Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, but for many, it can be very stressful. If you are struggling to manage your stress in a healthy way this holiday season, the home doctor experts at House Call Doctor have some tips.
Get planning
As soon as you can, sit down and create a plan to help you keep track of your spending and your social schedule. Determine your realistic gift budget for the season, then make a list of everyone you need to purchase for. Allocate a budget to each person to avoid losing track, then stick to it when buying presents.
For your social events, avoid overbooking yourself, and be sure to keep a calendar or diary close by to remind you of any upcoming engagements. Make a checklist of everything you need to prepare for each event and be ready early to avoid last-minute panic. If you are holding your own Christmas party, here’s what you can do:
- Prepare food in advance, and freeze anything you can to lighten the load on the day of the party
- Enlist help and delegate tasks
- Make a cooking schedule to ensure food will be ready when needed
- Encourage guests to bring a dish to share.
Be smart with your gifting
Even with an organised budget, buying your gifts can be stressful. Consider these tips to make your gift hunting a much calmer experience.
Ask for a wishlist
Reduce the stress of finding the perfect gift by asking people to give you a short list of things they want or need. This will make it easier to know what to buy and will ensure the gift recipient is happy.
Arrange a gift exchange with family, friends, or colleagues
Secret Santa (or Kris Kringle) is an easy and fun way to exchange gifts between a group of people. Each member of the group simply draws a single name, then you purchase a gift for that person. It can also be low budget too, so it is a sure-fire way to take the pressure off your gifting.
Shop early and shop online
Throughout December, shopping centres can be busy and overwhelming. In addition to making a plan for your gifts, avoid the stress of shopping centres by doing your shopping online. This will give you time to research your options, find the best price, and avoid crowds. Just be sure to get your shopping done early to ensure gifts arrive with plenty of time.
Look after your physical health
There’s plenty of temptation over the Christmas season, but your stress levels can be managed by prioritising your physical health. Avoiding binging on food and alcohol, keep up your usual exercise routine, and try to get as many full nights of rest as possible, especially in the lead up to any late-night events.
