Christmas time, the season of shopping stress and tinsel. Mistletoes and wine, children nativity plays and Turkey roast dinner. Here are my 5 steps plan on how to have a stress free Christmas this year.
It nearly here, the one day of the year for opening presents, eating mince pies and writing that special note to Santa. Myself personally I relish Christmas time, I’m such a big kid when it comes to this time of the year. But then again who isn’t a big kid at heart? If you say you’re not, then humbug to you. Be gone with you Scrooge – no I’m just kidding! Come back.
I was at my client office in the week and everyone there think Christmas should be every three years. Are you kidding me! I don’t agree with this sentiments one little bit. Can you imagine how dull winter would be if we didn’t have fairy lights and tinsel?
For me personally, I’m glad we celebrate Christmas every year, not just because I can indulge myself on mulled wine and chocolate. But I like to think of Christmas as a big end of the year celebration, where we can pat ourselves on the back and can start moving forward into the new year.
Winter won’t only be dull, but so would we without Christmas every year. There be no end of year relaxing time with your friends or family, no opening presents and no dressing up in silly little jumpers. What I’m trying to saying is, I imagine life would be where business is as usual. But you know the saying ‘all work and no play make Jack a dull boy’, well we would all turn into dull working zombie all year long. So instead of fighting Christmas – enjoy it! Put on a Christmas record (those if I hear Mariah Carey All I want for Christmas one more time I might scream!), bake some gingerbread cookies, visit a Christmas market and go watch some Christmas film. Off course the business as usual scenario is just how I imagine life would be without some festivity. A dystopia world if you like.
I’m sure you’re reading this and thinking, well it easy for you to enjoy Christmas – you don’t have to worry about the turkey dinner, crackers and biscuits. Ok sure I agree with that. I’m lucky enough where people would be taking care of that for me. But if I’m honest, I can finally reach a point where I can enjoy Christmas and just enjoy the festivity.
When I worked in retails, I didn’t exactly enjoy the Christmas period. The shops obviously got busy and so did I. It meant working till 10pm the week leading up to Christmas and working on Boxing day. I often only got 1 or 2 days off. I saw firsthand how people got greedy with foods and presents. I saw how temper flies if someone didn’t have want they wanted right now. I think at one point on one year I broke down and cried in the toilet after a manager went mental at me for not being fast enough serving people their mince pies. I use to be so tired on Christmas day I had no energy to do anything – well except drink alcohol. After 10+ years I couldn’t take it anymore and I left that awful world behind.
Anyway, while I’m lucky enough to now enjoy Christmas. I can understand the stress that this festivity can bring. So without further ado here are my 5 steps plan for a stress-free Christmas.
Chill out with your shopping:
People get into such a blind panic when it comes to Christmas Shopping. They must buy that robot toy for their little boy, or get that Peppa Pigs toy for Tina’s little girl who is live next door to you. My advice is chill out. I said this before but I hate the crowds of people during this time of the year – especially if I’m out shopping. If like me and get stressed with shopping on the high street, then go online. You get to shop in your PJs’ My advice is to plan ahead with the shopping and to to leave everything to the last minutes. If shopping online isn’t an option, then go to the high street early and beat the crowds. I’m sure Uncle Roger wouldn’t cry over spilt milk if you didn’t buy him that War book. If shopping on the high street does get to much for you, pop into a coffee shop for an hour to chill out or go another day. You do not need to do all the shopping in one day.
Not everything has to be perfect.
Stop trying to make Christmas all magical and perfect. Ok sure it easy to get swept away with the celebration. But so often we get consumed with how we want everything to be all perfect, we forget to enjoy ourselves. The fairy lights aren’t working and you burnt the pudding – so what! After all your human and these things do happen. Pour yourself some wine and move on. If something does go wrong – then laugh about it and tell the story next year when you will see the funny side. Trust me you will. At this time of the year we’re supposed to be enjoying ourselves – not being miserable.
Write a list:
Yeah your little kid isn’t the only one writing list at this time of the year. You need to write one too. Spend an afternoon one day writing a complete list on what you need to buy and to do. Then after you done something, you can simple tick it off. Write a list on your phone and that way you will have it with at all time. Feel free to keep adding to it and perhaps show your partner or friends your list. Sure they might scoff at you – but you’re the one who is being practical here. It will also free your mind for more important issue.
Plan ahead:
I sort of said this already, but I’m repeating myself. Don’t be like me who leave everything to the last minute and forget something. Planning ahead will certainly take away some of the stress from Christmas. I know someone who buy there presents during the January sale – forward planning that is. Ok you don’t need to go to that extreme but don’t leave everything on Christmas eve. The month before December, perhaps sit down with your partner and plan on who doing what. Leaving everting to the last minute and not planning ahead is asking for trouble. Don’t go down that road.
Have some me time:
There is nothing wrong with having some me time at this time of the year. I repeat – nothing wrong with it what so ever. Have one day to be completely selfish and indulge yourself. This can be listening to some carols at your local church or pampering at the spa. It will recharge your battery and take away the stress for one day. Go for a long walk or drink some coffee at Starbucks. Just make sure you take the time for yourself. No one else is going to do it– you need to do it for yourself. It will put a smile back on your face. Trust me.
So that was my 5 steps plan for a stress-free Christmas. Folks, Christmas is once a year – pour some wine and cheers in the festivity.
