How to cope with Christmas

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Christmas can be overwhelming. There’s so much to do, buy for your loved ones and celebrate. Some people feel it more than others, but particularly this year most of us will be feeling it in some way or another. But year in year out, there are ways and means to cope with Christmas. After all, we survive it every year and are here to tell the tale.

It’s important to remember as a busy mum with most of the responsibilities and Christmas stress on your shoulders that your stress levels are not a permanent fixture in your life. So don’t let them win either in the lead up to Christmas or any other day of the year. Here are some practical tips that you can use to cope with Christmas so you can stop feeling overwhelmed and start feeling excited about the coming holiday season again.

Organise your to-do list

You know you need to get quite a few things done in the run up to Christmas, but you’re feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand. Here are a few tips to help you get a handle on the situation:

– Start with the easy things. You can always add things to your to-do list as time goes by. If you want to tackle the big things first, that’s your choice.

– List out the big items first. Add the smaller things later. Make sure you don’t mix up the two. That way, when it’s time to organise your list, you know exactly what needs to be done and when.

– Break down your to-do list into smaller tasks. If you have a list of 15 tasks, break them down into 3 tasks each. You’ll feel more equipped to handle the task at hand, and it might even encourage you to get more done if you see that it’s a smaller and more manageable task.

Decide what you really want for Christmas

There’s nothing wrong with getting excited about Christmas. It’s a huge part of many people’s lives and it’s important to feel good about it. But it’s important to know your limits and to remember that Christmas is not a race. You can slow down and enjoy it without letting it consume you. Here are a few ways to do that:

– Take time for yourself. Christmas is a busy time for many people. There’s so much to do, and you might be spending more time on your loved ones than you need to. It’s important to take some time out of the holiday season to yourself.

– Forget about the things you have to do. For example, if you scheduled your busiest tasks for the middle of the week, you might want to just skip those days. Take a day off and return to the tasks once you’re refreshed.

how to cope with Christmas
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When buying Christmas presents, stick to a shopping checklist

A Christmas shopping checklist can help you stay organised and make sure you’re not spending too much money on unnecessary items. It can also help you stay within your budget and not fall into the trap of buying things for people because you feel like you should. Here are a few ways that a Christmas shopping checklist can help:

– Include items that are not just Christmas presents. These can include stocking stuffers birthday presents for those birthdays that fall over the Christmas period, Christmas Eve box items etc. – Make a list of all the items you need for the coming holiday season. This can include stocking-stuffers, groceries, gifts for your loved ones, decorations, etc. – Include a shopping time limit. This can help you stay within your budget and not pay an exorbitant amount for items that you don’t really need.

Take time out when you need it most

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’ve got so much to do, but it’s also easy to just push it to the back of your mind. Here are a few tips on how to break the cycle:

– Schedule your breaks. Don’t just take a break whenever you feel like it. Schedule it into your calendar.

– Take a moment to breathe – literally and figuratively Christmas is stressful, so take time out for yourself. That might mean taking a walk, meditating, eating healthy foods, getting a massage, etc. You need to take care of yourself, so that you can best help others. You might not feel like you have the energy for anything, but you need to get something done.

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Don’t beat yourself up over every little thing

It’s easy to beat yourself up when you make a mistake or spend a little bit of money on something that you don’t really need. Here are a few ways to not do that:

– Make a list of everything you need to do. Breaking it down into smaller tasks can help you stay organised.

– Make a list of everything you’ve done so far. This can help you celebrate your achievements, instead of beating yourself up over every mistake you make.

– Make a list of everything you’ve bought on the budget that you’ve set. This can help you see where your money went and remind you not to spend too much on unnecessary items.

Conclusion

Christmas can be a stressful time for many people. It’s important to take care of yourself and not let Christmas stress overwhelm you. That way, you’ll be in a better place to help others. Here are a few practical tips that you can use to cope with Christmas: Stop feeling overwhelmed and start feeling excited about the coming holiday season again. Make a list of what you need to get done, and break them down into smaller tasks. When buying Christmas presents, stick to a shopping checklist. Take time out when you need it most, and don’t beat yourself up over every little thing. For example, take a moment to breathe – literally and figuratively. Don’t let Christmas stress overwhelm you, and use these tips to help you cope with the holiday season.

7 comments

  1. Great tips! I’ve learned to take things one step at a time that way I don’t get overwhelmed and feel like I am going to break. The holidays can be a bit stressful but also exciting and fun!

  2. I think it’s so important to manage expectations and stick to your budget. Christmas should be about joy, not about trying to finance a metric ton of stuff.

  3. I.wish I saw this post when I was having a meltdown when I was putting my Christmas tree up at the weekend. Christmas can be so overwhelming at times.

  4. This is good advice. I always write a list and start shopping well in advance. The only thing I need now is the food unless I run out of wrapping paper and gift bags. I’ve been doing this for years as it really cuts the stress.

  5. We’re in the midst of all the planning, shopping, etc….It is so much fun but also frustrating at times. A to do list is a must.

  6. It’s so important to put things in perspective with the holidays…nothing goes as planned as hard as we may try and that’s ok! Taking the time you need to recharge is so important and should be top priority. No would should start the new year off exhausted and out of touch with themselves.

  7. These are some very important tips for navigating the Christmas holiday. They will definitely help with managing stress for sure.

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