Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It can also be the most stressful. This is especially true if you’re a parent. Or if you have a big family and you’re the one responsible for organising Christmas. It can be overwhelming to think of all the people you have to see. Not to mention all the gifts to buy. But Christmas is meant to be enjoyed. We would hate for you to miss out on all the beauty and joy of the season, just because you’re too stressed. So here’s a couple of quick tips to help you minimize your stress levels, and get the most out of the Christmas season.

1. Say no to some invitations

There are a lot of people you’ll want to see over Christmas. There are your close friends and family. There’s also your distant friends and family, those you hardly see or are living interstate. You’ll probably want to make time for every single one of them.

But you can burn out if you push yourself that hard. It can also make these events feel more like chores, instead of time with loved ones. Don’t pressure yourself to attend every event or see every person. Focus on the ones that are most important to you. Prioritise quality over quantity.

2. Don’t Do Every Job Yourself

Many of us feel like we have to do it all ourselves. If we accept help from someone else, or pay someone else to do a job, we worry that it won’t be done right. Or it can feel like we’ve failed!

Sometimes we need to outsource the work. Sometimes it’s worth just paying the money to get a job done, if it saves you peace of mind.

Try picking the two most stressful tasks you need to do this Christmas, and outsource them. Are you struggling to find time for healthy meals? Invest in a meal prep box for December/January. Are you running out of time to get all the gifts wrapped up? Save your time and pay to get it done in store. This will help you get everything done, and have a happier mindset while you do it.

3. Be Organized and Do Things Early

We know this is easier said than done! How many of us say each year, ‘I won’t leave my shopping to the last minute’, but then do exactly that? Being organized comes naturally to some of us, but others find it difficult. Either way, it’s important to try. A little bit of organisation today can save you a lot of extra work tomorrow.

Remember, you don’t have to organize everything! The trick is to do some things early. If you have a busy weekend coming up, try to complete one of your weekend tasks earlier in the week. Or if you want to see an important friend, make sure you message them early so that you don’t miss out. Any little thing you do will ease the burden later on. You don’t have to get everything done early! Just plan ahead.

4. Give Yourself the Gift of Self-Care

We know many mothers will spend the Christmas season making everyone else happy. Remember that you deserve to be happy too! Make sure you take the time to self-care if you’re feeling stressed. Maybe indulge in a massage! Or simply make time to get out for a walk. Do whatever you do to help yourself rest, relax, and recover.

Not only will this make you feel good, but it will also help you recharge your energy. This means you’ll be able to handle the stress in the busy season.

5. Go Easy on Yourself

A lot of routines get interrupted during the holiday season. We rely a lot on our routines to help us be productive and get things done on time. Without those routines, we lose our good habits. You may find you don’t get to the gym five times a week over Christmas. Or even once! But that’s ok. Everyone experiences this over the holidays.

So go easy on yourself. Give yourself a guilt-free pass to skip some of your routines during this time. You’re not a failure. You’ve just got a lot on your plate.

6. Have Fun

We know what you’re thinking. How can you have fun when you’re stressed? They seem like opposites. But laughter is the best medicine. If you do something you enjoy, it will give you just the uplift you need to keep going. Prioritize fun things. It’s empowering.

If you can laugh in the midst of difficulty, it’s a sign of your incredible inner strength. So remember to have fun. Christmas is a special time of the year. Make sure you don’t miss out by working too hard.

We hope you have a Happy Christmas this year, from all of us at North Coast Medispa.