Christmas – the most wonderful time of year.
You get together with family, exchange heartfelt tokens of your love and eat and drink merrily until you are so full that you need a nap.
We have all had a Christmas that has panned out just as serenely as that described above. But, many of also know that Christmas can be a downright awkward event. There are second-cousins you can’t remember the name of and aunties you haven’t seen since the last festive season. There are the invasive in-laws, the dodgy uncle and the one relative who never quite knows when to stop talking.
Yup – for many, the holiday seasons spells stress.
Here are our tips for surviving Christmas – and maybe even enjoying it!
Fight the Christmas blues
The festive season is about being around your loved ones and appreciating what you have. But it can also serve as a stark reminder of that you have lost. Your first Christmas after a life changing event can be particularly difficult to navigate in the absence of people, places or indulgences that you were once accustomed to. This means that Christmas is often a dangerous time for your emotional well-being, as well as that of those around you.
Surviving Christmas may mean cutting yourself some slack. Allow yourself to feel what you need to, rather than trying to distract yourself from what is hiding beneath. Most importantly, talk to others about your feelings – chances are the people around you are experiencing the impact of similar absences as well. By opening up you will remind yourself that you are not isolated or alone, and lift a great burden off your shoulders.
Plan ahead
There is nothing worse than leaving family decisions about Christmas Day to the last minute. Inevitably, this will result in a series of lunches and dinners that your stomach simply cannot handle, or will see you staying up until the wee hours of the morning on Christmas Eve, making bon-bons while waiting for your Christmas Cake to come out of the oven.
Simply, this will not do. De-stress the day by planning out events with family members early. This will give you time to prepare that ham, pick up a Christmas Cake from the bakery (because honestly, who has the time?) and to delegate responsibilities so that you – or another family member – aren’t stuck doing it all.
We’ve all heard that prior preparation prevents poor performances – and when it comes to surviving Christmas, it’s spot on.
Don’t over-commit financially
When you are caught up in the excitement of sleigh bells, carols and honey-glazed ham, it is easy to get carried away and fill the trolley to the brim.
Giant stockings for the whole family? YES.
An 8 foot Christmas tree to replace the 6 foot beauty in the cupboard? ABSOLUTELY.
Reindeer Antlers for Bill the Bulldog that he will chew to death in 5 minutes? A MUST HAVE.
While these purchases may feel perfectly justified by the notion that “What the heck, it’s Christmas!”, we can guarantee that you will be singing a different tune by New Years. Surviving Christmas is dependent on staying within your budget when Christmas shopping, and for goodness sake, stick. to. the. list.
At the end of the day, your 10 year old niece won’t care that her lollies are homebrand, and Aunty Sharon won’t be able to tell the difference between Brown Brothers and Stanley Red by the second glass. Spending within your means will save you money, regret and a few grey hairs in the long run.
Don’t take responsibility for other people
No matter how merry you try to make your family Christmas, there is always one who insists on playing the Grinch, and refuses to get involved. And you know what – that’s their choice!
Don’t feel bad if Uncle Mike is sulking in the corner as he does at every event, and stop worrying about whether or not Aunty June is having fun. Pleasing everyone is a near impossible task for one person, and will often mean that you sacrifice your own enjoyment because you are too worried about others. Sit back, relax and focus on your own experience of the day. Surviving Christmas means maintaining perspective!
Let go of perfection
At the end of the day, big events like Christmas rarely run smoothly. There are inevitably going to be presents that are faulty, spilt food and drink, and a tantrum from a child who has had too much sugar and too little sleep. It happens.
Instead of focussing on making this year the Christmas of the century, just aim to have some fun. Laugh it off when you dribble wine on your white tablecloth (you only use it once a year anyway) and don’t take it personally if your nephew doesn’t like the potato bake.
