While Christmas is the happiest time of year for lots of us, for some it can be very stressful. We came up with some top tips to make sure you thoroughly enjoy the festive season – here are our favorites for a happy, healthy Christmas.
Christmas shopping
According to a recent study, around 60 per cent of us dislike Christmas shopping. Only 20% of us actually plan our Christmas shopping expeditions, and the majority of us (nearly 75 per cent) even come home without buying anything!
Christmas shopping can be the most stressful part of the holiday season, what with the crowds, competition for the latest toys and so on. This year, why not get started early and make a list of all the gifts you wish to buy before you go shopping? This way, you won’t be wandering aimlessly around the mall for hours and you can really think your choices through.
It makes sense to buy some general gifts, such as chocolates, just in case you forget somebody or you unexpected guests come to visit. Buying your gifts online could also be a huge time-save – some companies also gift-wrap and mail your presents for a small additional fee.
The Christmas dinner
Christmas dinner is the best part of the festive experience for many – but for the person in charge it can often be stressful and tiring.
If you are cooking lunch at home, ask others to help out and delegate tasks. You don’t need to do everything by yourself. You could also consider keeping things very simple – such as putting together a buffet style lunch, where everybody brings a dish.
To get started, prepare well in advance and make a list of ingredients you need. You can even buy as many non-perishable food items as you can before mid-December, as supermarkets on Christmas Eve are generally extremely busy with last-minute shoppers!
Family and friends
With all the time you’ll be spending together during the festive season, arguments between family members and friends can be very common. Just remember that tension at Christmas gatherings is completely normal and avoid touchy subjects that you know your family disagree on.
Activities are great for bringing family members together – why not plan for something to do as a group? Board games and Christmas films can be great for bringing people together.
