This year has flown by, hasn’t it? It felt like we were bringing in the new year last week, and now we are discussing the festive season countdown again. For many of us, it’s genuinely the most wonderful time of the year, but that’s not to say it isn’t also the most stressful.
However, putting in the groundwork early and preparing for the festive period can pay dividends when you get into the thick of the celebrations. Here are some of our tried and tested methods to ensure your festive season is as stress-free as possible – and believe it or not, most of our ideas revolve around planning ahead.
Find time to unwind
Christmas can be a time when we catch up with all of those relatives we haven’t seen since the previous year’s festivities – and for some of them, once a year is enough. It becomes even more important to unwind when it gets to the post-Christmas lull and there are a few sore heads.
Some people like to decompress and sit on their phones, play games, meditate or do whatever; it’s all about having time for yourself. Although many family and friend groups will get together around this time and play card games like poker, there’s an emerging trend of people seeking this classic card-based casino game online.
While online poker might not have the same atmosphere as a game around a table with friends might, it’s becoming a popular way for people to sharpen their skills and become more adept at the strategies and ideas people implement when they’re trying to up their poker skills.
Unwinding could mean going for a long walk, listening to music or even hitting the gym and letting off steam. Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean we can’t find time to release stress in the same ways we do throughout the year. It’s all about finding the activity that works best for you.
Early preparation
I’m sure we’ve all been there, running around the shops the week before Christmas, desperately searching for gifts. Or doing a bulk buy on December 23 and paying for express delivery. Or is it just me? Preparing early is probably the best tip to avoid stress this festive season.
Take it from me: it might seem a little over the top to start doing your Christmas shopping in November, but when you have all your gifts sorted and wrapped before anyone else has even thought about buying theirs, you’ve definitely got off to a good start.
Businesses will plan for the surge of last-minute shoppers, and that’s because, despite great advice and knowing that we need to do our shopping as early as possible, millions of us will still leave it until the last minute.
As shops look to get rid of their Christmas-themed inventory before the big day, some will slash prices, and while there are bargains to be had, we wouldn’t recommend it as a strategy or tactic to do your main shopping – perhaps for a few last-minute bits at best, the non-necessities.
While running around the shops at the last minute isn’t the idea of a stress-free buildup, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find some last-minute ideas. If you can avoid it and prepare early, we’d say this is the most crucial tip for stress-free preparation.
The art of planning
If you’re blessed with a big family that is close by, then the art of planning goes a long way. Get the answers to all the big questions as early as possible:
- Where will you be spending Christmas Eve?
- Who will be buying the turkey for Christmas dinner?
- Food intolerances and allergies.
- Who’s the designated driver?
- New Year plans?
Setting these ideas in stone weeks before the festive period starts will help you manage your time and alleviate stress. Planning a vacation can be a hassle, regardless of the time of year.
Still, with so many people traveling during the festive period, there’s always a heightened sense of stress, so make sure you’re prepared, planned and ready for the road, the airport or however you’re getting to your relatives, and ensure you have a well-structured plan to enjoy your Christmas period.
Lend a helping hand
If you have your ducks in a row in plenty of time, and see a family or friend struggling to manage their schedule, why not offer to lend a helping hand? If you’re spending considerable time with these people over the festive period, then helping them get themselves sorted for the festive period can have a positive ripple effect.
We’re not saying you should frantically run around the shops and do everyone’s Christmas shopping for them. Lending a helping hand can mean something like hanging up decorations or wrapping presents. By alleviating stress for others, it can often have a positive, knock-on impact, and if those people you’re spending Christmas with are less stressed, it helps the whole group operate on a calmer level.
Conclusion
As you can see, stress-free festive preparation doesn’t involve anything too strenuous or difficult to manage; it’s all about good time management. Time is, however, a little tighter if you have a big family or need to travel far to spend time with people during the festive period.
However, the point remains: if you can plan your time effectively and get the important things done as early as possible, you set a reasonable foundation that gives you the best possible chance of having a festive period to remember.
We know the famous quote about best-laid plans, but from personal experience, those who plan ahead for the festive celebrations and have their plans in order often have a better chance of having a more relaxed season.
Of course, some things that are out of our control can arise, but if we have already planned, this frees up time for eventualities that arise out of nowhere, and gives us a clearer head to deal with them more effectively.
