If you asked me to describe Christmas two months ago, I might have described a joyous swirl of parties, decorations, kindness, and laughter. The giving of gifts, followed by an indulgent selection of baked treats and a perfectly tender turkey. An easy time filled with happiness, spent surrounded by loved ones, all against a magical wintry or summery backdrop depending where you are in the world.
So now that the day is fast approaching, why am I more stressed out than ever? If you, like myself, are being reminded yet again, that the reality rarely matches up to our fairy-tale expectations, you’re not alone. Christmas can be extremely stressful.
There’s the cooking, the cleaning, the shopping, the travelling, the cleaning. Did I already say cleaning? The pressure to find the perfect gifts. Paying for said gifts. Expectations are high and my bank balance is dwindling. I should be excited to spend the day with my family but if one more person asks me why I’m still single, I might scream.
There is good news! I’m going to arm you with four simple tips to get through the day as stress free as possible.
- Be realistic.
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and work Christmas up as the idealistic occasion I described earlier. But despite your best efforts, the ‘perfect’ Christmas you’ve imagined in your head is just not going to happen.
We need to be realistic. There’s going to be a few hiccups and that’s okay. Although easier said than done, learning to embrace the imperfections in your life is extremely freeing. Coming into Christmas with realistic expectations and focusing on just rolling with any mishaps will significantly reduce your stress. Expect a catastrophe and you’ll only be pleasantly surprised.
Yes, maybe your mother showed up two hours late… again! Meaning the turkey was left in the oven a little too long and the potatoes were cold and all she did was talk about her ‘famous salad’ even though you’ve spent hours and hours preparing… The point is, don’t let the little hiccups ruin your day. I promise you, the slightly dry turkey is not going to overshadow any of the fond memories your family will have of this day.
- Breathe.
I know the advice “just take a deep breath” seems cliche, but it really does work. This tactic is so simple and useful for relieving stress, yet it always gets overlooked.
Shallow breathing is consistent with increased stress. Deep breathing is a simple mindfulness tactic that counters stress by slowing the heart rate, lowering the body’s blood pressure and in turn helping to centre your body and clear your mind.
Take a minute break from the chaos of Christmas to focus on deep breathing. Go into an empty room. Sit up straight, close your eyes and put your hands on top of your belly. Slowly inhale through your nose and focus on your hands rising as the air fills your lungs. Then, exhale out of your mouth. Focus on your hands lowering as you exhale. Do this two more times.
I suggest setting a reminder in your phone or appointing a trusted family member to remind you to go and take a few deep breaths when you seem to be getting overwhelmed.
- Exercise.
You’re already stressed about everything you need to get done on Christmas and here I am trying to add another thing to your plate? Hear me out. By exercise, I’m not saying you have to work up a sweat at the gym or go for a 5k run. A 15-minute stroll around the block will do the trick.
Exercise gets your blood flowing. It reduces your body’s stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, while stimulating the production of endorphins. Exercise can improve your mood almost instantaneously.
Wake up 15 minutes earlier than everyone else or head out for a quick stroll right before lunch starts. I promise you’ll thank yourself.
- Share the best part of your day.
A practice I brought into my life recently is when sitting down to have dinner with my family or friends, I get everyone to say the best part of their day. This can be as simple as seeing a cute dog on your walk or waking up before your alarm went off in the morning.
All it takes is a little prompting to address all the little happy moments in your life and as a result you’ll find yourself more grateful for the things you have. You’ll find that you’re better able to face the stressors and misfortunes in your day.
Before digging into your Christmas lunch, get everyone to share one positive moment of their day. If you’re alone, text a friend and share with them what you’re thankful for today. No matter how the day is travelling, you will all feel a little calmer and more thankful for the moment you’re sharing.
With these four simple tips, you’re ready to face the holiday stress head on. Although these tricks are equally helpful year-round to reduce anxiety and enjoy the coming year with inner peace and a positive attitude.
By Charlotte Tindale
