Christmas can be a very stressful time of the year in the workplace and for people in their personal lives. For many work stress loads triple and it seems like everyone wants something done BY CHRISTMAS! But for some the whole Christmas period is a mass of complex social interactions with family relatives and some people you’d rather not see. Old emotional triggers get stirred up and often leave people wound up like a spring – put alcohol on top and it all turns to custard!
Sound familiar?
It seems we create a lot of expectations for Christmas – presents, food, and happy times. We seem to feel that this time of the year has to be perfect or the best or better than the last one and in fact all the pressure comes from ourselves and the expectations we think others will have of our performance on the day!
STOP – rethink – what is the real meaning behind what Christmas is about? It’s the connection with family, friends and acquaintances, to relax and enjoy each other’s company. But for many it becomes about the presents and food and getting everything just perfect!
Be happy with good enough because you’ll often be the only one that was disappointed by not reaching the high expectations you have set and what is the point of that?
Remember it’s your Christmas too, so try and relax, have fun, laugh, engage with those around you. Share the load, make it a team effort and focus on the real meaning of what Christmas is about and the part you play in this special time. And to really laser your focus, how many more Christmas’s might you have in your remaining lifetime? Hmmmm perhaps not as many as you think SO make each one meaningful, memorable and enjoyable.
If anyone is difficult then try to rise above the situation – be the better person, in the short life we have is it really worth the aggravation and upset. I think it would be better to create happy memories.
If there are things you’d like to change about Christmas time then change it! Take one task that drives you crazy at Christmas and tackle it in a new way. A fresh approach just might make a difference.
Make this December a December you remember.
