How do you deal with pre-Christmas stress?

Question

Christmas is a wonderful time for friends and family, but it can also become very stressful. How do you cope with the pressures of the holiday season?
- Women's Health Editor Felicity Percival

For inspiring ideas, information and health tips visit http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/womens-health/

Answer 1

I don't force myself to catch up with everyone "before Christmas". It just gets so crazy, why not do it afterwards?

The other thing I do is write a list of what I need to buy and hit the shops at 9am. That way all the hard stuff is done before the crowds arrive.

And here's another one - I don't drink too much, especially around family. It's a personal policy I learned the hard way, and it means I can happily drive away when I've had enough of those crazy people. (I do love them...)

Answer 2

I find the best way to cope with Christmas stress is to budget for the inevitable expenses of the season and to look out for suitable Christmas presents throughout the year. Christmas cards and all sorts of Christmas goods can be bought very cheaply just after Christmas and kept until the next year. I have even bought packs of twenty cards for as little as twenty cents after Christmas and kept for the following years.

You really have to be organized, if planning Christmas for a family. Try to simplify things as much as you can and make lists of things to do. If you sit down and write a few cards every day from, say the middle of November, you should be able to eliminate that stress. If you are in charge of Christmas dinner for a large, extended family, perhaps suggest that the relatives visit on other days for some Christmas cake and good cheer, rather than having to cater for a crowd on Christmas Day itself. If you only have the family to cook for, then, if it is hot, you can always take a picnic to the beach.

As far as gifts are concerned, limit giving to the children. Most people end up with useless, expensive items which end up in garage sales. I know, I buy many new things from garage sales, for a tenth of the original cost. If you have to give to adults, suggest drawing a name out of a hat and buy for just one person, while someone else buys for you. You could give three suggestions and will probably receive what you want this way.

Remember it is the thought that counts, but make sure you really do think of the other person and don't just buy the first thing you see! Making a few presents, helped by the children would ensure an original gift. Above all, stay calm and do as little as you possibly can. That way, everyone will enjoy the festivities!

Answer 3

I buy throughout the year when I see a good special or clearance items. The best time is right after christmas when I buy items for half price. Some food items like chocolate for example are still good enough to put away for Easter. If I see an advertisement for a closing down sale I check it out and sometimes save as much as 80%. I cook meals that I can freeze a few weeks before Christmas so that I can relax and not run round and stress. I'm never stuck for presents because there's always something put away, even an assortment of cards.

Answer 4

I think the key to reducing stress at Christmas time is getting the shopping out of the way (preferably without even going to the shop at all). Online shopping is the best way to do this.

The best idea for gifts that I have seen for a long time can be found at www.quickgifts.com.au

Quick Gifts offer pre-paid personalised gift cards that can be used anywhere in Australia where EFTPOS is accepted.

Quick Gifts solve all the problems associated with busy shopping malls, restricted opening times, not enough parking space, sore feet, and most importantly, the stress of finding the perfect gift for that person who is just ‘impossible’ to buy for.

They have developed a special online design tool which allows you to upload your own photos, add speech bubbles and borders, and position your photo onto the Gift Card so it looks just the way you like. With your own personal gallery space you can add as many designs as you wish, and send them when you're ready.

Like other gift cards, the Quick Gifts Gift Card has a magnetic strip, and a security PIN number. However, the BIG difference is that YOU choose how the card looks, and then they print it and send it out. You can get the card sent to yourself, or straight to someone else.

They don’t cost very much, and will arrive in just a couple of days.

I recently received one of these cards for my birthday (from my wife and son) and it was so cool.

The best part is that they can be spent anywhere that has an EFTPOS terminal, which is pretty much anywhere these days. I ended up taking the family out for dinner with mine!

Now that the gift amount is used up I keep the card in my wallet because it has a lovely picture of my wife and son on it, and it fits in my wallet better than those old daggy photos that get all banged up after a while.

We just bought some for Mum and Dad, and our sisters for Christmas. My sisters are usually so hard to buy for, but now they can get exactly what they want, and I don't feel like I have taken the easy option (even though it was easy)because the card is personalised with a picture of my son and our dog in Christmas hats.

Seriously, I'm going to do all my Christmas shopping with these guys because it's quick, easy, and really great value considering that they are printing the cards on demand (ie. Not mass produced like the others).

