HOW TO STOP FEELING OVERWHELMED AT CHRISTMAS
- Jo from Benella
- Dec 7
- 4 min read
Practical Ways To Reduce Christmas overhwlem, Stress And to Stay Organised
Christmas is meant to feel cosy and magical right?
Is that not sometimes a pipe dream that all the family will get on?
You won't feel overwhelmed?
You will feel well on the day and not finally relax and go down with a winter bug?
Just remember a lot of pressure can be felt from social media - is matching pyjamas and a perfect smiling family really what is happening for most people or just on Instagram? (and most likely not what really happened 5 minutes before the photograph was taken!)
If the pressure is creeping in, you’re in the right place. With a bit of calm planning and a few gentle boundaries, you can absolutely enjoy December and avoid feeling overwhelmed and burnout at Christmas.
Why Christmas Overwhelm Happens and how to stop it
There are presents to buy, meals to plan, family to juggle and a constant feeling that you should be doing more. Add in money stress, decision fatigue and a house slowly filling with bags of “just in case” snacks, and overwhelm is the natural outcome.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. This is where planning becomes your best friend. Not rigid, military, Uncle Bryn (Gavin & Stacey character for those who don't watch the show) style planning, just supportive, realistic organisation.
And if you want everything in one place, my Christmas Planner Bundle is designed for exactly this. It helps you take the pressure off by giving you ready to use pages for budgeting, gifting, planning meals, and tracking the entire festive season clearly and calmly.
Set A Christmas Budget And Stick To It
Budgeting is where calm begins. Before the chaos kicks in, decide:
Who you’re buying for
What you’re spending•
What the food budget is
What extras you actually want
Inside my Christmas Planner Bundle there’s a budget planner page that keeps everything neat, clear and totally un-scary. No surprise overspending and no January dread. Just a simple way to stay on top of things.
Buy Little And Often In Advance
Picking up small bits regularly spreads the cost and the stress. A few items each week means you’re never hit with a giant supermarket bill on 23 December. The checklist has lots of ideas on things to get each week/shop.
In the planner you’ll find shopping lists and weekly planning pages that help you keep track of what you’ve already bought, what’s still needed, and what must be hidden from family members who sniff out snacks like truffle pigs!
On that note however, I am changing my game this year - why do we keep all the "best food" for Christmas Day? After a big lunch we are normally too full to eat cheese and then chocolate biscuits - this year at mine they will be open weeks before to enjoy so they don't get wasted.
Get People To Help With The Food
Hand on heart, you are not meant to cook an entire Christmas feast solo. Let people bring dishes, share prep or take ownership of one element. Most families love being involved, especially if you give them a clear job.
My late Mom loved making Christmas puddings (very much a UK Christmas dessert) and I have her recipe and have taken over making them as gifts for loved ones. Her recipe is the best I have ever tasted and is an extra bonus in the bundle.
Wrap Gifts As You Go
Leaving wrapping until Christmas Eve guarantees only one thing - chaos. Actually make that two things - if you were born in a year beginning 19 then you probably will also have sore knees from kneeling down on the floor to wrap a pile of gifts!
Wrap a few bits at a time as you buy them. In the planner you’ve also got gift lists so nothing gets lost, forgotten or accidentally bought twice. Bliss.
On the subject of gifts - remember there are many gifts that don't cost lots or add to clutter.
Stop Trying To Create A “Perfect” Christmas
Perfection doesn't exist. A calm Christmas is better than a glossy one. No one will remember whether your napkins matched the table runner. They’ll remember whether you were present, relaxed and not spiralling over the roasties. I once forgot the Christmas Crackers and it is still joked about in our family.
Give yourself permission to do simple, meaningful and good enough.
That’s what the season is truly about.
Plan Christmas Day Timings Without Going Full Uncle Bryn
A little prep goes a long way. But we’re not doing Uncle Bryn’s stressful itinerary. Just enough structure to make the day smooth.
This is where the blank Christmas Day timings page in my planner is worth its weight in gold. Fill it out (working backwards from when you want to eat) the night before while you’re still clear headed and not yet fuelled by festive fizz. It keeps you on track without the pressure, and definitely without the sweating.
Give Yourself Permission To Slow Down
Say no when you need to. Keep some evenings sacred. And for the love of Christmas, don’t cram your diary because everyone else is.
You don't have to see people just "because it is Christmas" - JOMO can feature heavily here. Enjoy some quiet time at home, meet friends when you feel up to it but don't feel under pressure, you can see them for a long walk and a coffee in January when you are rested and more relaxed.
Your Calm, Organised Christmas Starts Here 🎄
A peaceful Christmas isn’t about working harder. It’s about planning smarter and allowing support.
If you want everything mapped out for you, including a detailed checklist, budget pages, gift checklists, planners, ready to use Thank You Notes, the recipe and that magical blank timetable that saves the whole day - my Christmas Planner Bundle is ready to help you enjoy the season rather than endure it.
Thanks for reading, I'm Jo, a Professional Organiser for 20 years and your new partner in creating an organised home.
Based in Petersfield, Hampshire but covering Surrey, West Sussex and London (upon individual request basis).
I help busy professionals, families and home movers, organise and declutter their homes, paperwork and photographs.
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