Want to experience a more enjoyable Christmas - it’s all in the planning and preparation!

At this time of year, we often have even more demands on our time as we enjoy the period running up to Christmas and then the Christmas holiday itself. There are Christmas presents to buy and wrap, cards to write, people to thank, arrangements to be made for social gatherings, work to be finished off and then of course there’s Christmas day itself.

Don’t take on too much

Christmas can often be a time of year when we take on too much and end up just spreading ourselves too thinly. Not only is there usually a lot to do and balance, but there are sometimes financial pressures and plenty of opportunities for family discord too. And if you’re working right up until Christmas, or between Christmas and New Year, there’s almost always an added amount of stress likely to bubble up here too.

If you find Christmas overwhelming, it’s essential that you look after yourself. This can be as simple as lowering your expectations, managing relationships, setting boundaries, learning to say no, and of course taking a well-earned break.

Not everyone will be happy

It’s simply not possible to keep everyone happy at Christmas. None of us possess superhuman powers. What’s important is to find a balance between giving to others and keeping yourself happy. You can start to do this by ditching the guilt and stopping feeling responsible for other people’s behaviour and emotions.  It’s not down to you to ensure they are having a good time and enjoying themselves.

Sometimes the best way to approach Christmas is to plan ahead, including doing some much needed budgeting. A bit like you would for a specific work project or campaign, creating a plan will help you to stay calm and enjoy the time instead of feeling overwhelmed and resentful.

Here are some ways which you can get more out of Christmas and practice a bit of self-care too:

1.     Be honest with yourself and others. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a to-do list that’s long, challenging and unattainable. If you state your needs from the word go, you’ll have a much happier time.

2.     Keep it in perspective. Christmas can be as big or as low key an event as you want it to be. Remember it’s just one day and it's okay not to feel festive.

3.     Disconnect to reconnect. Take a complete break from work and other distractions by disconnecting from technology (phone, tablet, social media) to enable you to reconnect with yourself, loved ones and nature.

4.     Give yourself time and space. Prioritise whatever it is that will help you relax and feel calm. That could be mindfulness, yoga, walking or just some time alone.

5.     Delegate tasks. Remember that you don’t need to do everything yourself. Ask for help and support from others. Most of the time they’ll be delighted to be involved.

6.     Slow down and enjoy right now. Spend more time being than doing. Ensure that you get some time every day just to look after yourself.

7.     Get some exercise and fresh air. Do not under estimate the power of nature. Enjoy a walk with family or friends. Not only is it good to increase your heart rate, but it can do wonders for your mood too.

8.     Try not to eat or drink too much. Christmas is probably the most challenging time of year when it comes to healthy eating. Try to offset alcohol consumption and rich foods with lots of water for hydration and add plenty of fruit and vegetables to meals too.

9.     Sleep. Getting enough sleep is especially important at Christmas for helping you to control your emotions. Spending time with friends and family can be wonderful, but tensions can arise from being with them for longer periods of time than normal. Better quality of sleep will enhance your mood and ability to cope.

10.  Remember the true meaning of Christmas – giving, sharing, helping, respect, forgiveness, family, faith, love and being grateful. To me, it’s about spending quality time with loved ones and appreciating the gift of presence, rather than the cost of presents.

There really is no need to prove yourself as superman or superwoman this festive season. There are a lot of people around who can help you. So learn to delegate, delete, outsource or just find an easier way to do things, so you can free up your time this Christmas to have more fun and embrace the magic of the season. Happy Christmas to you all and best wishes for a wonderful 2025.