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Have yourself a calm little Christmas
Posted by Claire Boote, on December 5, 2019.
Estimated reading time: 1 minute(s)
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also the busiest.
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also the busiest.
It’s a time for sharing, caring, and creating as much festive magic and joy as we can. But between buying and wrapping gifts galore, sending cards to distant relatives, and doing the big food shop for the whole family, we don’t really get a moment to think about ourselves.
We put all our energy into making the season special for everyone around us, which is brilliant, but it creates a lot of pressure. Your mental health is important and nothing – not even Christmas – should come before it.
So with that in mind, here are a few ideas on how you can make December a bit less stressful for yourself.
You deserve it!
Our six top tips:
1. Lists, lists, lists
She’s making a list, she’s checking it twice … because that’s the only way she’ll get through this manic season! List everything you need to do, and tick it off methodically. You’ll feel much better once you get it all written down.
2. Do it online
Avoid the crowds by doing whatever jobs you can online. Order your gifts, do the food shop or send e-cards. You’ll save heaps of time and hugely reduce your spiralling stress levels!
While you stock up on goodies for everyone else, remember that you deserve to be looked after, too! So while you treat everyone else, be sure to also give yourself a well-deserved treat. Invest in yourself, with a comfortable, matching lingerie set or a beautiful wirefree bra. We know you absolutely deserve it.
4. Allow yourself to cut corners
Don’t pressure yourself – you might have a vision of the perfect Christmas you want to create in your head. But will the holidays be ruined if you cross a few things off the list without actually doing them? Unlikely! Be kind to yourself. It’s OK to say no to invitations, decide not to do Christmas cards or opt out of the Secret Santa challenge at work if it reduces your stress levels.
5. Ditch the traditions
Christmas doesn’t have to be the same each year. Just because you always make mince pies and sausage rolls, host the whole family on Boxing Day and create perfect six-inch ribbon curls on your gift wrapping, it doesn’t have to be that way. Write yourself a new Christmas story this year – one that leaves you feeling happy.
6. A bit of me time
Schedule in a little time for yourself in amongst the Christmas craziness. Whether it’s a bubble bath at the end of each day, a walk in the fresh air, a quick nap after work, a yoga session at lunch or a glass of wine on the sofa, take time out to clear your head and refresh. Back in February, we shared our tips on how to feel great and look after yourself – something that far too many of us forget to do. It’s worth a recap on some of our suggestions as this busy month begins!
