The end of another school year, quality time with family and friends and maybe a well-deserved break from work – there is a lot to look forward to at Christmas.
But the end of the year can also be a challenging time for families. Financial pressure, holiday preparations and busier-than-usual social calendars mean that emotions can run high. If your family has experienced a loss or considerable change throughout the year, this could be felt strongly at Christmas.
Here are some tips to help you navigate this time of year:
1. Plan ahead with your family
Schedule a sit down with your family to map out everyone’s commitments (non-negotiable) and aspirations for the coming months. If this is too much, stagger it out and hold a series of family meetings over the coming weeks.
Create a timetable that includes every member of the family and consider displaying it on a wall. Knowing what to expect helps children feel calmer and more comfortable and will cut down on any stressful, last-minute panic.
Look for opportunities for your children to express their aspirations for the Christmas period. What are two things they would like to do? Finding appropriate ways to provide children with choice and control can help them through the busier, ‘less fun’ aspects of holidays.
2. Let go of perfection
Trying to achieve a ‘picture-perfect’ Christmas and holiday season for yourself and your family can lead to anxiousness and being overwhelmed. Consider whether you are placing unrealistic or unnecessary demands on yourself. Do you have a picture in your mind of what Christmas should look like?
Challenging yourself to let go of expectations might mean saying no to a couple of social invitations, using last year’s table decorations instead of buying new ones or sticking to a tried-and-true recipe instead of attempting a new one you saw on Instagram. Things don’t have to be perfect for Christmas to be enjoyable.