Omg: this is the biggest Christmas stress factor
Christmas is really the ‘most wonderful time of the year’, don’t you think? Everywhere in every square and on every street there are Christmas trees and those cute little lights hanging. Everyone is cozy together, The Holiday is playing on TV, and you can dress up without any shame on those Christmas days. That’s all fantastic, of course, but unfortunately, we’re not always on that red-and-green cloud. You have to think of thousands of things and also go out and have fun. Yes, that is stressful. And do you know what exactly the biggest stress factor is during the Christmas days? Not the Christmas dinner or the mountain of gifts you have to buy, but the family group chat. Yes. Seriously. How does that work? I’m going to explain that to you.
December? Then we’re going to stress en masse
It may sound a bit strange, but it’s really true. In daily life, you’re already overwhelmed with all those different chats: your family app, a group for your household, various friend groups, and if you’re unlucky, one of your in-laws is also in there. Just imagine trying to plan Christmas with all those groups at the same time. Because yes, we do that in the group chat for ‘efficiency’, but… Instead of being smart about it, you end up in a daily storm of questions. Your family is still figuring out where they are going to celebrate Christmas, while your friends are already brainstorming enthusiastically about the desserts. That can be quite overwhelming, so I don’t find it strange that you get stressed about it. You’re busy with so many things at once, and then you also have to plan three Christmas days online. For me, you might as well put a wellness gift under the tree, because after this time, you can sweep me up.
How do we know this? Well, Greetz did research on the ordinary Dutch people. What’s behind those curly heads and makeup? What’s behind the perfect menu plans? A lot of cortisol, that’s what. 31% of the respondents experienced the most Christmas stress due to the family group chat. And not just because of the messages, but especially because of the social pressure and expectations that come with it. With all that organizing, you feel the pressure to perform. You have to look good, so maybe it’s a good idea to stop by the hairdresser. And if you’re in the city anyway, you might as well get the groceries for that dinner with your friends. And your cousin Carolien? She has a Pinterest-perfect house every year, so you also want to go all out when the family comes over. What starts as a fun ‘aesthetic’ Christmas celebration ends in chaos and drama.
What can you do about that stress?
Not much, but mainly you just need to remember some good sayings. It doesn’t have to be so perfect. I repeat: it doesn’t have to be so perfect. Those TikToks with the prettiest gifts full of ribbons and those millions of recipes with ‘the most delicious main course’ are entertaining to watch, but you really don’t have to go all out like that.
If you have the time and want to make everything beautiful, that’s of course fine, but you’re not obligated to do anything. No one will look at you strangely if you don’t have expensive dinnerware, as long as there’s a nice cake on the table. Christmas is about coziness, not about those gifts and picture-perfect decorations. In this time of constant overstimulation, this is your moment to relax. That’s really possible, trust me. Just remember these tips when the sweat is already on your forehead on Thursday morning:
- Plan ahead
Planning ahead is the smartest thing you can do during Christmas. Can you make your dessert in advance? Do that the night before your party. Do you have a special table setting? Set those things up in the morning. You can always put the plates on the table an hour before it starts, but then the biggest part is already done. Order the groceries next year (hello learning moment) so you don’t have to race to the Albert Heijn for the third time because someone forgot the cooking cream. For my part, you might as well think about what you want to wear. Write it down, put it away, and put on a nice Christmas movie. By working ahead the whole month, you can kick back during Christmas. - Silence the group chat
I understand that you want to stay informed, but sometimes it’s better to mute a group for a while. It’s very nice to hear how your aunt Gerda made pumpkin soup last year, but that’s not essential information. You’ll survive without knowing that whole process. So listen to me and mute it. Then you can always check it when you want, but you won’t be overwhelmed with messages from four different groups. - It doesn’t have to be perfect
Yes, I know I just said this, but three times is a charm, so I’ll repeat it again: you don’t have to take care of everything down to the last detail. It’s also fine if you buy a ready-made ice cream cake once. Don’t worry. And that Christmas table looks nice even if you have a red tablecloth, put two candlesticks in the middle, and lay down a few of those pine branches. Simple can also be very elegant.
So breathe in, breathe out. Mute that family app, start your Christmas playlist, and remember: coziness never fits into a schedule.
