High demands, logistics and work pressure can lead to stress before Christmas, while for others it can be a lack of context or a lack of money. Here, Susanne Ellbin, specialist psychologist at the Institute for Stress Medicine at the Västra Götaland Region, and Lars Göran Kecklund, professor at the Department of Psychology at Stockholm University, give their best advice.
1. Setting
A positive attitude likely contributes to less stress before Christmas.
The negative attitude usually tends to be confirmed and you simply experience more stress. Have a realistic expectation that is still positive, says Kecklund.
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2. Lower your demands and don't compare
Ellbin says you can ask yourself the question: What do I want to achieve? Does everything have to be perfect for me and those closest to me to feel good?
I believe that you should reflect well in advance on what is important and make reasonable priorities. Then I believe you should cut back more than you think.
When we're talking about perfection, we should probably distance ourselves a bit from making comparisons on social media, says Kecklund.
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3. Let go of the need for control and delegate
Christmas stress tends to affect women twice as often as men, according to Ellbin.
You don't have to do everything yourself, you can go in and distribute, direct and delegate tasks, says Kecklund, adding that you also have to accept that everything won't be 100 percent "my way."
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4. Dare to say no
Skip the mulled wine mingle and dare to make your own decisions about new trends like Santa Claus all December until Christmas Eve.
No, the children don't need that. We don't need to create new needs in our children. Dare to set boundaries. Dare to say no to the gnome, says Ellbin, adding that it is enough to be a present parent.
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5. Accept differences
Christmas can bring social stress where relatives don't always get along. Lower your stress levels by accepting that this is how it is, says Kecklund.
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6. Prioritize recovery
Kecklund emphasizes the importance of prioritizing recovery and personal time.
You have to make sure you get a good night's sleep sometimes, especially when you have days off, and make sure to unwind.
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7. Find context
Christmas can mean loneliness, which can also lead to stress and anxiety. Leave no one alone, says Ellbin, urging vulnerable people to turn to voluntary organizations.
