Confession – I am a bitter Christmas baby. My birthday isn’t on Christmas Day but close enough to receive birthday gifts in Christmas wrapping paper.
Not sure if that’s the reason but I’ve have never been much of a Christmas person and with all the ridiculous commercialization of the season (really, who buys anyone a car for Christmas?) and the fact that in some stores the decorations come out in the summer, I could take it or leave it.
But in recent years, I’ve warmed up to the festive season a bit more. I think it’s because I’ve created some coping mechanisms to make the holidays more fun for me.
Here are some tips:
- For your own mental health, try not to be talked into doing things and going places that you don’t want to. Put a limit on socializing – decide who you would really to spend time with and decline other invites.
- Family can create a lot of stress if there are high expectations or traditions. You may need to set some boundaries and deal with hurt feelings in the short term.
- If you hate the season, get away to a sunny destination. Our family went to Mexico for Christmas every other year when my kids were teenagers and it was great. No hassles over making meals, and in other countries, Christmas is more traditional and low key. Not to mention sun and surf!
- Create your own holiday traditions that resonate with you. How about lasagne for dinner instead of turkey? How about going around your city on Christmas Eve and looking at lights on houses? Do you all like to ski or skate? Make those your holidays memories.
- I found that Christmas gift shopping was the number one stress inducer. Keep the gift giving to a minimum and try to shop online for gifts.
Do you have any suggestions you’d like share in the comments section?
