Christmas can be a lovely time to spend with the people you love the most, but it can also instill fear in many people – men especially. That mad pre-Christmas shopping rush, all of the money spent on gifts you don’t even know if people will use…it’s a crazy time of year! Some people even suffer with anxiety because of it. Here, we’re going to give you a few things you can do to reduce that pre-holiday panic and have the best Christmas. Read on to learn more…
Start Planning Right Now
Start planning for the holidays right now if you haven’t already. Who are you buying for? How much can you afford to spend? If you’re travelling to family for the holidays, start making arrangements in advance. Get a pet sitter. Start packing. Don’t leave anything until the last minute so that as the day draws nearer, you can feel excitement rather than stress.
Figure Out How to Raise Some Extra Cash
If you need extra cash, figure out how to raise it. Take extra hours at work. Offer your services freelance online or do odd jobs for neighbors. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Perhaps you could even look for great deals so that you can save money on gifts, such as great offers on bikes, or find sites that specialize in coupons and cashback. You could save a substantial amount of money.
Do Your Christmas Shopping Online
Doing your Christmas shopping online will help you to avoid the mad Christmas rush, and you can have all of the gifts delivered right to your door. Just be sure they will be delivered in time, as Christmas delivery can take a little longer.
Take Care of Yourself
Make sure you take care of yourself over the holidays. A lack of sleep and too much alcohol for instance, can really get on top of you and make feelings of anxiety worse. Even if you don’t get anxiety, you’re hardly going to look forward to Christmas if you’re permanently groggy and hungover. Get plenty of sleep, eat well, drink plenty of water, and get some exercise. You can still enjoy yourself without neglecting your self-care routine.
Speak to Somebody If You Need To
If you need to, speak to a trusted friend or family member, or even find a counselor. This time of year can be difficult for some people, and there’s no shame in needing to talk about it.
Don’t Stress About Finding the Perfect Gift
Gift buying can be stressful. Buying thoughtful gifts is nice, but if you have anxiety, just don’t fret about it. Give money, a gift card, or even a beautiful letter written from the heart. Money and gifts aren’t the most important thing about the holidays, and people need to remember that. It’s about spending quality time with the people you love the most.
Have a fantastic holiday season, and don’t let the petty things drag you down. Leave your own thoughts below!
