Christmas Survival Tips

Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. We all know how stressful it can be at this time of the year so we have put together three top tips for helping survive Christmas.

1    Be organised and have the right attitude

The important thing at Christmas is that everyone feels relaxed, and happy. If something goes wrong, look at it as though something funny has happened and that it is a good story you can tell, rather than it being a disaster. It is also important to plan your Christmas to avoid the last minute rush which pushes stress levels up even further. This is especially so when it comes to money as it is estimated that 33 per cent of shoppers say that it would take them more than six months to pay off their Christmas spending debt. Gary Sans in the dispute resolution department advises people to plan in advance a budget they can afford to spend, and stick to it and advises that “there is no point getting into debt at Christmas and then struggling to pay it off for the rest of the year, be realistic about what you can afford and it will make for a much more enjoyable Christmas”. However, if you do find that you have got into debt which you cannot manage, it is a good idea to talk to insolvency lawyer, who offer impartial advice to reduce your debts, and help to get your financial situation back under control.

2    Don’t be flustered by families

The festive season can raise stress levels as it’s often the only time in the year when families spend a lot of time together, or see relatives who you may not have seen for a while. Sue Hodgson, a solicitor within the family department, advises that the key to having a calm and peaceful Christmas is to keep things in perspective and don’t have unrealistic expectations. She advises “If you are under so much pressure to make Christmas perfect, then you may have missed the point. Try to remember what Christmas is really all about, and appreciate what you have and those around you, as it will often be your family who support you through the most difficult times.”

Christmas can often be the last straw for those marriages already in trouble however, many couples can survive this stressful time by talking through their problems, or seeking counselling from an organisation such as Relate or mediation from your solicitor. Not all divorces have to be acrimonious, and often solicitors can work in collaboration to ensure that you to get the best arrangement for your personal circumstances with minimal stress and swift, positive outcomes.

3    Stay healthy

I’m sure I don’t need to point it out, but this time of the year can be very stressful, many of us spend weeks rushing about preparing for our ‘perfect’ Christmas, and this can lead to a breakdown of our immune system.

This impact on our immune system will leave us susceptible to colds anyway, but of course we come into contact with more people at Christmas, which potentially exposes us to a greater number of infections! Eating extra calories, a reduction in exercise, plus stressful situations between family members can really take its toll on our health.

The change from our usual routine can wreak havoc with digestion, skin, sleep patterns, blood sugar levels and even our mood. So it’s a really good idea to try and get out and take a few brisk walks over the festive period. Giving ourselves time to relax is important in avoiding Christmas pressures according to stress counsellor Gladeana McMahon. She suggests instead of going out every night, we should curl up with a good book, or pour some soothing aromatherapy oils into a bath and have a long soak. Sounds excellent advice to us!