5 Simple Steps for a Stress-Free Christmas
5 Simple Steps for a Stress-Free Christmas
There's no getting around it - this Christmas is likely to be a whole heap different to last year. Covid restrictions and worries about health and money are causing a ton of stress for many of us.
But stress isn't super inevitable and there's still a whole heap you can do to be less stressed this Christmas. With a few super smart tactics, it can turn into a Christmas to remember for all of the right reasons.
Let’s talk about some of the ways you can make this Christmas less of a stress fest!
1. Keep up with your self-care rituals
The festive season can be hugely hectic, and it can leave hardly any time for yourself.
Keeping up with your usual self-care rituals is super important for stressing less at Christmas. If you normally do affirmations, meditation, or a long soak in a hot bath, don’t skimp on your routine! These practices can help keep you centered and calm.
2. Switch up your thinking
It’s super easy to focus on what you can’t do this Christmas, especially if Covid restrictions take the shine off your “normal” festive celebrations.
Getting stuck in this negative mindset can make Christmas hugely miserable but that can all change with one simple mindset trick.
Switch things up and think about what you can do. Look for as many creative ways to enjoy Christmas as you can. The celebrations may be completely different from usual, but they may also be super fun!
There’s always pressure to have the “perfect” Christmas but in 2020, it’s totally fine to be “good enough” instead.
3. Take the focus off money and presents
There can be a ton of stress to spend money over the holidays and sometimes, it can take away from the true spirit of Christmas.
If the pandemic means that money is tighter than normal this year, approaching the holidays from a fresh perspective can be a game-changer.
Christmas can become a whole heap less stressful if you take a ton of the material aspects out of the equation. Plus, it can make future holiday seasons a lot less expensive since it sets the tone for later on!
Instead of stressing about not having a big Christmas, you can put the focus elsewhere, so it doesn’t matter as much. A super smart move is to put attention on meaning instead of lots of expensive gifts. Think quality over quantity for presents and go for experiences and memories as the main treats.
Even if you’re not super religious, you can still heap tons of meaning on the idea of expressing love and kindness over the holidays and getting involved in the local community. You can teach your little ones how to show these qualities and appreciate the less material parts of the holidays.
4. Go for gratitude
Even if Covid restrictions mean you can’t physically see all of your family and friends this Christmas, being socially distanced can help you appreciate them a ton more.
Let them know you’re thinking of them and that you’re super thankful for the moments you’ve been able to share together.
Creating a handwritten card or note can feel super special for the recipient. These days, we don’t receive many handwritten items and it can feel a ton more personal than an email.
The benefits aren’t limited to the people you send them to - according to a study in the Journal of Writing Research, writing letters of gratitude can give you a happiness boost too.
You can go even further than this to reap the effects of gratitude.
Writing down what you’ve been grateful for this year and hanging the notes as Christmas decorations can be a super strong visual reminder. Bonus points if the notes aren’t linked to material things!
The great thing about gratitude is that it teaches you to appreciate what you have instead of what you don’t. And from a Christmas perspective, it can help you avoid dwelling on the negative aspects of this year’s celebrations and find things to boost your mood.
5. Create new traditions
Some of your usual Christmas traditions may be no-go this year so why not make some brand-new ones instead?
This is a great time to do things that will have a positive effect on other people. With a whole heap of people hurting after a traumatic 2020, these new traditions can be super helpful and spread genuine happiness over the holidays. Plus, you’ll get a ton of fuzzy feels for doing good deeds!
A few ideas include:
● Making up packages for older people in your neighborhood
● Helping out at a local food bank
● Making handmade Christmas cards for vulnerable local people
There's a ton of other new traditions you can introduce to make this Christmas fun and less stressful so let's talk about a few you could try:
● Bake cookies in festive shapes and decorate them with festive touches
● Roam the neighborhood and check out the Christmas lights
● Host virtual Christmas parties with family and friends that you can’t see this Christmas so you can still feel connected
You might even decide to keep some of these traditions going strong for future festive seasons!
We appreciate you all during this season
and are so grateful to support and assist all of our clients!
~Core3 Harmony & Wellness Services