Evie Purves looks at ways to have a stress free Christmas

Happy Christmas?

It’s that time of year again where overspending, family gatherings and over eating come into their own. Yes, of course it’s Christmas. Time to be festive, cheery and of course dig out the gloves and wrap up warm. But with all the expectations and high hopes for the perfect day, Christmas can also be very overwhelming.

Family meet ups and gatherings can be pretty stressful, especially when there’s more family than space in the house. Of course we look forward to spending time with them and celebrating the festive season, but those little disputes and differences in opinion can end up turning ugly, putting strain on the entire family. Why not try and avoid the unnecessary stress and try a family outing you will all enjoy? Christmas pantos or ice-skating are great ways to spend time with the family and enjoy the festivities whilst avoiding feeling overwhelmed. (See also ‘tips for managing the holiday season’.)

Christmas shopping is also an activity for increasing our stress levels, especially if we have left it to the last minute. We can be so concerned with what to get our loved ones that we forget just how much time we need to do it, let alone spending the cash. In order to make this a bit easier for yourself, create a list and put together a budget on how much you plan to spend and stick to it. By doing this, you will already have an idea of where to go, what to get and how long it will take before you’ve even left the house. The result? You will be a lot more relaxed. Even if money is a bit tight how about trying out some DIY presents? This way you will save a small fortune, and homemade presents are much more personal, showing the recipient just how much you care.

Now when it comes to cooking the Christmas dinner, there can’t be many things more stressful than getting the timings right. In fact, making sure we’ve got the ingredients right can be a challenge when we are already fretting over other things. Whether it’s a turkey or a nut roast, the expectations are usually pretty high. But by putting too much pressure on ourselves, we work ourselves up which could actually make it even more likely that something will go wrong. Instead of worrying, write a list of the timings for the meal. Next, try doing some of the preparation the night before. Preparing the sprouts or seasoning the meat the night before all goes a long way in saving you time on Christmas Day itself.

Of course, then there is the alcohol. Christmas is a great excuse for a party and alcohol consumption tends to rise over the festive period, but try to keep it in moderation. One excessive evening could be counterbalanced by an alcohol-free evening the next.

For more helpful advice, visit www.theconwaypractice.co.uk

Tips for managing the holiday season
• Take stock of your achievements during the past year perhaps by writing them down
• Tell your family what it is that you appreciate and love about them
• Do things as a family – perhaps going for a walk in the countryside or by the sea – we are lucky in Brighton as we live near to the sea and the South Downs
• Visualise having the resources available for when you need them most
• Model your behaviour on someone you admire – noticing what it is that person does well
• Practise some breathing techniques or self hypnosis techniques both of which can help you to be more relaxed
• Take some time for yourself to do what you enjoy most – you don’t have to spend every minute of the Christmas holidays with your family.
– Jonathan Conway, NLP Master Practitioner and coach:
01273 540425/07956 855 027 www.theconwaypractice.co.uk