10 ways to keep Christmas stress at bay this festive season

The festive season is in full swing, and it can be a great time of celebration and togetherness.

It can also be stressful, juggling shopping, working, cooking, hosting, and maybe travelling. Add to that winter bugs, which seem to hit at just the wrong time, and it can all get a bit too much.

For some people, Christmas can be particularly difficult, with bereavement, poor mental health, or family feuds making it an especially tough time of year.

If you find Christmas challenging, read on to discover 10 ways to keep your Christmas stress levels to a minimum.

Stress at Christmas is prevalent, with many finding it a challenging time

The pressure to “have fun” during the festive season can often feel overwhelming. It’s impossible to escape the constant advertising, Christmas music, and the relentless retail push.

Even Yuletide superfans could become a little jaded, so it’s not hard to see how stress could soon set in.

If you find it tough at times, you’re not alone. According to NHS England, a third of people find their mental health declines over the festive season, 1 in 6 experience depression, and 1 in 20 experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

While you can’t control everything, there are steps you can take to keep life as stress-free as possible this Christmas.

1. Manage expectations and take things as they come

Adverts and greetings cards depicting perfect families can be unrealistic, to say the least.

Try not to think about living up to a “perfect” ideal, or that Christmas “should” be a certain way. Take it as it comes, one day at a time.

2. Don’t sweat the small stuff

What matters is you being healthy, happy, and present. If you’re hosting, guests won’t care if you’ve forgotten to make three types of stuffing or you don’t have the special Christmas glasses out. Ask yourself what really matters, and everything else is optional.

3. Take control where you can

There are some things you may just do automatically, even if you don’t like them. For example, if you always go out on New Year’s Eve but you hate it, then you could stay at home this year.

You don’t have to say yes to everything, so if there’s an event or person that you know will add to your stress, you can politely decline.

4. Talk to friends and family

If things are starting to get on top of you, turn to your close friends and family. No one will want to see you struggling – there could be practical things they can help with, or they could just provide a listening ear.

Much as we’d like them to, depression and anxiety don’t just disappear at Christmas, and sometimes they can feel worse.

Never feel you have to suffer in silence. If you don’t feel you can talk to anyone close to you, the Samaritans are available all day, every day on 116 123.

5. Mix things up

You may have already made your plans for this year, but many of us become so entrenched in tradition that we lose sight of what we really want to do. Use this year as a guide: what do you enjoy, what makes you feel stressed, what would you do differently?

Then you can put this into action next year. You could travel, go to a restaurant instead of cooking, or decide to donate to charity instead of buying gifts.

6. Remember loved ones in a special way

Christmas can be a poignant reminder of loved ones no longer with us. It’s important to remember them in your own way.

This could be public, such as raising a glass to them with friends, or private, such as lighting a special candle. Try to see it as a way to celebrate them, as well as mourn their loss.

7. Look after yourself

It can be all too easy to eat and drink too much and move too little, but that’s a surefire way to feel sluggish.

Excess alcohol can really bring down your mood, so try to include some alcohol-free choices in your selection.

A little exercise can really lift your spirits. You don’t have to fit in going to the gym every day, as that can just feel like something else you’ve got to do. But a walk in the fresh air after Christmas dinner can boost your mood.

8. Add in some light

If you struggle with SAD or simply find the dark days gloomy, then light therapy could help. The Guardian reports that one hour of blue-enriched light boosted reaction times more than the equivalent of two cups of coffee.

9. Be gentle with yourself

Remember, nothing and nobody is perfect. Dwelling on every tiny detail will send you into overload. Try to take things a day at a time, celebrate little positives, and avoid focusing on what “could” go wrong.

10. Speak to your GP

If you find that stress, depression, and anxiety are taking over and impacting your everyday life, please don’t feel you need to struggle on. Your first port of call is your GP, who can discuss whether medication would be appropriate or signpost you to other services.

Get in touch

We can help you tick finances off your worry list. Please email us at info@harperlees.co.uk or call 01277 350560 to find out more, and we’ll be very happy to help.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.