The festive season is fast creeping up on us. Yesterday I was held on hold with a call centre and the background music was a Christmas Carol. The date? The 4th of November! Yep. The madness (and joy) are definitely heading our way fast.
There's a lot of pressure around Christmas in my home as it co-incides with lots of VIP's birthdays, and it does generally fall to me to organise the bulk of the event. But as always, oils are at hand. Over the years I've developed some pretty good techniques for coping with the stress, and here are my go-to tips for Christmas survival!
- Plan Ahead for Present Buying: Around now, I get a spreadsheet on the go (nerdy I know) that has a list of everyone I need to think about buying presents for. It doesn't have to be a spreadsheet of course, it can easily be a list in a notebook. Each person has a budget, and ticking things off as they are purchased makes EVERTHING so much easier when it comes to wrapping and remembering.
- Set Realistic Expectations: Understand that everything doesn't have to be perfect. Perfection is an illusion and if you accept that things WILL go wrong, then you will be less likely to feel waves of stress. You WILL forget something but it doesn't really matter, but because what truly matters is spending quality time with loved ones and creating joyful memories.
- Budget Wisely: We are under SO much pressure to provide a whole load of perfect presents, but the reality is that many of us just don't have the deep financial pockets to stretch to the latest Xbox. Overstretching can be a major source of anxiety. Set a budget for gifts, food purchasing and socialising. Stick to it if you can.
- Practice Self-Care: This is the soundest bit of advice out there. If you are the head honcho when it comes to organising and arranging Christmas, you simply HAVE to make some time for yourself amidst the hustle and bustle. Whether it’s a walk on Christmas eve, sneaking off to your bedroom to read a book, or a long bath - I alway use essential oils in a bath over the Christmas period. Door locked, candles on, and 30 minutes to decompress.
- Delegate Tasks: Another key bit of advice. Please don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you've booked a collection slot for all the festive food, then send someone else to pick it up. If you've bought 90% of the presents, then get someone else involved to help with wrapping And while you're wrapping together, turn the event into something fun with nice music, candles and a mince pie or two! If the dogs are looking sad because they haven't had their morning walk and you are basting a turkey, then send your children out with them (unless of course they are toddlers!). Get someone else to peel the sprouts and potatoes. Share responsibilities to lighten the load.
- Stay Mindful: Take moments to pause and breathe. This is another great bit of advice. If Aunty Betty has said something that has made your blood boil, just head out of the room and sit on the loo for a moment or two. Box breathing is an effective and quick way to recalibrate the nervous system. And you literally need to do it for 2-3 minutes for it to take effect. Simply breathe in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4, hold for 4, and repeat.
- Limit Commitments: It’s okay to say no. Don’t overcommit to events and gatherings if it means stretching yourself too thin. If, like me, you KNOW that you need a lot of alone time in order to avoid meltdowns or shutdowns, then factor this into your schedule. Don't agree to events back to back if you know that it will make you feel stressed and unhappy. Learning to say no is a skill that we can all develop and work on, not just across the festive season.
- Simplify: If some festive traditions bring you happiness then keep them in your plan (in our family we always visit the Eden project and we love it) but let go of those that add tension (going to busy restaurants where the staff are stressed and tired is a no for us). Simplify where you can to enjoy the festive season more. Remember you don't have to do everything. Sometimes less is more!
- Use essential oils around the home to infuse a feeling of calm and tranquility into the air. We have always done this, thanks to my aromatherapy roots, and I tend to have a diffuser in the kitchen / diner and the main living room. This year I've created a blend specifically for harmony in the home, called Yuletide Harmony. It's a gorgeous blend that has festive notes thanks to the inclusion of Clove, but also combines with oils that are great for soothing the nervous system and creating emotional calm. If you're interested in the range you can find a full range of Yuletide Harmony products available here