How to Slow Down This Christmas

With places to be and many people to see, Christmas has us all moving a little quicker. This change in pace can cause seasonal stress, not to mention the added pressure of creating the ‘perfect’ Christmas. Instead of focusing on extravagant gifts and the best decorations, what if the time we spent rushing around was used to slow down? We know it’s easier said than done, that’s why we’re sharing our 5 simple ways to help you embrace a slower Christmas. 

Create daily rituals that embrace calm

If you’re wanting to priortise slowing down this Christmas, you have to be intentional. Make a conscious effort to create daily rituals that offer a moment of rest away from the craziness. This could be 15 minutes of quiet in the morning with a warm cup of tea before the rest of the house wakes. Why not try journaling alongside this to set your intentions for the day and express what you’re feeling grateful for. We find that practicing gratitude always helps to put things in perspective and allows you to focus on what you do have, rather than what you don’t. 

Spend less time online 

We all know that spending our time mindlessly scrolling is never good. Having too much time online, especially over Christmas, can lead to feelings of comparison and pressure to have a Christmas that looks a certain way. But spoiler, no one Christmas is the same and we should know by now that things aren’t always how they appear online. Our advice would be to put your phone away and be present with friends and family over the Christmas period. Focus on how it feels to be spending time with people you love, rather than thinking about others and how their Christmas looks from the outside. 

Embrace the small joys

Christmas is the one time of year where you can find tiny pockets of joy wherever you look. Even if your Christmas doesn’t feel particularly joyful this year, we can guarantee you’ll find small things to feel fuzzy about as you look around. Whether that’s a child experiencing the magic of Father Christmas or watching someone thoughtfully choose a gift for a loved one. Write down the things that bring you joy over the holidays, it could be something as simple as your first mince pie of the year or lighting your Christmas candle.

Learn to say no 

Setting boundaries and learning to say no is essential to slowing down at Christmas. You’re just one person, you can’t do everything, and trying to be here, there and everywhere is the easiest way to get burnt out. It’s not selfish to prioritise your own self-care; you have to fill up your own cup before you can give your energy to anyone else. And you don’t have to justify why you can’t attend a certain event, if you would rather have an evening in with a relaxing bath and an early night then you should do just that.

Focus on what thing at a time

Christmas can easily become overwhelming, especially if you’re hosting. If you find yourself with a never ending to-do list of wrapping presents and prepping the Christmas dinner, remember to focus on one thing at a time. This helps your brain to manage the tasks at hand and you’ll get everything done without panicking and rushing around. And remember, if you don’t get everything ticked off your list, it’s not the end of the world. Just enjoy the festivities!