Christmas

Christmas is a time that makes demands on our time, money and energy, and it can leave people feeling stressed, worried about what to do/ how to cope/ how to please everyone, drained, frustrated and even lonely or angry. All of which is the opposite to the social hype about how we are supposed to feel – happy, excited and full of cheer and expectations.

In my Women’s Support Group we usually had a session focussed on the difficulties that can occur over the festive season and how we might minimise or survive through these difficulties – and there are a number of areas.

Mental health/ stress

Handling this can be a combination of planning early to do some things like sending cards and buying and wrapping presents, and of making time for relaxation and stress management strategies (e.g. slowing down breathing, positive self-talk, playing relaxing background music and talking to people about our problems).

Here is a useful handout from the Better Health Channel:
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/christmas-tips-to-reduce-the-stress

 Physical exhaustion

This is a time where we need to consciously make time for rest and relaxation (despite the pressures) and to get enough sleep.

Financial

In our group we found it useful to use this table to reflect on how we could do Christmas on a budget:

And then specifically in relation to gifts, we used this table to prompt some thoughts and ideas:

It is not necessary to purchase expensive gifts (many are returned to stores after Christmas), and those that have a little more thought, effort  and personal touch put into them are often appreciated more.

There are many ideas on the internet for making and/or purchasing budget gifts. Here are some:

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/handmade-christmas-gifts/

http://greatist.com/happiness/meaningful-gifts-on-the-cheap

Exercise

It can be tempting to do a lot of sitting over the festive season and to forget our usual exercise routines. We need to try to stay active – good conversations can be had whilst walking and resurrecting the family backyard cricket game (or other outside activities) can be a useful thing to do. Better still, if conditions are suitable, why not try flying kites (guaranteed to bring lots of laughter). And for those who have snow, the possibilities are even wider still.

Food and drinks

It is possible to substitute healthier options for a number of popular foods and drinks.

Here is a list of healthy food substitutes from the Mayo Clinic:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/healthy-recipes/art-20047195

Relationships

We need to be realistic about these – someone who has always irritated us, been a game player or been difficult will be no different at this time. We can try to avoid known triggers in conversations and use boundaries and escapes if needed. We may need to give ourselves permission not to stay in unsafe/ uncomfortable situations and it is good to plan to spend most time with people with whom we are comfortable.

Remember: if we step outside the commercial fast lane and concentrate on the real reason for the season, there we may find peace.