Christmas has been known to get a bit stressful – here’s a few ideas on how you can take control and manage these situations.
Know how much you can spend - Set yourself a budget and then stick to it. Work out total amount you’ve got for everything and then break this down into smaller units. That way you know how much you have for food, for presents etc. Agree these with your partner if you can – there’s nothing worse than fessing up after the money’s been spent. Money, or rather the lack has been the cause of many an argument so keeping a tight reign on your budget can help you steer around problems like this.
Be prepared - Christmas day often involves having more people in the house than usual. Plan with your partner how you want to spend the day. Decide ahead of time that you’re going to relax into it and go with the flow. Trying to keep everything in order might just end up with you getting wound up and stressed out.
Have some dad time - Make some time for yourself. If you’ve had a chance to do some personal stuff (worked out at the gym, read the papers in a café, or whatever) you’ll be better equipped with the days when the whole family comes together.
Restrain yourself - There’s lots of opportunities to go overboard during the festive season. A little of what you fancy does you good but bear in mind that suger can make you feel stressed and irritable and probably more tired when the sugar rush has worn off. Try to keep a balance by taking a little exercise, drag yourself away from the telly and go for a nice family walk.
Keep the kids in check - Christmas is all about the children in our book but it doesn’t mean they should run riot. Try and make sure their normal routines are kept the same where possible and keep an eye on bedtimes. Everyone gets irritable when they don’t have enough sleep. The odd later night when there’s something good on telly is fine but reserve a bit of time for some grown up relaxation too.