How to reduce stress this Christmas season – experts reveal how to make the festive period a more peaceful and enjoyable time of the year

At times, it feels like the Christmas period should be called ‘the most stressful time of the year’ rather than the most wonderful one as the traditional saying goes. With the never-ending to-do lists, social commitments and things to buy filling the lead-up to the big event that is Christmas Day, it’s no surprise that we end up putting pressure on ourselves to do it all in December. But luckily, our experts come equipped with tips on how to reduce Christmas stress.

These Christmas ideas on how to make the festive period a more enjoyable time for you, rather than consistently striving to hit perfection to please others are essential for your wellbeing.

‘Christmas often brings high expectations and pressure,’ says Dr Angharad Rudkin, a clinical psychologist currently working with Brabantia. ‘We tend to believe that with enough effort, we can achieve the “perfect” Christmas, and anything less feels like a disappointment. With so much going on - concerts, family visits, and endless to-do lists - our diaries fill up quickly, leaving less time to prepare for change. Instead of looking forward to a restful break, we set ourselves up to host, cook, and buy gifts, all in pursuit of delivering the “best Christmas ever” for our family.’

If you see yourself in this very realistic description (just as we do) then these are the pro-approved methods to alleviate the stress of the hectic period.

1. Plan ahead

The likes of a Christmas Eve checklist and getting as many things as possible sorted well ahead of time will take the pressure off at least that little bit and spread the tasks and responsibilities across a longer period of time – which should make everything a bit more manageable.

‘Start by setting realistic boundaries early on – whether that’s with family, finances, or your own time,’ says Maria Korhonen, co-founder and author at Pulse of Potential. ‘Plan ahead to avoid last-minute stress, but also give yourself grace if things don’t go perfectly.’

Lucy Mather, interiors expert at Arighi Bianchi, adds, ‘Planning ahead is a simple but very effective way to reduce stress and avoid last-minute chaos. Shop smart - think online gift shopping and supermarket food deliveries - to avoid crowded and stress-inducing busy stores, delegate some of the responsibility to others, and politely say no to invitations that feel too much or overwhelming.’

2. Make time for things you truly enjoy

Christmas season often ends up being the time of ‘pleasing others’. But make sure that you think of yourself, too, and make sure to slot in time to do things you actually enjoy and care about.

‘Start by considering your values - what’s truly important to you - and build your Christmas around them. Whether it’s spending time with family, resting, looking after others, or staying fit, ensure you incorporate these values into your daily routine. This will keep you feeling content and grounded throughout the holidays,’ Dr Angharad says.

3. Organise your home

‘Our environment plays a key role in our mood, and we tend to feel happiest when our space reflects our personality. In fact, Brabantia found that 93% of Brits believe their home is essential to their overall wellbeing,’ Dr Angharad reveals.

And while this is quite subjective, we certainly feel better and calmer when the house is clean, uncluttered and organised after ticking off all the tasks on our decluttering checklist. So if time permits, consider making some time to get your home in order to feel good in it over the holidays.

‘Taking time to organise and nurture your home gives you a sense of control, which can be mood-boosting in itself. Plus, spending time appreciating and enjoying your home helps release those feel-good “indoorphins” – the positive feelings that come when all feels right in your world,’ Dr Angharad adds.

4. Inventory your kitchen

Once you've cleared unnecessary items out of your home, take a look at what you do need and might be missing.

'Now is a good time to do an inventory of your kitchen to see if there's anything you might need for hosting – a new pan, or some plates, or whatever,' says Beth Kempton, wellbeing author and creator of the award-winning The Calm Christmas podcast. 'Make a list ready for the Black Friday and pre-Christmas sales, so you can find a deal.'

5. Decide the kind of Christmas you really want

There's a lot of pressure to do Christmas a certain way, but letting go of that and instead celebrating in a way that you and your loved ones will truly enjoy, can take a lot of stress out of the festive season.

'Establishing the type of Christmas you want to create and doing it in collaboration with others is key,' says psychologist and interior designer, Helen Sanderson. 'Sit down with the family, have a conversation and agree who will do what. Explain what support you will need to be able to enjoy the festivities yourself. The conversation will manage the expectations of others. If others aren’t willing or able to help, explain that you will need to scale things down so they are manageable.'

You can even create a festive ritual so that everyone can share their aspirations for the season.

'Together with your family, find 12 words that describe what would make this Christmas most meaningful,' suggests Helen. 'Write the words onto cards and tie them to your Christmas tree. Take one off each day and talk about how you can incorporate that quality into your day.'

6. Work out your spending budget

The cost of living automatically climbs at Christmas, and that financial stress can take the shine off your celebrations. One way to reduce the strain when looking at budget Christmas ideas is to plan your spending, so you're less prone to last-minute splurges, panic buying and magical thinking about how much money is actually leaving your bank account.

Beth Kempton suggests getting clear on how much you're willing to spend on Christmas this year (and that includes the days around Christmas, not just the big day itself). Factor in every extra expense – presents, cards and wrap; going out; festive food and drinks; and travel and accommodation. Once you've added all that up, does the figure match your ideal Christmas spend? If not, Beth's free downloadable Christmas planner suggests ways to cut down the expense, including reducing the number of people you buy for, spending less on each person, buying joint presents, making your own cards, scaling back on hosting, and making some gifts and crafty decorations yourself.

'Think about your budget for Christmas spending; it's the first step towards more mindful gifting. Pick a figure that you would be happy to spend,' she says in The Calm Christmas podcast. 'For many of us, giving gifts to those we love at Christmas is a huge part of the celebration but it comes from the same pot as everything else we have to fund, so it's really worth that when you buy anything, you are aware of what spending the money will stop you doing in other areas, as well as the joy your gifts can bring.'

7. Plan in self-care moments

Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year but it's also one of the busiest, so make sure you factor in time to relax and recover amid all the festive hustle and bustle.

'Make a commitment to yourself that you will take a certain number of rest times, and identify exactly what you will do and when they will be,' says Helen Sanderson. 'That may mean getting up earlier in the quiet hours to take a gentle walk, sitting on your yoga mat before bed, or going to a Pilates class. 

'Set alarms on your phone to remind you to take breaks, and book in a few relaxing activities that will get you out of the house. Only you can prioritise your needs, no one will do it for you.'

8. Let go of perfection

If your quest for the 'perfect' Christmas means you're too stressed to enjoy the festivities, then it's time to take the pressure off.

'The best mantra to combat perfectionism is “Good enough, is enough”. Tell friends and family that the priority this Christmas is for quality time, games and conversations, rather than a perfect-looking table and spread,' says psychologist Helen Sanderson. 'Remind yourself that you are an adult now, and that you decide what is good enough.'

Here's to a calm and relaxed Christmas and a blissful New Year…