How to Keep Calm and Enjoy the Festive Season
Keep calm and simply enjoy the festive season with these top tips for navigating the year-end rush.
26/11/2022
The year-end rush is upon us, with
mere weeks to go until the holidays. As much as
most of us look forward to this festive time of
year, it tends to also be very stressful -
emotionally and financially. This is then also
exacerbated by the fact that we are extremely
tired after 11 months of work, life and
everything in between in a year where the cost
of living has increased tremendously.
This year, to avoid things turning into chaos,
how about taking a few moments to plan ahead so
that you have a plan for keeping calm and
embracing the Christmas crazy.
Plan ahead… and manage expectations
Abraham
Lincoln famously said that if he had an hour to
chop down a tree, he’d spend the first 45
minutes sharpening the axe. Wise words on the
importance of planning that you can make your
mantra this festive season. Take the time to
plan ahead as much as you can. From finalising
the Christmas lunch menu well ahead of time, to
having a response ready for the invitations you
want to decline.
Lists are a great way
to stay on top of things, and there is great
satisfaction to be had from ticking things off
the list. Think, a shopping list, a gift list
that details who you are buying for and what you
are gifting them, an activity list with ways to
keep the kids entertained, and a checklist for
when you go on holiday that includes what to
pack, arrange and do before you depart.
While planning can go a long way in keeping the
chaos at bay, it is also important to manage
expectations - starting with your own. The
festive season is a magical time of year but
it’s also ok if you’re not feeling the cheer or
if you need to cut back on the socialising or
retreat from the whole “vibe”.
And if
you’re really not feeling it and this time of
year gets you down, do not hesitate to reach out
for help or support. The South African
Depression and Anxiety Group have various
helplines that are available 24 hours a day.
Give them a call if you need to.
Thank you for the music
There is a lot of
research that points to the power of music to
help reduce stress and anxiety. So why not make
your playlist your battle armour this festive
season? Music streaming services like Spotify
offer thousands of playlist for every taste -
whether classic rock, jazz, hip hop or Amapiano
is your thing, there will be something that is
music to your ears.
Or create your own
playlist with all your favourite jams, and play
it whenever you need a lift or something to
centre you when the festiveness becomes
overwhelming.
Tech tools to lighten the load
There are many great things about
technology but at this time of the year we are
especially grateful to the digital tools that
help us get things done faster and more
efficiently.
Keeping your home clean
amidst all the activity associated with the
festive season can be very taxing but luckily
it’s really simple to hook yourself up with a
home cleaning service, such as those offered by
SweepSouth.
Whether as a once-off to
lighten the domestic load at this time of year,
or as a regular arrangement, a SweepStar makes
quick work of cleaning and can be booked for a
time that works best for you.
If you
have travel plans for the festive season,
booking flights can be one of the more stressful
activities of planning your getaway. Having the
right tools to help you book your flights can
relieve so much of that stress - from searching
for flights to price comparisons to ensure you
get the best price for your flight. Cheapflights
makes this process so easy, allowing you to
compare flights and prices, so you can find the
best deal and flight time to go on that
well-deserved vacation, without the stress.
Take a moment
Most importantly,
however, regularly take the time to take a
moment - a moment to appreciate wherever it is
that you are, to appreciate that you’ve made it
to the end of another year.
Gratitude,
interestingly, is consistently associated with
greater happiness. So take a moment simply to
say thank you, to yourself, your family, the
universe, it’s bound to make you feel good.