CHRISTMAS IS CHAOTIC; it always has been, and likely always will be.

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And this year, more and more discussion has been devoted to how tired people are, how pressurised they feel, and how much they wish they could just bow out of a certain festive meet-up or particular Christmas drinking session.

Let’s be honest, there are myriad ways you can find yourself becoming overwhelmed in the run-up to Christmas.

Whether it’s your financial situation, the pressure to juggle work and family commitments, or feeling compelled to say yes to every invite you’re extended, the next few weeks have the potential to run us all into the ground.

If you already feel like you’re in the midst of a festive burn-out, there’s plenty of time to put the brakes on, and reassess what you hope to get from the season.

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And here’s how to do it…

1. Prioritise your tasks

Look, there are very few of us who don’t buy presents at this time of year, so because it’s an essential activity, it’s best to tick it off your list sooner rather than later.

It sounds obvious, but why do so many of us find ourselves jostling for space in a crowded department store on December 23rd if we weren’t guilty of leaving it to the last minute?

Telling yourself you’ve plenty of time over the next week or so is a recipe for disaster, and a sure-fire way to send yourself into a stress spiral, so just bite the bullet, and get your shopping done before the streets become truly manic.

2. Cut according to your cloth

In other words, don’t over-extend yourself on the financial front.

There’s no doubt that it’s the most expensive time of the year and it’s easy to go overboard, but it’s never worth getting yourself into debt over it.

As painful as it will be, take the time to look at your personal finances and then allocate the amount of money you are happy to spend over the festive season, which includes present-buying if you have yet to check everyone off your list.

Yes, logging into your online banking will be agonising, but not as agonising as it will be in January if you don’t get a handle on the situation now.

3. Don’t turn your back on your routine

If ever there was a time to throw caution to the wind and ignore your general routine – within reason of course; don’t get yourself fired by refusing to go to work – we’re told it’s Christmas.

But, in actual fact, doing this doesn’t suit all of us, and can actually only add to feelings of stress and anxiety.

If you go the gym most evenings after work and find that your mood is always the better for it, then continue to do so; the pub will still be there afterwards.

Similarly, if you’ve always found the aftermath of midweek drinking absolutely dire, then it’s not going to change simply because it’s Christmas, so continue to skip it.

Anything you generally incorporate into your weekly routine for health or wellness reasons shouldn’t be left by the wayside just because it’s Christmas week; make it your mission to continue including them in your schedule.

4. Remember that Christmas reunions don’t have to be extravaganzas

Meeting up with friends over Christmas is one of the best parts of the festive season, but when it seems like every meeting has to become a fully-fledged session, it can take its toll on your energy levels and bank account.

You’re right to prioritise seeing friends and family at this time of year, but remember that these arrangements can be as simple as meeting for a hot chocolate, going for a walk and finishing with a mulled wine, or simply knocking into each other’s homes for an hour or two.

When you assume every meeting requires an entire night and a full-to-bursting wallet, is it any wonder we start feeling exhausted before we’ve even made it to Christmas Eve?

5. Prioritise time for yourself

Seriously, doing this is absolutely vital if you are beginning to feel overwhelmed.

Any other time of the year, we might suggest devoting a Saturday to yourself, but at this stage, it’s more realistic to suggest devoting an evening after work this week to a bit of down-time.

Do whatever you normally do to relax; turn off your phone, read, take a bath, do a face mask, journal, meditate.

Doing whatever it is you know helps you to wind down is very important this week, and throughout the entire festive season.

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