It’s the middle of the year and we are closer to Christmas than you think! Think back to last Christmas when your schedule became jam packed with shopping, organising, decorating and planning. If your Christmas seemed far more stressful than enjoyable, create a calmer Christmas this year with these 5 helpful tips.
- Assess your schedule
Stay calm during the Christmas rush by writing out what you need to do this season and identify which things are the most important. Prioritise the events you find most significant such as your children’s Christmas concert and reconsider plans which are less important such as attending every Christmas gathering. This is an essential step to having a stress-free and enjoyable Christmas. - Organise your to do list
Once you have a list of your priorities, establish a plan to accomplish them. Devote more time to your most important items and try to mix up your tasks if you are finding them a little tedious. Try to group tasks that can be done in a similar location together to save time and avoid traveling to the same area more than necessary. - Get through the hard tasks first
Pick a task that is the most stressful or annoying for you to complete and get it over with. If you leave it until the last minute it will only increase your stress levels. If it is something like buying a hard to find gift, completing it early on can lift a huge weight off your shoulders. - Make time for your family
When things get hectic at home, don’t forget to take a break and spend time with your family, after all, one of the true meanings of the Christmas season is sharing time with your family and close friends. Involve your family in your Christmas plans and responsibilities rather than trying to complete everything by yourself. - Take time for yourself
It is easy to forget to take a break during the eventful, festive season. Reduce holiday stress and take some time out for you to relax. Take a walk outside, read a book, taking a long bath or watching a Christmas movie – anything peaceful. Delegate some tasks to family if you find yourself too busy to finish them.
We hope these tips will help you to keep calm at Christmas this year. Do you have your own strategy for keeping yourself stress-free during the silly season? Head over to our Facebook page and let us know.