As the countdown to Christmas starts here are our 10 top tips for stress prevention over a period which is traditionally a season of joy, happiness, fun, friendship, good will to others and family get-togethers.
1. Plan your childcare for the holiday season in advance
There’s no time like the present! If you are working over the Christmas period, start planning your childcare now. Speak to family and friends and agree with them specific dates when they will look after the children. Speak to other working parents and arrange times when you will look after their children and when they can return the favour. Devise and agree a back up plan with another person who can step in should an emergency arise. Speak to your employer and see if you can work flexible hours if the office is quiet or work from home. If you have young children that need occupying while you are busy, why not try giving them an early Christmas present or DVD, which they want to see. It’s surprising what you can achieve in two hours uninterrupted time!
2. Plan the time you spend with the children
On a calendar clearly mark the number of days you will not be in work. Visit your local library and pick up leaflets of events for children over the festive season. Recent reports have placed reading as the main pastime that children enjoy after school, so while you’re in the library, let the children chose their own books (up to 8 books each) to read over Christmas. Popular books i.e. Harry Potter may need to be reserved now in time for Christmas. Use all the library resources and reserve videos, CDs and DVDs to fill in time over Christmas. Search the Internet for attractions and parks, which are open over the Christmas season and book bowling alleys now and other indoor activities in case the weather is bad.
3. Plan your budget
Plan your budget before you hit the shops. If you know money is tight then confront the problem now and cut down the number of presents you have to buy. Speak to the normal recipients of presents and tell them you’re cutting back – they might be really pleased as they were thinking it themselves. Send them a special Christmas card with a personal note instead and let them know you value your relationship with them.
4. Manage your expectations
Talk to your partner and friends about what’s concerning you. Don’t set yourself unrealistic targets and deadlines – this will only make you feel irritable and adds to the pressure tenfold. Don’t expect too much. Remember – if there is a relative coming for dinner who you don’t get on with, chances are you won’t suddenly get on with them just because it’s Christmas- be prepared for this.
5. Shopping
Spread your shopping trips out and don’t leave present buying until Christmas Eve. Shop on line instead of battling your way through the department stores – but remember leave plenty of time for delivery, postal delays or stock shortages. Don’t forget to order batteries as well. If you prefer the hustle and bustle of shopping in town, spend a little time before you go writing a list of possible presents for each person- this will save you time aimlessly walking around the shops.
6. Consider your long-term goals
Take time out to assess your life and where it is going. Consider and note down what you want to achieve over the next 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years. Treat yourself to a session with a psychologist who will work with you to discover how you could live a more fulfilling life. Perhaps you want to spend more time with your children and this may be possible with an adjustment in your life that you hadn’t considered before.
7. Manage your time – Get Organised
Plan the main events, like cooking Christmas dinner. Allow time to write down shopping and cooking requirements. No amount of joy at seeing long-missed relatives can compensate for the disappointment of sitting down to an under-cooked turkey, or forgotten bread sauce. Spread the distribution of presents over the whole of Christmas Day, or even beyond. That way, children don’t get over-excited by the sudden arrival of heaps of new toys. Make sure they won’t be disappointed and give you grief over missing batteries, incomprehensible instructions and broken parts. If you’d rather, why not work in-between Christmas and New Year. It’s quiet in the office at this time and there’s hardly any traffic about. You can take the time off later. Too many people crowded together for days on end stress each other out at home.
8. Be assertive
Don’t be a slave to convention. If you don’t want to give to people, tell them in advance. You’ll feel better for making a clean breast of it; they’ll respect you far more than if you appear to ‘forget’. Don’t be at home to people you don’t want around. Avoid family rows, which are so often caused by the release of pent up emotions from the Christmas build-up. If you can’t face another family Christmas, don’t let it trouble you. Be honest – with yourself and others.
9. Don’t over indulge
Not easy I know – but Christmas often means eating a diet high in salt, sugar and stimulants, like alcohol and caffeine, which can make feelings of stress worse. If you watch your diet, you’ll feel less anxious and have more energy. Antioxidants can help the effects of stress and good sources are red fruit and vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, grapes and cherries, and also festive treats like Satsuma’s and nuts.
10. Relax and have fun
Giving yourself time to relax is important in avoiding Christmas stress. Instead of going out every night, curl up with a good book or pour soothing aromatherapy oils into a bath and have a long soak. During the daytime, get the kids wrapped up, put the dog on its lead and hit the country paths or canal walks. Laughter can be an excellent stress reliever – think about booking a pantomime or getting the trivial pursuit out.
If that doesn’t work to help you get away from it all – think about spending Christmas in the Sun!