This blog is for all women who are suffering from Christmas Stress.  Christmas is supposed to be and can truly be the most wonderful time of the year.  But unfortunately, for many people – especially women – it is not.  According to the Stress Level Charts, Christmas has a stress level of 15 out of a possible 100.

There are many reasons for this.  If you are already feeling stressed with the every day load of time, money and energy commitments you are trying to balance, the extra demands of Christmas can be truly overwhelming!

What are the extra demands of Christmas?

1. MONEY:  The money to buy or make the gifts; the extra food; money to pay for the Christmas concerts or programs that you many attend; the money to give to Christmas charities, etc.

2.  WORK:  Most of the extra work of Christmas falls on the women.  We buy or make the gifts; we wrap them; we make the special party foods; we decorate; we send out the Christmas cards or newsletters; we are the ones who get involved in the different school, club and Church Christmas concerts, choirs, programs, service projects, etc.

3.  TIME:  On top of our already heavy loads, we have to make the time to do all of the extra work.

4.  RELATIONSHIPS:  I know that we all wish that we had family relationships that were loving and supportive but for many of us that isn’t true.  We might be able to avoid seeing “X” during the year but at special holidays, like Christmas, – we can’t.  Also, for those people who are divorced with children, there can be the added stress of fighting with the ex about whose going to get the children, etc.

5. EXPECTATIONS:  We are bombarded by the media at Christmas, showing us the ideal “Hallmark” Christmas. 

You know what I mean: the loving, joyful, beautifully dressed family gathers around the dining room table groaning with delicious, beautifully prepared food.  Then after a wonderful meal, the joyful, happy family goes into the beautifully decorated living room to gather around the gorgeous tree where they open and delight in the mountain of perfectly chosen gifts for everyone. 

Who has that?  Almost no-one!  But we make ourselves exhausted, and often, miserable, as we try to live up to and compare our own lives to this fantasy.

As the former Queen of Christmas Stress, I have come to believe that all of this busyness and incredible commercialism of Christmas might actually be part of Satan’s plan.  In all of this busyness, where does Christ fit in?

The true message of Christmas has nothing to do with presents, food, parties, clothes, decorations, etc. etc. etc.  It doesn’t matter what your age is; whether you are rich or poor.  The true message of Christmas is the unfathomable gift of the Son of God – sent to earth to save us all!

Maybe the best gift we can give ourselves and others this Christmas is to take a serious look at what we are doing.  What would happen if we dropped this tradition?  Do we really need to do this ?..or that?  Can we delegate, delete or simplify?

Let’s make the effort to put a little more Peace and Joy back into OUR Christmas.  My wish for each of us is that we will truly feel the Christmas Spirit this year.

Instead of Merry Christmas, I want to wish you a Joyful and Peaceful Christmas,

Sheryl Stanton R.N. …. Stress Relief Coach