How do I avoid stress at Christmas?

Christmastime is a wonderful opportunity to spend more time with the family and to enjoy a warm feeling of togetherness. At least that's the theory. Unfortunately, it is too often associated with stress and argument, and your perfect Christmas ends up being anything but. We want to get you through Advent as calmly and happily as possible, from gift ideas to planning inspiration. Read on for our hints and tips.

Planning

Good planning is half the battle when it comes to Christmas. Set boundaries by answering the following questions before you start, and you'll find it much easier to get organised in Advent:

• Who is doing to do what?
  You don't have to take everything upon yourself. Ask for help from your parents, your partner, or your friends, and set down exactly who will be responsible for which tasks.
• How much do I really want to do?
  You can easily find that you've taken on far too much. To stop that happening, write down exactly how much time and money you want to spend on gifts, for example.
• What is your timeline?
  To ensure that you don't forget anything, it is worth drawing up a schedule. One useful tip is to write your 'to-dos'  on a calendar instead of on a list. You can also use colours to highlight the people responsible.
  
  

Home-made gifts

Giving the children something to do – that just happens to tick off some of the things on your to-do list – is just common sense! There are plenty of cool gifts that children can make themselves. Godparents and grandparents love something with the personal touch, and crafts are fun! We've picked out a few ideas for you:

• Paint a preserving jar with glass paints and fill it with home-made granola
• Decorate a kitchen towel with fabric paints and markers
• Make your own soap
• Make your own chocolate slab
• Colourful home-made rock candy sticks
• Candle-making

Breathe

Amid everything that's going on, it's easy to forget yourself a little, but at this time of year it is especially important to take a break once in a while, and time out for yourself. Make yourself a mug of something warming, watch a funny Christmas film, or just sit on your sofa and take a good, deep breath. Or treat yourself to a spa day at home. It doesn't cost much, and it's enjoyable. You'll find some ideas here.

Let go of perfectionism

You're going to give the best presents, do the most wonderful things with the children, and bake the most delicious cookies… We often put huge pressure on ourselves. But we mustn't forget what Christmastime is really all about – family, and enjoying spending time with others. A gifts doesn't have to cost hundreds of francs to put a smile on someone's face. Cookies still taste good if they aren't perfectly decorated. Be brave and let things happen as they will. If you can't get to an event this year, you can try again next. Remember that absolute perfection is unattainable. Sometimes, things go wrong, and that's normal. Don't stress about it.

'Help each other and find solutions.'

Help each other

Fortunately, you don't have to cope with all the stress by yourself. Help each other and find solutions. Is cooking Christmas dinner alone too much? Then ask each guest to bring a dish. That way, you'll share the work and the meal will have a personal contribution from everyone. You can also get the children to help with the smaller tasks such as setting the table or decorating.

Be grateful

Even if not everything lives up to expectations, be grateful for those around you – and tell them so. It makes us all happy to hear from our favourite people that they appreciate us, whether they're parents, children, friends, your partner, or other relatives. It's important to spread that joy, especially at Christmas.

We hope this helps you to take a more relaxed approach to the festive season, and wish you and your family a very happy Christmas and a healthy start to the new year!

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