4 ways to look after you this Christmas
While Christmas is a time of celebration and connection, it can also bring added pressures — from buying gifts to managing family gatherings — and these demands can sometimes feel overwhelming. The good news is, a few small changes can make a big difference to your enjoyment of the festive season.
1. Get creative with gifts
It’s easy to overspend on Christmas presents and, as wonderful as it is to give and receive gifts, it’s not essential. There are other ways to show you care at Christmas.
Give the gift of time. Would your loved one enjoy a picnic with you, or a visit to an Art Gallery? Could you create a hiking bushwalk itinerary and offer a few dates that you’re free?
If you are doing tangible gifts, there are still ways to reduce the stress of overspending.
- Just buy gifts for the kids.
- Agree to gift your copies of your favourite books and get one in return.
- Go Kris Kringle style and everyone buys only for one person with a set limit.
- Ever heard of Bad Santa? It’s Kris Kringle with a twist: guests contribute an anonymous gift to the gift pile and take on each other to land a gift they like!
2. Be the host with a plan
If it’s your turn to host Christmas lunch or dinner, you might be equally excited and terrified. Remember, it’s your Christmas too, so it’s worth finding ways to lighten your load.
- Delegate. Ask your guests to bring to a plate and ask your household to help you in the lead up and on the day.
- Shop early if you can. Make a list of ingredients and other items and get your orders in ahead of time, to avoid last minute shopping or the disappointment of out of stock items.
- Create a runsheet. It may not be a Broadway show, but hosting Christmas has a lot of moving parts. Your future self will thank you.
3. Keep family in check
Family togetherness over Christmas can be both a blessing and a challenge, with feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression more common than you might think.
If you experience any of these, it's important to know that these feelings are widely felt and are a normal response to a busy and often emotionally charged time of year. Stress reduction strategies include:
- Expect the expected. It can be helpful to keep in mind that if family members often argue, they will most likely argue at Christmas.
- Avoid known triggers. Can your guests agree to avoid contentious topics, or can you deftly move the conversation along if you need to?
- Relax. Have a few relaxation techniques up your sleeve, such as deep breathing.
- Take it outside. A game of cricket or bocce in the background or other after-lunch activities can help reduce alcohol intake and arguments.
- Focus on the kids. Can someone dress up as Santa or initiate some kids’ games to help keep the day jovial and light?
4. Healthy boundaries
Christmas is a celebration, and yet too much busyness, and high expectations can wreak havoc with your health and wellbeing. Remember to look after you this silly season, and that saying no to an invite can be saying yes to yourself.
- Rest up. Get the sleep that you need to feel good.
- Be moderate. You’ll have more energy for the festivities and will feel better at the end of the Christmas season if you eat and drink in moderation.
- Keep moving. It’s more than ok to keep up with your fitness routine over Christmas, or to start one. The holidays might be just the time to take those long walks or meet a friend for a game of tennis or a swim.
Christmas can be a challenging time. For mental health support and wellbeing resources, explore Peoplecare's new Mental Health & Wellbeing Service for members.