Christmas is a wonderful time of year, we have a few days off work with our families, we can enjoy quality time with the people that we love and we can just sit back and relax. Christmas can also be a difficult time of year for many, it can be lonely, isolating, filled with so much pressure, worry, anxiety, and I completely get that if I’m honest.
Family time can be amazing, but to be honest being around each other trying to be festive can be so hard and can cause you so much anxiety. So here is your guide to dealing with the festive season.
1. Set Yourself Boundaries
When it comes to Christmas, I adore spending time with the people I love, especially at Christmas time and we do need time away. It can be so overwhelming being around everyone all of the time, so set yourself some boundaries, if you feel like it is getting a little too much or it is too overwhelming, go to a quiet area, take a few breaths and chill out.
2. Don’t Compare Your Christmas To Others
Comparison can be one of the most difficult things to cope with, especially when it comes to going out, Christmas traditions, the amount of money that is spent. This year I have been on a strict budget, I didn’t want to overwhelm myself with spending all of my money on presents, I always try to put a lot of thought into my presents and what I buy people.
3. It Is Okay To Not Feel Happy All Of The Time
It isn’t physically possible to be happy 24/7, and during the holidays it is important to remember you are allowed to feel sad. It is okay if you are feeling down, or you are struggling or emotional, let yourself feel those feelings, don’t try to suppress them.
4. Speak To Your Loved Ones
If you’re struggling, speaking to the people around you, explain how you are feeling, I was always told as a child a problem shared is a problem halved and it is definitely something I’m reminding myself of as I get older. Never underestimate the importance of talking about it.
If you aren’t able to talk to the people around you, the Samaritans are amazing, they will support you, listen to you and do everything they can to help. Their number is 116 123.
5. Remember To Take Care Of Yourself
When it comes to the festive season, I tend to look out for everyone else, are they okay, do they have everything they need, have I remembered all the presents, is everything ready for them, you know the norm. So remember to make sure you take pare of yourself, you’re not overwhelming yourself too much, you aren’t taking on too much and you are taking care of your needs. At the end of the day Christmas is supposed to be an amazing time of year, magical, fun, enjoyable. Not filled with worry and dread.
If you are struggling this Christmastime, please don’t ever feel like you are alone.
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I find it hard to please everyone at Christmas as everyone wants to spend time together but I just wanna be at home in my pjs! x
I adore this post darling. Speaking to your loved ones during the festive months is so important. I’m sending you so much love and festive wishes. 💜🎄
With love, Alisha Valerie x | http://www.alishavalerie.com
Great post, it’s so important to take care of ourselves this time of year! x
These are some really great tips, there’s so much pressure on us at Christmas and it can be so tough on your mental health. My anxiety is always bad this time of year so I will certainly be paying attention to these!
It’s so hard at Christmas if you feel forced to spend time with family members that are toxic too. You shouldn’t have to put up with it if it makes your mental health suffer. You should definitely take care of yourself, first and foremost. 🙂
Sarah 🌺 || Boxnip || Latest Post
I think it’s best to take the pressure off and enjoy what is x
Taking care of yourself is so important at this time of the year x
Great tips, Christmas can be quite stressful and overwhelming for lots of reasons! I’m cooking for everyone this year so I’m planning on hiding away in the kitchen if it all gets a bit too much to handle 😂 x
Sophie
http://www.glowsteady.co.uk
These are great tips, especially if people struggle at Christmas! I love Christmas but I always over spend at Christmas. But this year I have been great at keeping to a budget which has meant it has so far been less stressful. Thank you for sharing! Xx
Great post, Amie! All these tips are important throughout the year, but definitely even more so at Christmas. Christmas can be such a happy time, but only if we take proper care of our self!
It’s so so so important to look after your mental health, especially over the festive period, I love this post and think it spreads such a lovely, positive message x
http://www.emilyjanebirks.co.uk
I think not comparing your christmas to others is such an important one, especially with the amount of xmas content thats shared on social media.
First up – I love this post and hope you have a fabulous Christmas ♥ Also, these are such important points for everyone to take note of! I feel like, at least in the blogging community, these are close to home – if only the general public could more sensitive to all of these as well! I’m going to see my family on Sunday and hope my festive feelings will come soon after! x ♥
Christmas time at my place is a big deal….and chaotic. Yeah many times it can get overwhelming. These are very useful tips to remember, not to let Christmas bury you with pressure.
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year and it should full of love, kindness and quiet reflection.
Merry Christmas xx
This is an absolutely lovely post, and I’m glad I stumbled upon it. Christmas has always been a little stressful for me, and when I learned to put up healthy boundaries, my happiness greatly improved. I’ve also never heard “a problem shared is a problem halved.” Just wonderful!
When your younger, Christmas is all about presents and getting things. As I get older, Christmas is so much more a spiritual experience. Gifts are part of the experience but not all of it. Gratitude is more important these days. A gift is a way to say to a friend that they mean a lot to me! It is a process. Some Christmas’ aren’t magical and some are wonderful.It is an ever-changing practice of life. Your advice is wise. Expect and accept that life can be worrisome at a time when everyone is celebrating. Mindfulness and self-care are so important.
I really needed to read this
These are some great tips for coping! I love Christmas but can find there’s a lot of pressure, I especially love your tip about setting boundaries. I’ve made a conscious effort this year to set aside a day or two in the mayhem just for me. I think it’s so important because I get to the end of the festive period and I just feel exhausted!
Sian x
http://www.siankathrine.co.uk
Love this! Christmas can be so hard, but it’s great to we’re never alone in this. Thanks for the great tips ❤ x
These are all really great tips for getting through a season that can feel so overwhelming sometimes. Thanks for sharing! I hope you had a merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🙂
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