Does the Christmas expectation cause more anxiety than joy? Are your stress levels skyrocketing as you prepare for Christmas? Ease the stress of Christmas by preparing, exercising and sleeping, among other things. Use these tips to beat the Christmas stress and get through Christmas with zen.
Plan and prepare
Christmas Eve is loaded with big expectations. It's a good idea to start your Christmas preparations well in advance, so that all the tasks and the rush don't pile up in the last week before Christmas Eve. Reduce the rush and stress by planning what needs to be done and writing it down. Once you have a list of things to do, schedule them according to urgency and importance. Spread the tasks over as many days or even weeks as possible to avoid a long to-do list.
Get your gifts well in advance, plan your menu and write your shopping list, and start making your Christmas decorations immediately. You can also go shopping for long-life Christmas food and treats at the beginning of the Christmas week, leaving only perishable and short-lived foods for the last few days before the eve.
Write down any other things that come to mind. That way your brain won't be overloaded with a million things to remember and you can write down what you've done. Another good option is to delegate tasks to other family members. Don't try to do everything yourself!
Relax and sweat
It's easy to forget to take care of yourself in a busy world. Remember to stick to your own wellbeing in December too. The counterbalance to stressful Christmas preparations is, of course, exercise.
Of course, relaxation works to balance high heart rates and over-excitement. Body care and yoga classes from group exercise or virtual classes are great for this. Even half an hour of relaxation helps, but you'll get an even better effect from a yoga class lasting more than an hour, for example, where you can clear your mind and just be.
For others, a good workout and sweating can help relieve stress. Make sure you sweat at least a couple of times a week for at least half an hour at a time. Group exercise also works well here, as you can throw your brain on the string and do the rest with the rest of the group. Lifting heavy weights or jogging with music in your ears is also great brain wind therapy.
Hold on to your night's sleep
Fatigue and stress in the same package can be a strain on anyone's nerves. Make sure you don't stay up late into the night preparing for Christmas, or sleep late otherwise. Finish your evening early and make the most of the evening by reading, stretching or even watching a TV series (be careful not to devour too many episodes in one night).
Set yourself a bedtime target and try to stick to it. Because of the darkness, you may need up to half an hour more sleep to feel refreshed. And even if you're exhausted, don't guzzle caffeine excessively to catch up on sleep the next night.
Don't replace meals with treats
When you're tired and stressed, you put the first thing you can get your hands on in your mouth - probably Christmas sweets and chocolate. You can guess that eating large amounts of sugar doesn't make it any easier.
Of course you can indulge in December, but don't replace snacks or proper meals with treats. So eat four to six healthy meals a day and enjoy the treats on top. When you don't indulge in treats when you're hungry, you don't gorge on them with both hands. And don't go Christmas shopping hungry!
If you eat more treats or Christmas food in one go, don't feel guilty about it and fast the next day, as you'll probably continue the cycle again the day after. It's also okay to say no to Christmas treats, save them for next year or even pass them on.
When the whole Christmas season is haunting
The Christmas hype has already started in September, so by December many people may already have had their fill. When the whole Christmas season is getting you down, take a more drastic approach. Stick to your own routine and say a graceful 'no' to extra Christmas treats. Let others enjoy Christmas in peace and, if necessary, take some time for yourself. So remember to relax, and don't take unnecessary turns from the Christmas stress of others.
Back to everyday life after Christmas
Do you also experience post-Christmas anxiety? Ease your return to everyday life by maintaining normal routines in the run-up to Christmas. You can also return to everyday life little by little, without having to stop at the wall to celebrate Christmas. Keep your mind refreshed and your stress under control throughout December, so you'll feel better after Christmas too.
