5 Tips for Having a Stress-Free Christmas

🎶 It’s the most stressful time of the year 🎶 

Wait - did I get that wrong?

Jokes aside, it’s funny how Christmas evolves from the day you look forward to most as a kid to the day you look forward to the least as an adult. All the money spent, get-togethers, driving, having to deal with people you otherwise wouldn’t… it can be a lot!

While we’re not here to reinvigorate the youthful Christmas joy and wonder you experienced as a kid, we’re certainly not any Grinch either; think of this guide as a Christmas “Goose-fraba” to help make the holiday season less stressful. Or, at the very least, more tolerable.

Let’s get started.

Clearly Visualize Your Ideal Christmas

If you think you’re getting sick, you’re more likely to get sick.

If you think your house is haunted, your mind will pick up on the tiniest creaks and groans in your home to fulfill that mental prophecy.

And of course, if you think you’re going to have a stressful Christmas… you’ll probably have a stressful Christmas.

The good news is that you can flip this on its head! If you think you’re going to have a joyous Christmas filled with fond memories and joy, you’re more likely going to overlook the stressful parts and focus on what makes it great.

Never underestimate the power of the mind - It can be your best friend or worst enemy; the choice is yours.

Hosting? Accept Help

There’s absolutely no point in being a martyr if you’re hosting a Christmas get-together - even Santa needs little helpers!

If a family member or loved one offers their help, kindly accept it. One plate brought to the table is one less you have to prepare, and one dirty dish washed by somebody else is one less you have to wash.

Plus, the person who offers to help will feel more welcome in your home if they feel they’re contributing in a positive way.

Don’t Forgo Your Daily Routines & Favorite Activities

It’s very easy to fall off the wagon of your daily routines or self-care regimen when under pressure from the holidays. The stress from planning a Christmas party, budgeting for gifts, or anticipating conflict will be compounded exponentially if you don’t take care of yourself.

Do yourself, and everyone else around you, a massive favor this holiday season by continuing to take care of yourself. It may take time away from self-care for what you think is important at the moment, you’ll also have even more resentment for the stressful event. 

An additional bonus for you is that if you continue these habits while under pressure, you’re solidifying these positive habits even more on a subconscious level.

Be the Bigger Person

It doesn’t matter who you think is right or wrong, or who Uncle Joe thinks the President actually is - the reward for taking a deep breath and letting things go for the benefit of everyone around you is always the best option.

Let petty insults, scoffs, and side eyes go to the wayside if they happen to come your way, and rest easy knowing that when people do these sort of things to you, they are only expressing the negative feelings they have towards themselves.

Also never forget that if you give them that emotional reaction, they’ve already won by disturbing your peace of mind and making you look like the bad guy to everybody else.

As Sun Tzu says in The Art of War, “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”

Have the Courage to Say No

This final point may be the toughest for some people - just say no!

Invited to a holiday party that you feel obligated to attend, but don’t want to go to?

“Thanks for the invitation, but no thank you.”

Kids asking for a gift that’s out of your budget?

“I love you honey, but no, we can’t afford that right now.”

Pressured to tell someone what you want for Christmas, but you really don’t want any more useless junk?

“I appreciate your love and appreciation for me, but no thank you, I really don’t want anything this Christmas”

There’s nothing wrong with saying no! It’s one of the most empowering and truest words you can speak.

When it comes down to it, don’t go too crazy this Christmas.

It’s 24 hours out of the entire year that’s really special to children and some adults, but once the day passes, it’s all over.

Just keep a positive mindset, take care of yourself, and respect your own boundaries.

From TheFamilyGifts family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Elizabeth
TheFamilyGifts