The never ending ‘to-do’ list, last minute Christmas shopping, kids off school plus all the money being spent! Sometimes Christmas can be more manic than magical. A lot of us can feel stressed and overwhelmed in the lead up to the big day. In fact, according to a study from YouGov a quarter of the population finds Christmas more challenging than the rest of the year saying say it has a fairly (19%) or very (7%) negative impact on their mental health.
Tis the season to be jolly! So, we’ve put together some ways to help you stay calm this Christmas and bring back the magic.
Prioritise family time
For many of us, spending time with family is one of the most important aspects of the holiday season. Going for a walk, cooking together, and playing board games are all part of the festive fun! But sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the organisational stress and become distracted. Try to stay engaged during the family activities, perhaps by playing your favourite game, getting out the house or enjoying a glass of mulled wine.
Get some me-time in
Making some time during the day to do something on your own is essential for people who can feel exhausted by all that Christmas socialising. Go for a little stroll, have a long bath, read, or do a workout – whatever helps you to relax. Creative activities are known to promote mindfulness, so tying this into the Christmas theme might be the ideal solution!
Get out the house
Sometimes a change of scenery can help distract us from all the Christmas chaos going on at home. Whether it’s with family or on your own, getting out in nature is one of the best ways to help switch off. Plus, for maximum serenity try leaving your phone at home! Excessive use of social media plays a huge part in today’s societal stress so think of it as a mini digital detox.
Share the responsibility
Just a little reminder that you don’t have to do everything yourself. Get the kids involved by delegating some festive tasks like decorating the tree, setting the table, or wrapping gifts. Christmas time is a time for everyone to enjoy (even the adults).
Remember, Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect. Sometimes we can get a bit caught up in trying to make it perfect for everyone else and end up forgetting about our own enjoyment. Spoil yourself as well as others by indulging in some me-time, get creative with Christmas crafts and have some family fun!
