Well hello to you my reader chums! Tis' the season for social events, present planning, festivities and busy calendars. It's a busy time for those who celebrate Christmas, whether you're young or old. However, it's also a time that can cause anxiety for many reasons, this could be financial or mental health.

I find the Christmas season very stressful because it is so busy and usually my calendar is completely full, plus there's the pressure of finding presents and being present. 

If you're dealing with Christmas anxiety or want help with stress, here are my best tips on coping with Christmas anxiety.

Plan in advance as possible

I plan Christmas earlier and earlier every year as this helps me free up time in December to enjoy what the festivities bring. This post is probably going out a bit too late to use this point as a tip, however, even if you can spend a few hours planning today, it'll save you time in the run-up to Christmas. I usually like to start my planning in October time as then I can organise how much money I'm going to put towards Christmas, and what I'm going to get everyone as well as social plans.

Schedule in evenings for 'you' time

'You' time is incredibly important anyway but especially during the festive season. For me, I find it can be very overwhelming with work, social plans and little things to do here and there, so it's crucial for me to schedule quiet evenings or days. This gives me a chance to calm down and be present with myself and my mind. If I push myself too hard, I'll end up burning out and not being able to enjoy Christmas.

Ensure you get a good night's sleep

This may sound like a simple point, however, getting the right amount of sleep every night does wonders for your mental health, especially in the festive season when it's cold and dark and many people are stressed. I would set an ideal bedtime and wake-up time every day and try to stick with that as much as possible. It'll help the flow of your body as well as allow you to rest.

Stick to your usual schedule as much as possible

This leads me to your routine. The festive month of December can throw our usual schedule out of whack because of getting together, parties, social occasions and a different flow to work in some companies. Due to this, I would advise trying to stick to your routine as much as possible. This could be your fifteen minutes of exercise in the morning, regular food prep or bedtime. Whatever it is, a sense of normality can bring calm.

Practice gratitude

Gratitude can change your world in many ways. Being grateful can help us see everything in a more positive light, especially if things are really hard. I know this year many people are going to be struggling even more at Christmas time and practising gratitude may be hard when things are already hard. However, finding the smallest of things can bring you some form of hope. For example, being grateful for those we have around us and the little things which make us smile every day

Understand the true meaning of Christmas

Christmas isn't about the gifts, it's not about the flashy decorations or the perfect Instagram picture. Christmas is about the love we have for one another, it's the season of kindness and doing things for other people. It's the time of bringing people together and enjoying the wonderful thing that is connection. However, I think many of us get lost in the world of the media and marketing, thinking we all need big presents, expensive decorations and loads of food for a good time. The most important thing at Christmas is you're spending time with people who mean the most to you, and that's enough.

Avoid getting sucked into the Xmas expectations

In a world of social media, Christmas expectations are huge. I always see these pretty pictures of families with matching pyjamas, happy smiles, expensive gifts and every Christmas outing under the sun. And although a lot of these things many can enjoy, you don't need to do all of these things to have a good Christmas. Christmas is different for everyone and you don't need to get sucked into the expectations of others to enjoy yourselves.

Enjoy the good things Christmas brings

Despite the anxiety and stress Christmas can bring, think about all the good things it also brings. For example, I love being able to spend quality time with my family and friends over the period. I love how I'm able to do kind things for people by planning gifts or experiences we can do together.

Ask for help

It's okay to ask for help even at Christmas time. Don't let social media fool you that everybody is happy and peppy, as it's a time of year when many do struggle with their mental health. If you're not okay, reach out to family, friends, colleagues or one of the mental health services. You're not alone. 

Move at your own pace

Christmas can be fast-paced and that's one of the reasons it causes stress and anxiety among people. However, you don't have to keep to that fast pace, you can take it one step at a time so you can enjoy it and do Christmas how you want. Organise a schedule that works for you, say no when it doesn't feel right and put yourself first if it's all too much.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What tips would you add?

Thank you for reading <3