Reducing Stress At Christmas - Top Tips From Our Team
- Exciting Education
- Dec 18, 2025
- 2 min read
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, but it can also be a bit overwhelming—with endless to-do lists, crowded shops, and family expectations. Our team has gathered their favourite tips to help you glide through the festive season with a smile.
1. Prep Food in Advance
Save yourself a mountain of stress on the big day by preparing what you can ahead of time. Yorkshire puddings freeze brilliantly—just bake, cool, pop them in freezer bags and reheat when needed. Red cabbage, cranberry sauce, roast potatoes and even semifreddo (a creamy, sliceable dessert) can all be made ahead and frozen. You’ll thank yourself later!
2. Stock Up on Essentials
Avoid last-minute dashes to the chemist by ordering your prescription medication early. Most GPs will give you enough to last through the new year. Make sure your first aid and home medicine cupboard is topped up with the basics—no one wants to be hunting for Calpol on Christmas Eve!
3. Get Ahead with the Household Chores
Try to tackle as much laundry as possible before Christmas. Giving yourself a break from chores means you’re more likely to relax and enjoy the festivities. Also, stocking up early on household items like kitchen rolls and nuts means you’ll only need to worry about fresh food during those last hectic shop runs.
4. Create and Sustain Family Traditions
Christmas traditions make the season special. Whether it’s watching ‘The Grinch’ on Christmas Eve, reading ‘The Night Before Christmas’, or buying new pyjamas, these moments are what memories are made of. One of our coaches has a family Lego tradition on Christmas Eve. Another does a Christmas day swim with their children. In larger families, consider doing Secret Santa to save buying lots of presents or setting a price limit to keep gift-giving fun and relatively stress-free.
5. Delegate and Involve Everyone
Don’t try to do everything yourself! Delegate jobs to family members—children can help by collecting used wrapping paper or setting the table. Sharing the workload makes everything more manageable and brings the family together.
6. Keep Perspective
Don’t get caught up in the perfect Christmas portrayed on social media—nobody’s day is that flawless. If your kids won’t eat their veg, give them a Christmas Day pass and skip the Brussels sprout battle. And remember, Christmas is about celebrating togetherness, not perfection.
7. Practical Tips from the Team
Rachel swears by the James Martin Yorkshire pudding recipe for giant, fluffy Yorkshires that freeze beautifully.
Don't over spend and get yourself into debt. Christmas isn't an unexpected surprise - we all know when it will be. Plan ahead. Save up, set a budget and stick to it.
Think ahead and try not to overbuy. With fridges and freezers at hand, there’s no need to panic-shop at the last minute like in days gone by!
If things don’t go to plan, don’t let it ruin your Christmas or anyone else’s. Enjoy what you can and try to let the rest go.
Remember What Matters Most
At the end of the day, remember that Christmas is a celebration and a time to enjoy the company of those you love — so embrace the chaos, cherish the special moments, and focus on what truly matters. Merry Christmas from all of us!
