6 Tips for Having a Stress-Free Christmas This Year

Christmas - it’s ‘the most wonderful time of the year’. But for some it can also bring with it a whole lot of stress. If a lot of responsibility is set to fall on your shoulders this festive season, we have some tips to keep you relaxed during hectic times. Here’s an essential checklist for anyone looking to have the best Christmas yet!

B&M Top Tip: Keep super organised with this spots and stripes clipboard pad - perfect for keeping all your lists in one place over the festive period.

Don’t leave it till Christmas Eve

A sure fire way to get yourself worked up is by leaving it until Christmas Eve to home-in on your essentials. We’d recommend popping to the shops in early to mid December - it never hurts to be early! You may have your Christmas present list under control, but also don’t forget the other necessities you may be dashing out to get last-minute such as spare bedding, batteries and cranberry sauce of course!

Remember to have some ‘me time’

Of course, if it all gets too much, remember that self-care is paramount and there’s no need to feel guilty about escaping the madness for a few moments. Take a walk, have a cuppa, run a bath, read a book for a short while - you’ll appreciate the peace and quiet.

B&M Top Tip: speaking of me time, don’t forget to get a good night’s sleep! This luxury deep sleep pillow should do the trick.

Accept any help that comes your way

If you’re the kind of person that always finds themselves doing everything at Christmastime, then why not let others help you out a little? Especially if you’re expecting a houseful. Having a friend or family member bring along pre-cooked meat for the dinner, or grabbing a helping hand with the wrapping is sure to reduce the stress load and give you the break you deserve!

Timetable your day

It may sound OTT, but amidst the stress on the 25th you may be glad that you chose to write things down a few days ago. Even creating a Christmas dinner plan so you are aware of what goes in at what time can make your life a whole lot easier; as well as ensuring that dinner is served all together and on time of course!

B&M Top Tip: to give your Christmas day planner a bit of extra sparkle, write it in this glitter notebook!

Have a spare present to hand

One of the most stressful yuletide happenings is when an unexpected guest turns up with an even more unexpected present. Avoid the hassle - and the awkwardness - by getting in one or two ‘emergency’ unisex gifts to avoid getting caught out!

Practise breathing techniques

If the day arrives and you’re finding it difficult to remain calm, knowing how to relax your body and mind is a great help. You can combat stress through taking deep breaths in and out at 5 second intervals. As mentioned earlier, taking yourself out of a situation for a few moments will also help you calm down if things get on top of you.

Remember that ultimately, Christmas is supposed to be a leisurely time and you shouldn’t compromise that by putting too much pressure on yourself. So what if the dinner is a few minutes late? You come first!

Do you have any Christmas stress-busting techniques that you’d like to share? Join the B&M community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and share your tips!