A Christmas survival guide

Christmas is almost here and, as with every year, it comes with significant pressure to be jolly and have the time of your life. Whilst celebrating Christmas with family and friends can be magical, it can equally be exhausting, expensive and emotionally draining. If you’re already feeling stressed about your commitments this year, take a look at our Christmas survival guide.

Be prepared

If you’re a very organised person or not, everyone could do with a bit of extra pre-Christmas planning. How about setting your budget for gifts, planning meals and writing your shopping lists way in advance? Shopping right before the big day can be especially stressful and overwhelming, so be prepared! Do one task at a time and don’t be afraid to ask your loved ones for help if it gets too much.

Manage expectations

With media selling us the idea of a perfect Christmas from early autumn, our expectations of the day can get a little overinflated, making us easily disappointed when the tiniest detail doesn’t go as we planned. What can really make Christmas magical (as with any other day), is simply being present, rather than being in our heads fighting with our thoughts and ‘to do’ lists.

Look after yourself (no-one else will)

December is known for drinking plenty of alcohol, eating indulgently and not sleeping enough. With social pressures to celebrate Christmas all month, alongside our usual work and family commitments, it can simply be too much to bear. Being tired and hungover doesn’t make us good company either, hence basic self care is even more important this month. Make sure you catch up on sleep when you can, stay hydrated, eat well and do some physical activity.

Remember perspective

For many British families, eating indulgent meals, receiving expensive gifts and playing board games is often the norm at Christmas. As a result, we end up thinking that every family lives in harmony and financial stability. This time of the year is particularly difficult for those who are not so lucky. A study into festive despondency by psychiatric healthcare facility Florida House found that 29 percent of people feel depressed at Christmas because it reminds them that they don’t have anyone to share it with. Meanwhile, for 69 percent it simply makes them realise how broke they are. If you’re the lucky one this Christmas, share your love and light with the ones that need it most. It can make a difference.

We wish you a very happy, peaceful and relaxed Christmas this year.

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