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Freeview Features
STRESS FREE CHRISTMAS...
...tips to survive the festive season from lifestyle expert Jenni Trent Hughes
Worn out Brits are set to nod off at 4.30pm on Christmas day this year, as the effects of surviving the festive season - burning the candle at both ends, travelling long distances and arguing with ‘in-laws’ over what to watch on the box all take their toll, according to new research from Freeview.
It appears that people are now more active at Christmas than at any other time of the year, leaving many of us struggling to grab a few moments of rest and relaxation. The pressure to have a perfect Christmas and the strain of close extended family contact leaves nearly two thirds of us citing Christmas as the most stressful time of the year, and a quarter of the population feel that spending three days with the in-laws is more taxing and tiring than starting a new job.
A staggering (and somewhat foot numbing) 15 hours will be spent on shopping alone – nearly half of which will be spent waiting in a queue over the Christmas break. Long distance travel also features on the vast majority of people’s Christmas itineraries with the average family clocking up 300 miles in order to do the rounds of family and friends.
The majority of people’s social lives also experience an upturn with over a quarter of Brits set to start their Christmas party season as early as the 1st December this year. While a third (33%) expect to be out on the town for at least twelve nights before Christmas - double the amount of time people go out at any other time of year.
Over half of the nation will begin Christmas day at 7am, with an additional third (33%) indulging in a festive tipple before lunchtime. The cumulative effects of preparing for Christmas combined with the early morning start and alcohol and food intake on the day itself will leave nearly half of us catching a short nap to recharge – the most popular time being 4.30pm for an average of twenty minutes.
The study also pinpointed 10:30am as the time of day when the nation’s spirits soar with over a third (36%) of respondents stating they’re at their happiest when they start handing out stacks of presents to their nearest and dearest, while 15% of us ‘peak’ when we sit down to lunch and start tucking into our Christmas meal.
Arguments over what to watch on the TV were one of the main causes of stress on Christmas day. More than a third (34%) said that these disagreements were generational, with the older generation (56% of over 55 year olds) demanding to watch the Queen’s speech. While just 5% of youngsters (under 25 year olds) will gladly sit down to watch the head of state this year.
A third of Brits even admit to recording Christmas TV while they watch it, as they expect to be too tipsy or too tired to last their duration of many shows. The survey results could also explain why over half of respondents also said they prefer the escapism of comedies and blockbusters, while 37% also admitted to enjoying watching repeats of their favourite TV as they only remembered snippets of the original shows first time around.
Jenni Trent Hughes, one of the UK’s most established life style experts, gives her top tips on surviving the festive period to help you have a hassle free Christmas this year:
1. Take control – don’t let the festive season overwhelm you (65% of us find Christmas the most stressful time of year)* and take a firm decision on what you want your Christmas to be like. Don’t be swayed by the outside world. If you’re doing most of the preparations, then decide what the work will be and when you need to do it.
2. Involve the family - sit down with your family and make a list of two things that mean Christmas to each person. Choose one each, then make a schedule to do them – that’s everyone and together!
3. Family relationships - a quarter of us admit to finding three days with the in-laws more taxing and tiring than starting a new job. So say ‘yes’ to every crackpot opinion and off-the-wall comment. Does it really matter what Uncle John thinks about immigration or women working outside the home. Keep busy, or looking busy so you can scuttle off when the going gets rough.
4. Involve the kids - make sure all children, no matter how young, have a role to play. Even a three year old can bring in the Christmas cards when the post arrives. Put them in charge of as many activities as possible.
5. Beat the queues - the average person will spend a foot numbing 15 hours on shopping alone*, so why not shop on the internet to avoid the queues or give out personalised coupons, e.g. ‘a weekend’s babysitting’, or ‘home-cooked dinner for two’. Buying the Christmas pudding now or wrapping the gifts early will cut down on last minute madness.
6. Presents - our little lovelies spend 80% of their time playing with just 20% of their gifts** – so keep that in mind when you’re loading up the trolley at the toy shop, set a budget for each person and stick to it!. Ask them for a list, or get them to write a letter to Santa, with 2 tiny gifts, 2 medium, 2 large.
7. Allocate some ‘me time’- spend a quarter of your holiday season for doing absolutely nothing! Don’t feel guilty about sitting down in-front of the TV. You could even plan your Christmas TV viewing before the 25th, as a Freeview Playback digital TV recorder lets you plan ahead up to 8 days in advance, allowing you to then watch the programmes that you want, when you want.
8. Cooking - if you don’t count yourself as a Master Chef, make sure you plan your meals, then make a timetable listing how long each dish will take to prepare. There is no shame in asking each person to bring a dish, nor is there shame in buying semi-prepared food. However there is shame in being found passed out under the kitchen table with a bottle of sherry in your hand, because you ‘just couldn’t cope.’
9. Drinking – as a third of us expect to be out on town for at least 12 nights before Xmas*, make sure that you drink water before you go out, while you’re out and when you get home. Stay away from fizzy mixers. Try drinking a glass of full-fat milk, it will slow down absorption of alcohol (that’s slow down not stop completely, so be sensible). A glass of orange juice or a sports drink will perk you up in the morning. If you can’t face the morning after the night before, then diarrhoea medicine is good for a hangover (helps replace everything you lost – except your dignity!)
10. Activities – if you are stuck for activities for Christmas Day; why not get everyone present to list their Top Ten Moments of The Year, and then you can all discuss them through dinner. Alternatively you could go for a walk, organise an X-Factor style talent show or why not write a group letter or email to family members who aren’t there.
