They say it’s the most wonderful time of the year, and when you have little ones to enjoy the festive season with, it’s definitely true! However, in the run up to Christmas, it can be difficult to actually enjoy the festivities and celebrations, especially when you have so much to plan, organise and get ready for. From school nativities to office parties, incoming relatives, christmas gift hampers to think of and buy as well as food and decorations.…the list of things to do is seemingly endless. No wonder we’re too shattered to enjoy ourselves!
With this in mind, I’ve put together a simple guide full of tips to help you enjoy the festive season with your children, avoiding the Christmas stress and getting burnt out in the process.
Get organised
It’s a lot easier than it sounds. Start making lists for everything you need to remember, from Christmas card names and addresses to the gift list for all your family, get them printed off – check out these hp ink cartridges from printerinks.com if your ink is running low – and keep them to hand so you tick things off as you go! You may find that once you have everything written down that it’s much more manageable and hopefully not as overwhelming.
Stock up on cheap presents from The Works so you have last minute gifts to hand if an unexpected visitor drops by!
Don’t be afraid to say “no”
The pressure of the goodwill season gets to us all, whether that’s helping out at the School Christmas Fayre or baking endless batches of cakes and buns for a festive charity event. But before you accept any more tasks, ask yourself if you really can dedicate time to it or if accepting will make you more stressed. Opt to make happy memories over the festive period rather than stressful ones. A simple answer of “I can’t commit to anything else at the moment”, or “I can’t help right now” will help others to manage their own expectations. Don’t allow others to pile more pressure on you; your mental health will benefit if you don’t!
Get some exercise and eat well
I know, I know. It’s Christmas – a time for indulgence! However, if you’re feeling stressed, tired and overwhelmed then opting for some healthier choices and getting your heart pumping will make you feel better. Exercise is a great stress reliever, so take the kids for a winter walk or enjoy a walk alone to gather your thoughts and press reset. Fill your plates with colour and remember to keep yourself hydrated. You’ll have more energy and won’t feel as sluggish.
Accept help
Who doesn’t want to be the hostess with the mostess at Christmas? The truth is that if you put too much pressure on yourself then you won’t enjoy yourself or be satisfied. If a friend or relative asks to help out, either with peeling the potatoes, or keeping the kids busy for an hour while you do a little present wrapping, then say yes! Or, if you’re struggling, then don’t be afraid to reach out and ask first. You’ll feel so much better for it.