get-together this year, don’t! Many people aren’t, as while social distancing has eased, lots of families are still playing it safe by confining Christmas to their nearest family circle.
If you do decide to have a get-together, remember that it is safer not to invite everyone. If you only invite a select few, the people you don’t ask along will hopefully understand that the pandemic has caused restrictions. This is also your way of only inviting people that you know will get along and that won’t cause you a headache!
To alleviate the risk of any tension when your family is together, ensure people have plenty to distract them. Organise games for people to play, be they traditional or something a little different, such as these murder mystery games. You can also cut down on your planning by asking people to help you. As we said in the last point, they could bring along food. They could also assist you with cleaning and cooking if they are staying for more than one night. This way, you will have less to worry and stress about.
Finally, don’t be afraid to get your own space. If you start to feel overwhelmed by so much company, go out for a walk, perhaps with the excuse that you’re going to the store. Or retreat to your room for a breather and clear your head before you return to your family.
Stress #3: The expense
Christmas isn’t cheap! Gifts, cards, food, decorations…these are just some of the things that will threaten to topple your bank balance. It’s little wonder that many people get into debt at this time of year. Still, there are ways to save money, so don’t assume you have to go overboard!
Solutions:
Gifts are often the biggest expense, especially when our children give us long lists of the things they want Santa to give them! However, we don’t have to spend a fortune.
Where your kids are concerned, you might want to delegate items on their list to other family members. As your family will want to know what to buy your kids anyway, this will ensure they don’t buy them something that ends up being unwanted. You can also cut down the list by telling your kids that some of the items they want will be saved until their birthday, especially if they have asked for more than anybody can possibly afford.
When it comes to gifts for others, you don’t always have to buy them something. If you have the skills, you could make things for them, such as items of clothing, ornaments, or anything from these Christmas gift recipes.
You can save money on Christmas cards and stamps too. Instead of buying physical cards, consider E-cards instead. Not only is this the easiest and cheapest option but you can do your bit for the environment by eliminating paper waste.
For more ideas, check out these Christmas money-saving tips.
Stress #4: False expectations
As we said at the beginning, Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time when families apparently come together in harmony, with feelings of happiness and cheer. And it’s also the time when we supposedly get to relax away from the pressures of work. These may be some of your expectations for the festive season but as is common for most of us, the reality can be far different. If things are less than perfect for you, you might start to experience feelings of anxiety, stress, and even sadness.
Solution:
Lower your expectations and remember that Christmas is probably not going to be perfect. While there are ways to relieve common stresses, as we have discussed here, things can still go wrong. The turkey might burn to a crisp, the Christmas tree might topple over, and your family members might still squabble. When such situations occur, take time out, do what you usually do to de-stress, and try to show gratitude for the things that are going well instead of dwelling on the things that are going wrong!
Take care and thanks for reading!
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