Shopping in the Bath and the Magic of Saying "No". We Know the Recipe for a Relaxed Christmas

Take inspiration from our seven tips on how to enjoy the run-up to Christmas this year, calmly instead of being one big heap of stress. Tick off those jobs one by one, and if things aren’t going well, just go back to the things you’ve ticked off and read through them again serenely, knowing that you can get everything done. Know that nothing at all can push you into that whirlwind of heroic efforts this year. You always have a choice and it’s up to you how you approach it.

1. Focus on what’s important

We pile on more and more things, and try to top Martha Stewart on all fronts. Calm, relax! Try to think about what is actually important to you during the holidays. Enjoying moments with loved ones? Finding time for things you don’t ordinarily have time for during the rest of the year? Or are you looking forward most to decorating your home? Set a few (but really only a few) priorities and focus on them. Feel free to make a list or a spreadsheet and tick off your priorities with glee.

2. Accept help (or ask for it)

The duties of cooking, cleaning, shopping, decorating and organising don’t all have to fall on your shoulders. Delegate some of the necessary tasks to other members of the household and take advantage of modern conveniences. Notino has thought of presents for every member of the family, delivers them to your door, and even gift-wraps them if you want. All you have to do is get into a tub of scented bubble bath, pick up your phone and select them from our tips!

3. Say no to anything that stresses you out

If you’re already getting a headache at the thought of all the visitors you’ll be getting at your door, or the food you’ll have to prepare, remember – there’s no obligation to go through all of this. Explain to your relatives and friends that your ideas for the holidays are different this year. You may not meet with understanding, but will it really be worse than spending every free evening doing things you don’t want to be doing? 

4. Set yourself a financial limit

At Christmas, we feel pressure from all sides to make this year even grander, more generous, more luxurious. We all know it’s not about that, but it’s not easy to get away from the idea of a tree with a mountain of presents. To avoid adding to the stress of how you’re going to pay your bills in January, set a budget and stick to it. We have got tips for presents in all price ranges that will save you a lot of work, not to mention money.   

Also, try talking to your relatives about the situation. Maybe they feel the same and will welcome you giving them fewer gifts this year. Or just save them for the kids and skip presents for the adults. Or you can suggest to your other loved ones that this year you should give each other homemade presents.

5. Make duties fun

There are some things most of us can’t imagine Christmas without. Christmas baking, wrapping presents, a tidy home... Try a different approach this year. How about inviting friends over for a glass of bubbly to wrap presents or get your Christmas baking done together? And cleaning is still cleaning, but it will be far more fun if you put on some cheerful Christmas tunes, light a few candles and wear a reindeer headband on your head. 

6. Forget about perfection

Christmas evokes that image of a perfectly decorated tree, children sitting by it and a stylishly decorated table filled with food. But isn’t it more the case that every year you remember the hilarious year that the tree had barely four branches and more ornaments on it than needles? Or how all the cakes were gone before Christmas Day? If everything looks like a Christmas ad, it’s easy to lose those memories. So this time leave perfection to an alternate reality.

7. Make time for yourself

Don’t forget to add the most important thing to your list of priorities – yourself. Even though you may sometimes feel (unnecessarily) guilty about needing a break, make sure you get one. Even if it’s just half an hour of reading or perhaps lying around with headphones on. Listen to your body and be kind to it. Be aware of what it needs and let your thoughts flow from time to time. This is where the best ideas and inspiration come from. And most importantly, relaxation. And that’s exactly what you need before the holidays. 

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From 1 December until 24 December, you can open up a daily tip for wellbeing and relaxation. Every day there’s a little something, a little advice and recommendations for great products that help you forget about the pre-Christmas stress.

Are you actually starting to look forward to the holidays? So are we! This year we are going to make them really relaxing.