Health Expert Reveals How to Have a Stress-Free Christmas
Although Christmas is a time of year for celebration, fun and sharing memories with loved ones, it can also be hectic for many. In fact, new research from greetings card marketplace thortful, found that 35% of Brits find Christmas to be fairly stressful, with one in ten confessing they find it very stressful.
The intensity of navigating tough work deadlines, as well as the pressure to provide and a full social diary can result in burning the candle at both ends. As a result, Dr Deborah Lee, Dr Fox Online Pharmacy talks about the five ways on how to have the most stress-free Christmas possible.
When it comes to gifting, most Brits opt for efficiency, with 56% going online days before to buy and some even buying after Christmas because they feel too stressed to do so in December:
| How do you Brits normally buy their Christmas gifts? | Percentage |
| Go online days before Christmas for efficiency | 56% |
| I use online Black Friday sales | 18% |
| I give generic gifts as I never know what to buy people | 14% |
| I rely on gift cards or money instead of buying physical gifts | 9% |
| I re-gift something I already own | 6% |
| I pick something up on the way home from work | 5% |
| I buy after Christmas because I’m too stressed in December | 2% |
From how to de-stress buying gifts, to food preparations, how to stay connected and how to prioritise kindness… See the tips below:
1. Think ahead about the Christmas food preparations
Leaving everything to the last minute is stressful. Write out what you are doing each day, which meals you have to cook, or where you are going. Order what you need in advance. Perhaps have a home delivery.
If you are going out for Christmas meals, agree in advance what you can contribute. If people are coming to your house, ask them to bring a dish. At Christmas, it’s a time for sharing and helping others. The stress should not just be on you. Delegate – and that includes asking for help preparing the vegetables, laying the table and washing up!
2. How to de-stress Christmas cards and buying gifts
Christmas is a time for family, when we enjoy sharing food and drink, playing games and spending time together. For some, it is an important religious festival. Try planning a day of fun-filled activities to engage family members and take the focus away from big purchases. You could do Secret Santa, where each member of the family buys just one present, which is actually a present from you all. You could also buy each family member a lottery ticket to put in their cards for a chance for them to win big!
3. Joining in and staying connected
Many people find big social gatherings intimidating and prefer to avoid them. This is not good for mental health. Loneliness is a dangerous pastime that can cause long-term illnesses. Connecting with others is an important way to self-care. Don’t say ‘No’, say ‘Yes’ and join in as much as you can, on your own terms. If you feel anxious, practice breathing techniques, such as 4, 7, 8 breathing. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system – the body’s main rest and relaxation pathway – and helps calm physical symptoms, slowing your heart rate and your breathing, and makes you feel less sweaty and more in control.
Stay in the moment, don’t let your thoughts wander to the past or the future. These thoughts are often negative and cause anxiety and upset. Now is what really matters.
Pace yourself, and rest when you can. It’s OK to say ‘No’ if you have had enough.
4. Follow ‘the 10 commandments to reduce stress’
There’s huge pressure to be all things to all people all of the time. It just isn’t realistic and we are all becoming burned out because of it – Christmas is the peak time for this. Very helpfully, MIND, the mental health charity has devised the following 10 commandments to reduce stress:
- Thou shalt not be perfect or even try
- Thou shalt not try to be all things to all people
- Thou shalt leave undone things that ought to be done
- Thou shalt not spread thyself too thin
- Thou shalt learn to say “NO”
- Thou shalt make time for thyself
- Thou shalt learn to switch off and do nothing regularly
- Thou shalt be boring, untidy and unattractive at times
- Thou shalt not feel guilty
- Thou shalt not be thine own enemy
Print these out and have them on your bedside table!
5. Kindness at Christmas
Being kind to yourself and being kind to others makes us feel good about ourselves and raises our self-confidence and self-esteem. There are many ways you can practice kindness to others this Christmas:
Reach out to any neighbours or friends who may be on their own this Christmas. Can you drop in for coffee and a mince pie, invite them over for a meal, or take them out for a Christmas walk.
Give food to a local food bank. Cereal, pasta, tinned food, condiments and of course Christmas cake and mince pies are always welcome. You can find your nearest food bank here.
Give pet food or pet toys to your local animal rescue centre. You can find your local RSPA rescue centre by clicking here.
Gift toys to your local children’s hospital. They will be delighted with board games, puzzles, art and craft sets and small stocking fillers.
Volunteer at your local community centre, church or homeless association and help with their Christmas preparations and celebrations.
Give to charity, all donations are welcome, however small. Here’s a list of popular charities
· Centrepoint (helping young people who are homeless)
· Christian Aid (help transform the lives of children around the world)
· Refuge (against domestic violence)
· Crisis (working to end homelessness)
· Wateraid (help tackle the world’s water crisis)
· Mind (help provide mental health support around the UK)
· FareShare (helps those facing food poverty)
· Home-Start (works with parents who need support