Have a Stress-Free Christmas: 10 Tips to Help
Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
In an article for About, Karen Wolf writes, "One of the most stressful times of year is during the holidays. ...somewhere along the way the stress, the unrealistic expectations, the unreasonable demands, and all that other negative stuff shows up and the next thing you know, you're depressed, over-tired, and dreading one more day during the so-called 'holiday season.'"
The primary causes of Christmas stress include, though not limited to, decorations, cramped streets and shopping centers, shortage of parking spaces, the pressure to buy Christmas presents for so many and the money shortage that goes with that, the prospect of going into debt or more debt in order to meet demands for presents, cultural battles and fights over the use of the words "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays", competitors to Christmas like Kwanzaa, on and on.
Let's calm down. Chill and just let it cool. Remember what Christmas is about? A stress-free Christmas begins with going back to the basics.
Christ, the keyword in "Christmas", was born to bring peace on earth and joy to the world. The word "mas" is short for "Mass", which basically means "celebration". Thus "Christmas" means "Celebration of Christ". Let's pin our thoughts on that meaning, because it can make all the difference between a Christmas headache and a season of real peace and joy for you.
Here are some practical ways I have found to cut down my share of Christmas stress, if not ditch it completely. The neat thing is that just taking ONE of these actions in a MEANINGFUL way can pull the plug on Christmas stress every year. I rarely stress over Christmas these days, and it's been this way for several years now.
- Play Christmas carols a lot, and listen to the words of the songs to drive the message of each carol down to your heart and soul. You can hear the carols on radio, CD, etc, or sing them.
- Join with a few people to go Christmas caroling at your local hospital, nursing home, or homeless shelter. Not only is this a great Christmas gift of your time, but it puts Christmas presence above Christmas presents. Since you are priceless, whenever you give yourself you are giving a priceless gift.
- Read and study the original Christmas story of Jesus' birth. Read prayerfully, and choose a verse or two from the Christmas story to meditate on. This spiritual exercise will get you in touch with the real thing, not all the commercialized trappings. Alternate your reading between Matthew and Luke. One year, read from Matthew's account (1st reading -- Matthew 1:18-25; 2nd reading -- Matthew 2:1-12. 3rd reading -- Matthew 2:13-23). The following year, read Luke's account (1st reading -- Luke 1:26-38; 2nd reading -- Luke 1:39-56; 3rd reading -- Luke 2:1-20; 4th reading -- Luke 2:21-39; 5th reading -- Luke 2:40-52). Start your prayerful, meditative reading early in December, so you can reap the greatest spiritual benefits from your own Christmas journey.
- Decide you're not going in battle mode over the word "Christmas." Remember? It's about "peace on earth and goodwill". Realize that if some companies or vendors don't use "Merry Christmas", that takes nothing away from the essence of the season. I don't like the generic "Happy Holidays" myself, but I won't let that rob me of any of one ounce of Christmas' peace and joy. Hey, even Jesus Himself never said or heard "Merry Christmas" during His lifetime. He didn't even have a "Merry Christmas".
- Tell yourself that Christmas is not everybody's birthdays. It is one birthday for One Person, and that Person is not every family member, not every extended family member, not every friend, not every coworker, not every friend of yours. Let your child or anyone know, "When your birthday comes, I'll give you a present. Christmas is Jesus' birthday, not your birthday. So if you receive anything from me, be thankful. And if you get no present, well, it's not your birthday anyway. Lord willing, you'll get a present from me on YOUR birthday."
- Make a cash-only Christmas budget. Only use money you actually have to do your Christmas shopping. There is important reason why Christmas should always be a credit trigger. Promise that you won't go into debt to buy anyone anything. A stress-free Christmas is a cash-only Christmas.
- Give fewer but more meaningful gifts. Like the wise men of old who searched and found one needy family and gave presents to that family (Matthew 2:1-11), it is more important that your gift meets a real need than that a multitude of people got presents from you. Don't do the equivalent of giving toothbrush to a toothless person.
- Start telling the people close to you that you do not want a Christmas present from them. Some of them may still give you presents, but your words will take some of the pressure off their Christmas, and you will feel humble and peaceful for doing so.
- Give cash as your Christmas present. Let the recipient buy what s/he really wants. It's hard for people who receive cash, check or money order at Christmas to return it for a refund on the day after Christmas. Since a recipient may return your precious gift for money anyway, just save yourself time and give the person the money to start with. Even if it's 5 bucks, put it in a card, and give it to the person; it reads better than an empty card!
- Remind yourself that it is more important to be Christlike at Christmas than to put up the best decorations, or to give or receive the most/best gifts. What is the Christ of Christmas really about? Peace. Good will. Joy. Love. Faith. Compassion. Taking time to meditate on these spiritual virtues so you can grow in them will help ease your mind, and relieve your emotions of the heightened stress that will be driving most people raving mad this Christmas season. This Christmas season, ask yourself, "How can I be more like Jesus Christ in my attitude, in His attributes, especially in love and forgiveness, peace and joy? How can I experience or express the purpose for which Christ came that first Christmas Day?"
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)» left by Connie Raines
from Chicago, Ill 3 years 67 days ago.
8 fans. Follow Connie Raines on twitter!This article is Excellent! I love it, thanks for expressing my sentiments exactly.Thanks much, Connie, for your comments. I feel what you mean. ~mogama~
Thanks ever so much for such article. I wish ever person out there could get to read this, especially our people here in England, who has refused to accept the existed of our lord and saviour Jesus. Please don't get me wrong I 'm not pointing fingers. But millions of us here don't know Jesus, or let say go to chruch but, we celebrate his birth. If you go out there and ask who is Jesus? some will say he was one of the prophets, other will say he did'nt exist. Even though we do not know him yet we shopping because of him.You're more than welcome, Regina. You nail the irony of Christmas in our day: so many people celebrate the birthday of someone they don't know, don't want to know, or even hate. Thanks for your comment. ~mogama~
Mogama,I'd be less stressed if you hadn't written this list ( see my humorous article on lists "10 Things to Do to Get 3 Billion People Absolutely Nothing"). Kidding. Some good stuff here.Oh, oh, sorry for adding stress to your stress. Didn't mean to. Thanks, Jeff, for your comment. ~mogama~
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