Coping with Christmas Stress Mindfully
Reduce and manage your stress this Christmas with our top tips and advice.
December is looming; how do you feel about it?
Perhaps you've already got your decorations up (and if you have, chances are you're happier than those who wait until nearer Christmas, apparently) and can't wait for the family to visit come Christmas Day.
Or perhaps you're one of the many people who find Christmas and its build-up a particularly stressful time of year and you can't wait for it all to be over. Don't worry if this is you; you are far from alone.
If you struggle to enjoy Christmas and all its trimmings, in this article you'll find a few tips for having a more mindful Christmas.
Don't over-fill your calendar
December is one of the busiest months of the year for most of us. Whether it's shopping, office parties or neighbourly festive drinks, the calendar is usually full come mid-November. But if you find yourself anxious about the impending festive season, it's important to keep some time back for yourself. Whether you choose to take some time out daily to meditate, go for a run or simply have a cuppa, learn to protect your time.
You will have to be very disciplined to ensure you take this time, but the benefits can be amazing. So if you don't feel as though you have a moment for yourself, create a regular reminder in your calendar and stick to it. It could make all the difference to your happiness this Christmas.
Do what you can
We all have a friend who declared "I'm all ready for Christmas" at the beginning of November, don't we? Think back to when they said that – how did it make you feel? Perhaps you were irritated or bored and if so, that's ok. They are not you and you are not them, everybody is different and we don't have to work to the same timetable.
If you're stressing about what you haven't done or wishing you'd started your Christmas preparation earlier, it's definitely time to take a moment and just pause. Next time you feel Christmas stress impending, follow this short, effective breathing exercise:
Breathe in, then bring awareness to the moment between the in-breath and the out-breath, then breathe out. Do this a few times.
Then, slowly begin to expand your awareness to the rest of the body.
After a few more breaths, you will find it easier to let go of your own worry and critique.
Be kind to yourself
Negative feelings such as impatience or anger can come to the surface more easily at Christmas time. The 'perfect' Christmas is a dream that simply doesn't exist in real-life. Things won't go to plan; the sprouts might be overcooked or you might experience something more serious, such as a family dispute.
Before your mind runs away with you about what could happen, you must learn to be kinder to yourself. Being kind can help you to better cope with stress. Mistakes are bound to happen: the best thing you can do is accept them and forgive yourself without judgement.
Make plans for the New Year
If you are experiencing feelings of stress and anxiety ahead of Christmas, give yourself something to look forward to in the new year. Book a mindfulness course, do that evening class you've been 'meaning to do' or make plans to travel the world (even if it's just for a week). Mindful travel journal You Are Here is a must-have for those intending to travel. Full of easy-to-follow mindfulness techniques, this journal will help you to develop a happy, peaceful mind.
So whether you're planning the trip of a lifetime or simply a weekend away, pick up a copy of You Are Here before you set off.
Discover more about our journal in this short trailer:
December is looming; how do you feel about it?
Perhaps you've already got your decorations up (and if you have, chances are you're happier than those who wait until nearer Christmas, apparently) and can't wait for the family to visit come Christmas Day.
Or perhaps you're one of the many people who find Christmas and its build-up a particularly stressful time of year and you can't wait for it all to be over. Don't worry if this is you; you are far from alone.
If you struggle to enjoy Christmas and all its trimmings, in this article you'll find a few tips for having a more mindful Christmas.
Don't over-fill your calendar
December is one of the busiest months of the year for most of us. Whether it's shopping, office parties or neighbourly festive drinks, the calendar is usually full come mid-November. But if you find yourself anxious about the impending festive season, it's important to keep some time back for yourself. Whether you choose to take some time out daily to meditate, go for a run or simply have a cuppa, learn to protect your time.
You will have to be very disciplined to ensure you take this time, but the benefits can be amazing. So if you don't feel as though you have a moment for yourself, create a regular reminder in your calendar and stick to it. It could make all the difference to your happiness this Christmas.
Do what you can
We all have a friend who declared "I'm all ready for Christmas" at the beginning of November, don't we? Think back to when they said that – how did it make you feel? Perhaps you were irritated or bored and if so, that's ok. They are not you and you are not them, everybody is different and we don't have to work to the same timetable.
If you're stressing about what you haven't done or wishing you'd started your Christmas preparation earlier, it's definitely time to take a moment and just pause. Next time you feel Christmas stress impending, follow this short, effective breathing exercise:
Breathe in, then bring awareness to the moment between the in-breath and the out-breath, then breathe out. Do this a few times.
Then, slowly begin to expand your awareness to the rest of the body.
After a few more breaths, you will find it easier to let go of your own worry and critique.
Be kind to yourself
Negative feelings such as impatience or anger can come to the surface more easily at Christmas time. The 'perfect' Christmas is a dream that simply doesn't exist in real-life. Things won't go to plan; the sprouts might be overcooked or you might experience something more serious, such as a family dispute.
Before your mind runs away with you about what could happen, you must learn to be kinder to yourself. Being kind can help you to better cope with stress. Mistakes are bound to happen: the best thing you can do is accept them and forgive yourself without judgement.
Make plans for the New Year
If you are experiencing feelings of stress and anxiety ahead of Christmas, give yourself something to look forward to in the new year. Book a mindfulness course, do that evening class you've been 'meaning to do' or make plans to travel the world (even if it's just for a week). Mindful travel journal You Are Here is a must-have for those intending to travel. Full of easy-to-follow mindfulness techniques, this journal will help you to develop a happy, peaceful mind.
So whether you're planning the trip of a lifetime or simply a weekend away, pick up a copy of You Are Here before you set off.
Discover more about our journal in this short trailer: