The holidays are coming, the holidays are coming! 🎅🎄☃️❄️⭐
The festive season is often associated with joy, happiness, excitement, seeing friends and family, religious celebrations, presents, good food and so much more. Christmas is in the spotlight! But as the big day fast approaches, please spare a thought for others around you who may not be feeling as excited. There are many reasons why; it might be an upsetting time for them as they have lost a loved one, or financial worries as the cost-of-living crisis continues.
With this in mind, I offer some top tips for effective communication at Christmas and making it as relaxed and wonderful as possible.
- No Unnecessary Present Pact (NUPP) – Martin Lews, the money saving expert has been advocating that the greatest gift you can give someone is not giving. By releasing each other from the burden of spending unnecessarily at Christmas time will be a huge help to so many. Watch the video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIXFSnNe_wQ
- Secret Santa – For those who wish to partake, a fun idea to keep cost down is to do a Secret Santa with your friends, family and/or colleagues. It means that you all agree a set-amount of money, draw the name from a hat and go and buy a present for that one person. It’s joyous because it’s fair between you all.
- Quality Time – Spending quality time with your loved ones will mean so much more than spending money. The simple pleasure of being together and enjoying the company you keep is a perfect way to make festive memories together. Perhaps there is a Christmas tradition that you do each year, or make new memories
- Listen & Understand – The festive period can bring a full spectrum of emotion. Connecting with others is important for our mental health and wellbeing. Talking to people at Christmas time and providing them with a listening ear can help them more than you realise. If they have lost a loved one for example, share stories and listen to them with patience and understanding.
- Check In – The last few years have been tough, from the pandemic to the cost-of-living crisis and these things have changed the way people live. If you do not see your loved ones physically over the festive season (due to illness, work commitments or travel/cost restrictions etc), please still be sure to check in with them. Phone them, text them, have a virtual Christmas or send a Christmas card – communication at Christmas is so meaningful and important.
Have a very Merry Christmas to you all!