Twelve Tips for Reducing Christmas Day Stress

Christmas Day can be one of the most stressful days of the year. Expectations, relationships, presents all can push the stress ~~elves~~ levels to the max.

There is a saying ‘A rising tide lifts all boats.’

I have noticed that the rising tide of Christmas stress lifts everyone’s boat.

Ques of traffic and shoppers all in a pressure zone.

We need to manage our stress for good mental health.

So here are my top tips for having a great Christmas Day.

Plan, plan, plan
Write out a plan. Get it out of our traffic congested brain and work your way through it.Remember S.T.A.N. in your plan.

A good plan is
Simple to understand by all that are involved
Timed for review, not necessarily completion
Aimed at achieving something of deep personal value
Negotiated with those that are involved
Delegate
No one likes the smell of burnt martyr.Get others involved in the day, share the stress load. Most people want to be involved and want to know how to help.
Zones
If you are able, have different areas of your home set up for different groupings.We have the main dining/ family area for all the rowdy types and another spot for those who want to escape the rowdy types.

We have the deck (It’s summer here in New Zealand ) for those who want the indoor-outdoor flow, and even a bed for those who want to zone out completely.
Communicate
You’ve got a plan but do others know about it?This year, using our facebook family group in messenger, we shared our plan and asked for people to respond.

Those that didn’t respond got a followup call.
Expectations
Drop all your expectations to something that is both realistic and achievable.The purpose of Christmas is not to have the best food, perfect presents or the best laid out table.

Christmas to me is about getting together with family and celebrating the best birthday party ever.
Five words to say
These five words are the best words you can say at Christmas or any time at all.How Can I Help You?

Simple words that speak support. Say them often.

Say them when you’re weeks out from the big day and say them after the day.
Write it down
When that special frazzled person in your life hears the words ‘How can I help you?’ then be ready to either do the task straight away or to write the items down.Then get into ticking off the tasks.
Plan for rest
Make sure you have some time when you can rest and enjoy the day.Christmas happens but once a year and so make the most of spending time with those you care about.
Delegate the dishes to someone else!
Acknowledge the difference
A lot can happen in a year. Marriages and relationships break down, family and friends die, tragedy robs.Acknowledge those hurting places and grieve them.
Welcome the stranger
It was strange, but last year, as we about to eat our Christmas dinner, there was a knock on the door. It was a pregnant 14-year-old who was just about to give birth. I did think it kind of strange, but I welcomed her in, and we found a place to give birth.There will be people in your community that would love to come and have a family Christmas with you.

Reach out and see what presence they bring.
Create rituals
It might be who opens the presents first, who prays and gives thanks for the food. It might even be who washes the dishes.One of my happy/ sad rituals for many years was washing dishes with my sister-in-law.
I would wash, she would dry, and we would talk.

She sadly died of cancer about six years ago, and I miss her every time I run the water to wash the plates.
Talk to someone
If it’s all getting too much and the relationships are causing you to stress out, then please don’t bottle it up.Reach out and talk with someone.

How do you manage the stress of Christmas day?