How to cope with a stressful Christmas
Do you dread the festive season every year? Here’s how to cope with a stressful Christmas.
Christmas can be stressful for any number of reasons. It could be difficult relatives, not having enough money, naughty children or the fact that everyone has had a tough year this year and you’re unable to see the people you love.
It’s important to remember at Christmas time though that no one is having a perfect time, despite what Instagram says and everyone has their own troubles. But this year, if you need to just get through the day then here are some tips to help you.
Prepare in advance
There is still time to do some damage limitation so make sure that your oven is working, that your boiler is okay and that there’s nothing leaking. If you find even the slightest problem, now is the time to get it fixed.
Whether you need to order industrial pipe fittings or stock up your board game cupboard, get prepared now so that you can limit problems and hopefully be stress-free.
Get the perfect level of drunk
It’s important that you don’t get too drunk as this could make things worse for everyone. If you’ve got no idea what you’re doing, can’t cook, start crying or end up passing out in bed by 2 pm then this isn’t going to be nice for anyone.
However, it is also important that you enjoy yourself and a little drink can really take the edge off. Choose drinks that you know you like and that have a positive effect on you. Take it slowly and enjoy yourself. If you find yourself getting a bit too tipsy or not feeling good then stop before it gets too late.
Get out of the house
It’s a good idea to get some fresh air on Christmas day. Either go out for a walk with your family or get out by yourself to get some space.
Fresh air and walking can do wonders for stress, so when you notice things getting on top of you, get out there and you’ll come back feeling like a different person and ready to enjoy the day. It’s always good to clear your head too, so pop on a meditation app while you’re walking or sit on a bench for a while and just take some time for yourself.
Don’t put pressure on yourself
As mentioned, no one actually has the picture-perfect Christmas, so forget about it. You don’t need matching Christmas pyjamas or photos in front of the tree.
You don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy yourselves either. Just relax a bit, enjoy the good moments, and try to laugh about the bad. Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect and this one was always going to be an odd one anyway, so make the most of what it is and try to make the best of it.
Photo by Rodion Kutsaev
