It’s the most wonderful time of the year (or so the song says).
Less so if you’re the one in charge of managing the school events, organising for Secret Santa, buying the perfect gifts, wrapping them away from prying little eyes, preparing Christmas dinner and generally trying to make Christmas perfect for everyone.
Christmas can feel like a race to the finish line to get everything done in time but it IS possible to thrive, and not just, survive during the Christmas period!
Keep reading my mini Christmas survival guide for busy mums so you can take steps to start reducing Christmas stress as a busy mum and actually enjoy the holidays too.
Rein in the expectations for a ‘perfect’ Christmas
Letting go of the pressure to make Christmas extra special and ‘perfect’ is a crucial way for mums to manage Christmas without stress.
You’re probably putting a lot of pressure on yourself for this too.
But Christmas doesn’t need to be Instagram perfect, even if social media or the television adverts suggest otherwise.
The best Christmas is one where everyone is having fun and spending quality time together.
The ‘imperfections’ can make for great future memories, especially if you plan moments and experiences rather than focusing on the material side of Christmas. It can be the little things that make Christmas special.
Set healthy boundaries
Setting healthy boundaries is another important step in reducing Christmas stress as a busy mum.
Saying no to the requests and invitations that only add to your stress levels gives you more time and energy for the things that do matter.
What can you realistically afford to commit yourself to without stretching yourself too thin or putting extra pressure on yourself?
It’s not selfish to say ‘no’ when you need to (and that goes for the rest of the year, not just at Christmas!). It’s self care, and it means you can survive the Christmas period without dreading the invitations you usually feel obliged to accept.
Christmas self care for mums
Speaking of self care, scheduling time for it is vital to nurture yourself both physically and emotionally over Christmas and New Year (and beyond) so you can thrive, rather than just survive, this period.
Christmas doesn’t have to come at the expense of your wellbeing.
Establish a self care routine in the run up to Christmas. This could include; mindfulness, yoga, deep breathing, a winter walk or curling up with a good book.
Even micro doses of 10 minutes here and there can add up and make a huge difference for your wellbeing and sanity. By January, self care can be a non negotiable habit that you can maintain well into the future.
Another self care tip is to delegate crucial tasks, if needed, so the pressure doesn’t fall solely on you. You might have taken on all of the organisation in the past, but this year can be very different. Act as ‘Christmas CEO’ and oversee the overall plan for Christmas, with other people taking responsibility for certain tasks.
Don’t forget to breathe properly
When life gets stressful, it can be easy to forget how to breathe properly - even more so at this time of year. You can’t get away from all stress but you can control how you react to it.
Studies show that regular deep breathing such as diaphragmatic breathing, which involves taking slow, deep breaths using the muscle under your ribs called the diaphragm, can help to relieve stress and promote relaxation as it moves your body from the tense ‘fight or flight’ state to a calmer ‘rest and digest’ state.
Taking a few intentional moments throughout the day to be mindful and practice deep breathing can make all the difference for reducing Christmas stress. It can move your focus from feeling anxious to being in control and able to enjoy the present moment.
Like many mums, you may find yourself getting so caught up in making others happy over Christmas that you don’t get a chance to enjoy it for yourself. ‘Breath moments’ can help you to slow down and find little moments of joy that would normally pass you by.
It’s also a great opportunity to check in with your thoughts and feelings and the physical impact on your body during these intentional moments.
Don’t skimp on sleep
As well as self care, sleep is another thing that can be sacrificed in the Christmas prep. We all get extra snappy and find it hard to function when we haven’t had enough sleep, and that’s not the only potential problem.
Poor sleep can impact your immunity (hello illness just when you need it least), heart health, hormone health and much more. Aim for 7-9 hours per night.
Nutrition for stress/emotional resilience
What and how you eat can affect your mood and how you’re able to manage stress, and I highly recommend considering how your nutrition may be impacting your stress levels.
It can be tempting to reach for comfort food and junk food if you’re feeling stressed or have low energy but this can increase inflammation in the body and affect your ability to handle stress. Cue a vicious cycle…
A balanced diet that provides the right nutrients and is rich in anti-inflammatory foods is even more important during stressful periods, not least because nutrient stores can be depleted. Research has shown a strong link between nutrition and stress resilience, in favour of anti-inflammatory diets.
Blood sugar fluctuations can have a negative impact on your mood and stress resilience too.
When eating for stable blood sugar, it’s important to avoid skipping meals, even if you’re busy, and aim for three balanced meals each day, including a protein-rich breakfast to set you up for the day.
Take a walk after meals to help balance blood sugar. Even 10-20 minutes of walking is enough to reduce blood sugar spikes.
Listen to your body and consider reducing your caffeine intake too, as some of us are more sensitive than others to blood sugar spikes after consuming it.
Don’t forget to stay hydrated though. If you tend to drink more alcohol in the festive season, be aware that it can be dehydrating (as well as impacting blood sugar). Even mild dehydration can affect cognitive function and mood. You can read more about the importance of good hydration in my blog post here.
Are you ready to find more balance in your life?
I hope these tips have given you lots of inspiration for how you can reduce Christmas stress as a busy mum through your nutrition and lifestyle.
But I also want to stress that your nutrition and lifestyle can have a positive impact on your emotional/stress resilience no matter what time of year it is.
I want to help you to thrive and not just survive all year round, not just at Christmas.
My 1-1 programmes are designed to give you the essential tools to help you feel happier, healthier and more resilient, even when life gets busy and challenging.
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