…And Breathe! How to Keep Your Cool In The Run Up to Christmas Day

There’s no denying it, Christmas is a stressful time of year. Especially if you’re the person who’s been given the job of buying the presents, doing the big shop and hosting the main event.

If you’re starting to feel under pressure as the big day approaches, relax. You’re most definitely not alone in how you’re feeling. In fact, did you know that some people actually rate Christmas as being more stressful than divorce or getting burgled?

So how can you keep your cool in the run up to Christmas Day? Here are a few simple tips to help you take a deep breath, relax and enjoy the holiday season.

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Make a list: It sounds basic, but honestly? Writing everything down will help you to see exactly what needs to get done before December 25th rolls around. At the start of every day, spend five minutes thinking about the things that you absolutely have to get done. Write them down.

Next, work your way through your list as best you can. Don’t put off doing something, just take a deep breath and power-through. As you complete a task, cross it off your list.

Having a list will help you to get your head around what you have to do and it will also motivate you to get as many things as you can crossed off before the start of another day.

Delegate: If you have young children, brothers, sisters, parents, whoever – see if you can ask them do to certain tasks for you. For example, maybe you could ask your sister and her children to pick out a centrepiece for the table on Christmas Day? Maybe you could get your Dad to pick up your turkey?

Delegate as much as you can. This will help to take the stress off you and ensure that everything gets done on time.

Set a strict deadline and plan when you're going to switch off and enjoy yourself

Set a deadline: Remember, Christmas is all about enjoying yourself too! Set a deadline for your festive preparations and promise yourself that you will stop at that point and start to relax and enjoy your holiday.

Try to set your deadline for Christmas Eve. You deserve time to unwind and enjoy the atmosphere!

Avoid conflict: The holidays shouldn’t be a battleground, so if someone is wrecking your head as you try to prep for Christmas, avoid conflict by just agreeing with them or keeping quiet. Don’t waste your time by getting involved in petty arguments.

Use acupressure: If you’re feeling very overwhelmed and stressed out, here’s a simple exercise that can help. Gentle rub the bridge of your nose and around your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. This will help to release stress and tension and, more importantly, it will help you to relax.