Christmas stress relief
Christmas can be a time of high tensions and negative mental health! But it need not be. The last time Chuck touched briefly on the all to known topic of ‘stress at Christmas’ . Lets take a look and see what we can do to alleviate the shopping tensions, expectations and family feuds!
#1 What is the worse that can happen?
Christmas should be a time of joy, love and peace. If instead Christmas becomes a time of tension and stress, the question you need to ask is what is the worse that can happen if you choose not to get caught up in all the expectations for Christmas? If you did not have a big Christmas dinner, how is that going to change your life? Lets face it. A lot of what we do comes from tradition and expectations. As much as I enjoy Christmas and celebrate Christmas in every way possible (also because of my faith), if I do not hang up a Christmas tree, hey, there are worse things happening around the world surely. Not getting out the Christmas plates for Christmas dinner is not going to alter the taste of the food! And a decoration free Christmas is surely not the end of the world!
#2 Don’t stress about the perfect gift
Why get upset if you do not receive a present from someone you gave one to? Be honest with yourself. Are you giving to receive? If so, then all you are really doing is a batter, an exchange. Yes, giving and receiving of gifts add to the fun…however, if you gave a gift to someone who has not remembered you, do not make a fuss about it! The Good Book says it is more blessed to give than to receive. So look at it this way, your new year will be full of more blessings. The best things in life are free. I’d rather have a blessed new year full of peace, tranquility and so on than have the best watch yet living in high tension!
And if you don’t like the gift you receive? Surely, do you not subscribe to ‘it is the thought that matters’?
And the perfect gift? Hey, everyone likes gift cards and vouchers…although some may moan or get upset about the value. But as we said above, it is the thought that matters. So rather than have another sleepless night thinking of what to get your sister in law, get her a gift card from her favourite store (assuming you know her favourite, of course!).
#3 Don’t be lonely this Christmas
It is hard when you hear the neighbours next door giggling or even quarreling over their Christmas dinner, and you are on your own. We can take steps to ensure we do not spend Christmas by ourselves except if we choose to of course. Why not extend an invitation to someone else that you know is spending Christmas on their own, or is not feeling to well? It is also a time to heal and mend family and friend feuds. So why not have a cease fire, end the war and invite the ‘enemy’ camp round. I can assure you, you will feel a whole lot better!
#4 Break tradition
I have never cooked a turkey on Christmas day! Big shock! Not that I am rebellious with the tradition of relishing the Christmas bird but I figured that I did not necessarily have to have a turkey especially being that a) it seemed to take ages to cook b) though it tastes nice, there are nicer meats that have less hassle, and c) also less worry about eating turkey over several days after! So sometimes we eat duck, or salmon even. If finding the right turkey or preparing it, is hard work, eat something that you and your family enjoy. Oh yes, I believe in breaking the routine, and having a stress free life. Make a new tradition that YOU and your family enjoy. If you decide to share gifts on New Year’s eve (because you want more things for the same price from the Christmas sales), why not?
If where you spend Christmas is based on a rota, why not talk to the extended family members and change the rota this year. Maybe there is someone who likes hosting more than the others while the others don’t mind helping out or bringing some food on the day. Have an honest chat and ‘delegate’ how and where you spend Christmas that suits everyone’s likes and abilities. Ask for help! There is no need to be shy about asking someone to lend a hand with something. It will save a few hairs from turning grey, or grey ones falling off! Just go ahead and break tradition for once!
#5 Have fun
Christmas is really a festive time. For those in cold wintry climates, the weather is dull and cold and all the festivity really spices even the air we breathe. Sometimes we can forget to have fun admist all the preparations and expectations of Christmas. Make up your mind to have fun. The Christmas dinner gets burnt, hey, don’t let that wipe a smile off your face. The gifts you ordered did not come in time…well who said that gifts had to be open on Christmas day? Remember having fun does not equate to alcohol either. Alcohol is a depressant, so do not get your spirits up that way. Choose the Holy Spirit instead. And whatever you choose to do, enjoy the season.
Merry, stress free Christmas!
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