How to Slow Down the Crazy Run up to Christmas
December 9, 2019 | Christmas at eSpares | Look Good & Feel Good | No comments
Every year, do you feel like December flies by in the blink of an eye? This is what is known as the ‘holiday paradox’ and leaves people feeling like there is never enough time to get everything done. This Christmas, why not try these top tips to help counteract the paradox and allow you to enjoy this December to the fullest.
Practice mindfulness
Due to routines and the stress of daily life, we often shut off our senses to the everyday world around us. Mindfulness is a series of meditations and exercises that allow us to be fully present and aware of where we are and what we’re doing.
Be organised
- Get the calendar out to plan in exactly what’s happening and when.
- Break down large jobs into smaller, more manageable ones. Reward yourself for completing them.
- Sort out a budget for food and presents, and stick to it. This handy little calculator can help you do this.
- Prepare food in advance and freeze it, to take some of the strain off Christmas day.
- Write up a Christmas card list, and keep it for future years, editing it as necessary.
Take time for you
Meet up with friends and family
December is supposed to be about surrounding ourselves with friends and family, but we are often so busy we neglect to do this. Take the time to actually sit down with an old friend for coffee, or plan a day out with your family.
Have realistic expectations
At Christmas, we often try to exceed expectations. It is immensely important to be realistic about how much time and funds you have to achieve this. It is okay to scale back, the best things about Christmas can be found for free.
Gain new experiences
Experiencing new things is not only enriching but breaks routines and counteracts the ‘holiday paradox’. These experiences don’t even have to be life-changing events, they can simply be visiting a park you have never been to before or making a recipe you have never tried to make.
Keep a journal
Journals aid you in discovering more about yourself and your life, allowing you to discover patterns you didn’t even know existed. They can also be used to write down what you are thankful for and what you are planning and want to do.
Time away from tech
Too often nowadays we find ourselves scrolling through social media, only to discover hours have passed and no real satisfaction has been gained. Treat yourself this Christmas to time away from your technology, making the effort to connect with people in person.
Keep the multitasking to a minimum
Although carrying out multiple things at once is seen as a skill of the highest order, it also means that these tasks might not get the full attention they deserve. Sometimes it is worth concentrating on one thing at a time.
Shrink the gift list
Sometimes we get caught up in the idea of giving, we don’t actually think about what we are giving, opting for quantity over quality. This Christmas, why not reduce the number of gifts you buy, focusing on only a few important ones that you know will be well received.
Buy an advent calendar
Advent calendars allow you to physically take note of each day, reducing the risk of the 24th sneaking up on you. Also, it’s not just chocolate ones you can buy. You can get a hold of a cheese advent calendar, alongside various boozy ones. Perfection.
Don’t take work home with you
A mistake we make all year long is bringing the workday home with us. It’s important to leave work at the door, preventing it from consuming your holiday celebrations and negatively impacting your time.
We hope this helps you live life a little bit more stress-free this Christmas, and that the clock stops ticking so fast on your holidays. For more tips on how to live this season to the fullest, head over to our article explaining 25 festive deeds you can complete this year.
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Tips
