Cut Christmas Stress
Christmas can be a very stressful time of year. There are all the Christmas presents to shop for and wrap, cards to write, food to buy plus more social engagements than normal. Over the Christmas holiday itself there is the desire to create a “wonderful Christmas” However, for many the Christmas holiday period is a mass of complex social interactions with family or relatives, which brings a whole different set of pressures. So how can we cut Christmas stress?
To cut Christmas stress it can be useful to have some sort of game plan – so I have compiled a set of handy tips to help cut Christmas stress.
- Plan ahead –Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make your shopping list. Enlist the help of family members for party prep and cleanup.
- Buying Presents – Think small -Several creative stocking fillers instead of one big (costly) gift gives you a chance to buy more personal gifts while also stretching out the gift-opening process
- Stick to a budget.Before you go present and food shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend. Then stick to your budget. Don’t try to buy happiness with an pile of presents.
- Know When to Stop Decide when you will stop your Christmas preparations and start to relax and enjoy the holiday. Work towards and try to stick to this goal. Remember that Christmas is your holiday too
- Keep Calm Play some relaxing music and burn some scented candles, incense or aromatherapy oil. Take a relaxing hot bath to unwind. Acupuncture can help with keeping calm
- Learn to say no. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Minimise Christmas stress by saying no. Sometimes its not possible to cram in everything. Do the things that are important to you.
- Don’t abandon healthy habits. Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Overindulgence leads to feeling guilty. So to cut Christmas stress:
- Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Do some regular physical activity every day.
- Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spend just 15 minutes alone, without distractions. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.
- Take an evening stroll and do some stargazing.
- Listen to soothing music.
- Get a shiatsu/acupuncture/massage
- Read a book
- Agree a plan for Christmas day –Agree a plan beforehand with everyone to make sure you all enjoy the day. Make sure the whole family know rough timings of what is happening throughout the day so there are no arguments in the morning if people want to do different things.
- Have Fun! Remember it’s your Christmas too so try to relax and have fun, laugh and be merry.
Wishing you a great, stress-free, Christmas break!
If you would like more information on how acupuncture or shiatsu can help to be part of your stress free Christmas call Angela on 07919 930188.
