Not a Christmas fan? Here’s how to enjoy the festive season without any worries
Christmas isn’t the highlight of everyone’s year: for some, the thought of gift shopping, round-the-clock socialising and family commitments is something to dread.
If you’re a Christmas-hater, check out these tips to keep your anxiety levels under control until January 2nd.
Avoid the crowds
A contemporary Christmas is defined by the hoardes of shoppers on every UK high street. From pushing and shoving on the pavement to breaking a sweat at the till point, it’s rare to find someone who actually loves the experience. If you happen to work in a commercial area, the crowds are even harder to dodge and can make your daily commute a daily dirge.
If Christmas shoppers are driving you to distraction, could you give them a swerve? Could you work a few flexi-hours in the next two weeks so your paths won’t cross? Take a different route to work? Or could you pack a sandwich each day – or buy your food in the morning – so you don’t get caught in the lunchtime rush?
Planning ahead, anticipating when your usual routes and haunts will be packed, is so much better than constantly complaining about it.
When it comes to your own present buying, stay off the street and get online! There’s still plenty of time to order your gift booty.
At Beauty Flash, choose from a host of gorgeous goodies including Dermalogica’s Age Smart Daily Defenders, Decleor’s Recharge and Glow, Ren Skincare’s Evercalm Gift and Dermalogica’s Daily Skin Health Phyto Replenish Oil Ornament to hang merrily on the Christmas tree.
Organise your diary
If the heavy social side of Christmas is an issue, prioritise the people you want to spend time with. Avoid “box ticking” as there’s a good chance the person you feel obligated to spend time with feels the same way about you.
If you’re struggling to see everyone you care about this side of Christmas, organise some New Year meet-ups instead of trying to cut yourself in two. Social occasions have the potential to cheer-up a cold and gloomy January – plus, you can share all your Christmas horror stories.
Once you’re ready to make your plans, get on top of your diary so there’s no chance of double bookings or simply overloading your schedule. A web based calendar, with event reminders sent to your phone, takes the stress out of Christmas socialising.
Take time out to chill
Much as you might love a good-old rant about how stressed-out Christmas is making you feel, by taking good care of yourself you could actually enjoy the build-up – and the occasion (no, really).
The trick is to reserve at least five hours during the week for something totally unrelated to Christmas and 100% related to you.
It could be catching up on a new or classic box set, booking a massage, getting out to a park, lake or beach nearby, having your hair/nails done, trying a relaxation tutorial on YouTube…anything that takes you out of #Christmascraziness and into your own personal “zone”.
Be strict about these precious sessions: schedule them in your diary and prioritise them over any Christmas chores that make you sigh.
Get pampered
Ok, so cash can be tight at this time of year and you might not be able to afford a day out at the spa…but you could pick up a product or two from this must-have pre-Christmas pamper wish list.
Order ASAP and you’ll feel those seasonal stresses melt away in no time:
Dermalogica Stress Positive Eye Lift
Ren Skincare Atlantic Kelp and Microalgae Anti Fatigue Bath Oil
Decleor Hydra Floral Anti Pollution Fluid
Elemis Sleep Bath and Shower Elixir
Ren Skincare Moroccan Rose Otto Bath Oil
