Hi all!

Today I want to discuss how to stay calm during the holiday season. Christmas is a magical time of year, but it can also be very stressful. There is a lot to do and organise, which can leave you feeling burned out. It’s important to look after yourself (both physically and mentally) so that you can enjoy celebrating with your family. I hope this post will help!

1.) Don’t Do Everything At Once! 

It’s easy to feel stressed when you have so many gifts to buy, decorations to put up and cooking to do, but just remember: you don’t have to do it all at once! When we try to do too much at one time, things can become overwhelming. It’s better to buy a present here and there. Maybe put your tree up late November, so that leaves more free time in December. You can even buy gifts throughout the year and store them away. If you leave all of your shopping till the week of Christmas or heaven forbid, the night before, you are going to be exhausted. 

2.) Shop When It’s Safe. 

What I mean by safe, is going to the shops when you know there won’t be as many people around. This could be early morning or in the evening, when things are a bit quieter. If you go shopping during peak frenzy periods, you are likely to become more agitated. It’s much harder to find a parking spot, you can barely move around and the atmosphere will be loud. If you’re a highly sensitive person like me, it’s best to either shop online or go when it’s safer. I also like to shop at stores in small towns, that are less busy. The hustle and bustle may suit some, but it only serves to make me anxious. 

3.) Go Shopping With A Friend. 

If you need to hit the shops but already feel anxious about doing so, go with a friend that can keep you calm. You can break it up by getting lunch or stopping for a drink. They can help with gift ideas and make the experience more enjoyable.

4.) Take Time For Yourself. 

In the midst of this busy holiday season, it’s absolutely essential you take time for yourself. If you have a jam-packed day of shopping and errands ahead, schedule a massage or bath at the end, so you can unwind. Use one day of your weekend to relax and the other to tick items off of your list. Find ways to de-stress amongst all the chaos. It takes nothing to lose ourselves in the madness. We feel this need to keep going, going, going, but it’s not necessary. You will get everything done, no matter which road you take. 

5.) Make A List. 

I’m a huge list-maker. If you know December is going to be crazy, outline everything you need to do and buy, so you can stay on top of things. There is nothing worse than realising you forgot to buy a present for cousin Jimmy! I always write out a gift-buying list, with each person’s name and what I’m thinking of getting them. After each purchase, I tick them off. I also get recipes prepared beforehand and the ingredients required. Being organised will save you so much grief. 

6.) Enjoy The Christmas Spirit! 

I know Christmas is full-on, but it’s also a magical time of year. It’s all about attitude. You can see it as an inconvenience, or you can really enjoy it and soak up the festivities. I love Christmas. It makes me so happy. The more I get into it, the more joyful I feel. It doesn’t have to be viewed as a chaotic holiday period. You can take your time putting up the tree, see some spectacular Christmas lights or relax, listening to carols in the park. Some of the best memories I’ve ever made have been during Christmas. 

I hope you have the best holiday season possible. If you have any tips, please leave them below. Thank you so much for reading! 

Peace & Love xoxo