You can also get a Personalised Greeting Card with the Gift Card for a little bit extra. Oh, and the postage is free :)

So that deals with the stress of Christmas shopping, now you just have to sort out the food, and deal with the family.........

Answer 5

Shop right through the year and you will not have any stress. I think the answer is you have to plan ahead and be ready when it is here. Stressing out makes an unhappy Christmas whereas if you have no stress, just imagine how happy your Christmas will be. It is a family affair so everyone should be involved and not just the female of the house. You do get a great more joy when everyone is involved. That is what I thought of Christmas to be....with all your family and friends, once they are there, there is only joy to be shared by everyone around you. My mind is going but I hope this makes sense

Answer 6

Firstly, don't let yourself become stressed. Accept that you can only do so much in a day. Short naps during the day can help reduce any stress you are feeling. Don't forget the most important thing is your health, not gifts and fancy food. Keep things simple and have a checklist. Mark off the most important things. Christmas is only one day and it's a day when we should be humble and thinking about the birth of Jesus, not a day of worry. Finally, take the stress off yourself by not having high expectations of what you want or what others expect. Just relax and be thankful for all the good things you already have.

Answer 7

To cope with the holiday season of Christmas, I spend time with my friends and family and relax as much as possible. Try not to think of all the gifts you have to buy and all the things that have to get done before Christmas gets here. Make you a daily list of thing you need to do, things to get, and when you NEED to relax and have your alone time for yourself.

Don't go out and buy everything at once and have a giant mess in your house before the night is over. Then you risk having a really hard time to wrap the gifts, stressing out on how they don't look just right, where is the food for the party or Christmas day, and many other things. I know this because my mom freaks out this way almost every year.

So find time for yourself in this caotic point of the year. Go and have fun with a few of your friend while still enjoying the hoiday. DON'T FREAK OUT!!! It will be fine as long as you just take it one day and gift, at a time.

Answer 8

Hi there...I think that i am one of the slightly more insane people when it comes to Christmas..I start my Christmas shopping in the January sales and pretty well go all year long.
I have a little book that sits in my handbag and when ever i see something that i think someone in my family might like i lay-by it pay it off and then put the details in my note book...
I can say that it has saved my bacon on many occasions and i use the same principal with birthday presents for friends and family alike...
When it comes to catching up with everyone just let it happen naturally if you can do it before Christmas then that's great if not the New Years a great time to catch up....So relax and enjoy the festive season.....

Answer 9

PCS, is a condition that causes stress due to the commercialsation that is destroying the true meaning of christmas and the birth of Jesus our Lord And Salvation.

The way to deal with pre-christmas stress is to celebrate Christs birth every day of the year. Look not to the selfish or small confined meanings of Christmas, But indeed, follow through with the teachings of CHRIST, and give what you lavish on family and friends to those who are truely in need. Help the homeless, feed the hungry, then your pre-Christmas stress will turn into springs of living water and the joy of salvation.

I recall Christ as he overturned the money changes in the temple, today I think he would overturn the commercialist preying on people, giving them PCS, and maxed out creditcards etc.

Dare to think outside the square and if you truly believe on The Christ, give to the needy, truely deny yourself over the festive season, and put that monies you would spend to real human needs.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT, a recipe for no PCS, may God bless to this answer, now and always

Answer 10

PREPARE!
1. Put pressies on lay by early. As you get the laybys out, wrap the presents so your not doing it just before the Xmas party.
2.Organise a family Kris Kringle so you don't have to buy for everyone.
3. For Xmas parties, everyone should bring food not just the host.
4.Don't feel guilty about not going to every Xmas get together you are invited to. It's OK to say no if it's too much for you.
5.If you're going to send Xmas cards do it now!
6.Take time during Xmas to do some sort of service for others eg, carolling at a nursing home with your family, make Xmas chocolates and do mystery drop offs, invite a loner to your Xmas lunch, do a mystery present drop off to someone in need, have the kids do a nativity reinactment all dressed up at your Xmas party.

Answer 11

Weights!!!! And not just for the pre-Christmas stress!!

I keep a set of little 5 pounders at home AND on my desk at work. If I feel especially stressed and can't get away outside or from my desk I do a few reps while working at my computer or watching TV. Works to at least take the edge off.

Walking (without the shopping part!!) my 10,000 steps a day helps keep my sanity as well-however, when the stress cranks up, I crank up my steps as well. God bless the creator ot the pedometer!!! BTW 14, 000 is the best amount when things go really insane!!