Five ways to slow down the Christmas juggernaut

I’m not really big on the whole go-crazy-with-Christmas-lights-and-bauble-earrings thing, nor am I one for super-spiritual Christmas traditions (between you and me, traditional carols kind of irritate me).

But I’m all for finding ways to slow down when the world around you is speeding up – as it does around Christmas-time.

This blog is as much for me as anyone else, so I’d like to give me/you five suggestions for finding sanity this Christmas and New Year…

 1. Delegate. If you’ve been tasked with baking a Christmas lunch for your family of 20, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t need to be entirely responsible for solving the family’s Christmas Day hunger problems. Choose one dish to prepare, if you must, and enjoy making it.

2. Plan in advance rather than rocking up to the shops and expecting to find gifts for 20 people spontaneously (she says, on the day before Christmas Eve…). What do they want exactly? (ask them). And write your list before you arrive at the shops.

3. While you’re at the shops, why not schedule in a massage and enjoy listening to the busy sounds around you while you relax…

4. When you’re at home, light candles, read inspirational quotes, or take time to connect with what Christmas means to you.

5. Accept that Christmas can be painful too. People are feeling sad at this time of year for all sorts of reasons – physical or mental illness, the pain of losing a loved one, or simply unmet expectations. Be real with yourself and others and admit that Christmas sometimes isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. And sometimes it is. Either is OK.

Take care,

Ali