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Don’t stress yourself this Christmas!

Planning for the holidays and for Christmas can actually be quite stressful for the lady of the house. If we are not careful, the stress might eat at what is supposed to be a joyous time. So, how do you unwind and put things into perspective? Mwereti Kanjo finds out.

During the Christmas season, pressure inevitably mounts on our lives. Maybe this is because our focus shifts from normal everyday activities to preparing for the holidays and the many festivities that come along with it.

Reasons for added pressure range from shopping, decorating, cooking, baking, organising parties and so much more. With all these things comes a lot of pressure to fulfil every commitment and make sure everything being planned is complete before the day actually rolls around.

Unfortunately, some events just seem to creep up on us whether we are prepared for it or not regardless we all deserve to enjoy this time, the one time in a year that you deserve the best.

Psychologist Eric Umar says more often than not, stress during the festive season comes because of setting higher standards than one can afford. He says stress is about the body demanding resources that it cannot contain.

“The festive season comes with a lot of baggage like having to think of what to buy, considering the venues and guest lists for parties and so many other things. The problem is we set standards that are above us and when we fail to fulfil them, stress and external pressure pour in.

“People need to be realistic about what they want and what they can afford. The first step is to organise and plan. Then know what you want. Let’s say your sole purpose is to have fun, decide on who you want to have fun with. Next, look at your resources and find out if they will cater to your plans. If you don’t have enough finances, don’t stress; simply leave out something that you don’t really need,” says Umar.

Evelyn Chatha, an events coordinator in Lilongwe says if you know that you are planning something big for the festive season, the best is to take a holiday from work. She said working during the festive season makes things more stressful.

“Sudden planning for an occasion will often backfire. There must be long term planning. Know in advance how you would like to spend the festive season. Then, ask for a small holiday from the office. This will give you time to plan effectively,” advises Chatha.

The festive season is a special time, so don’t waste it stressing away. Happy holidays!!

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