Christmas is meant to be all about spending time with loved ones, however, sometimes we forget what it’s all about when the stress hits. Here is our guide to help you relax this year and remember that it’s all going to be okay if your mother-in-law sees a cobweb in your storage room that you forgot to dust.

Your family is coming to see you, not your house

We try our best to make sure the entire house is sparkling clean, sparklier than it’s ever been, but Christmas is such a busy time of year and sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day. Do what you can, but remember to stay realistic! Another tip is to do small clean ups often, so that it doesn’t turn into a huge 24-hour job. Most importantly, remember that your family and friends are visiting to see you, not to judge your house.

Chaotic Christmas shopping

Oh the joys of giving during the festive season… sitting in traffic, waiting in gigantic queues, having to go back and do it all again because you forgot the wrapping paper… It’s not even safe at the supermarket when you simply want to buy your weekly groceries!

So, you want to know how to avoid chaotic shopping? The best advice is to do it early and purchase gifts over a length of time. Otherwise, chances are you’ll get caught in a mob of frantic shoppers and have to dip into your savings after buying the entire extended family gifts. If you’ve left it too late to avoid the chaos this year, well… we’ll be thinking of you and best of luck. Try to go at times when it’s likely to be less busy, such as during typical work hours or late nights. It might be a good idea to nip out on your work break.

For next year, ditch the queues by ordering your prezzies online and have them delivered to you. You don’t even have to leave the house! Otherwise, think about stocking up on gifts throughout the year, so that it isn’t a big rush in December.

A problem shared is a problem halved – Christmas dinner the easy way

It must be a generational thing to have potluck dinners, because in the early 20s age group, they’re a popular option. A potluck dinner is when each guest brings a plate of food to be shared.

I love this idea for so many reasons! You end up with a wide variety of food options, it’s inexpensive for everyone, and it takes away the stress of one person having to cook for everyone, like you would for a traditional dinner party. You can also ask people to let you know what they’ll be bringing to avoid any double ups.

The original chill pill – magnesium

Lastly, magnesium can provide natural stress relief as well as many other health benefits. This mineral can act as a barrier to prevent stress hormones from entering the brain! Several studies have already proven that magnesium deficiency can lead to anxiety and other mental health problems.

When our body is under stress or we are experiencing anxiety, our body uses up our magnesium stores very quickly. This is how magnesium can help provide anxiety relief.

For a supplement with magnesium in it, check out our Active Calcium Plus or Active Calcium Chewable! (You can click ‘Active Calcium’ to go to the link).

When bad relatives happen to good people

And well, if it’s the ‘loved’ ones themselves that you’re dreading… We don’t really have much advice on that front, other than remembering that you won’t have to see them for another year!

Merry Christmas!

For further reading on magnesium and stress:

Anxiety Relief Techniques: http://anxietyreliefstress.com/magnesium-supplements-and-anxiety-relief/

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201106/magnesium-and-the-brain-the-original-chill-pill

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