Skip to content

A Life I Choose

Design your life so you can thrive!

Hi! I’m Emma
Blog
Design Your Life
We’re Hiring!

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest
YouTube

Search

Search for:

How to Cope with Christmas Stress

Posted on December 16, 2016June 13, 2017

by Emma Hogg, Founder of A Life I Choose

As lovely as Christmas can be, it can also be majorly stressful at times. I discuss 5 stressors that tend to occur around Christmas time and suggest ways to cope and make sure you still enjoy yourself.

For more on coping with stress, read my article about self-balancing.

With love,

signature

Share this:

Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in Blog, Emotions, Home, Self-Balancing, YouTube VideosTagged annoying family, coping with christmas stress, coping with stress, coping with stressful situations, difficult family interactions, difficult family members, difficult people, how to cope with stress, how to stay calm when everyone else isn't, taking care of yourself

Published by

Emma Hogg, Founder of A Life I Choose

Hi! I'm Emma. I’m a psychotherapist who lives, breathes and eats the science of joyfulness, wellness and achievement. All the work I do is fuelled by my deep wish to belong to a world where people actively choose their lives! A person without choice is an unhappy individual. A person who passionately and resiliently lives their purpose experiences joy and fulfilment daily. If you’re like me and you see that the more people are consciously engaging in life, the happier our world will be, then we need you to be a beacon of this message by living it! My blog is one of my ways of creating dialogue with you, so that together, we can have a greater impact on our world. x View all posts by Emma Hogg, Founder of A Life I Choose

Post navigation

Previous Post Christmas Give-Away :)

Next Post Make your dreams come true in 2017

2 thoughts on “How to Cope with Christmas Stress”

sandra pace December 20, 20165:04 pm Reply

I don’t find xmas a stressful time , well maybe the cooking is a bit stressful for xmas day, but the rest i enjoy, the spirtual part for me is very important and i enjoy going xmas carol concerts in various chuches, also its a time to meet up with friends family work colleagues drink and dance fun time, then come feb and lent is on. but thanks for the tips/

LikeLike
1. Emma at A Life I Choose December 21, 20165:38 pm Reply
  
  Hi Sandra 🙂 I’m glad Christmas time doesn’t stress you out and that you’re able to really enjoy it. The Christmas carol concerts sound lovely 🙂
  
  LikeLike

How do you feel? x Cancel reply

Enter your comment here...

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Email (Address never made public)

Name

Website

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out / Change )

You are commenting using your Google account. ( Log Out / Change )

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out / Change )

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out / Change )

Connecting to %s

Notify me of new comments via email.

Notify me of new posts via email.

Be a Life-Designer!

Enter your email address to be in the Life-Designer mailing list and receive notifications of new posts and events by email.

Join 2,089 other followers

Looking for something?

Search for:

Top Posts & Pages

A Life I Choose has a YouTube channel!

Do you want more inspiration & practical tips to create the life you want? Check out the “A Life I Choose” YouTube channel.

Search Topics

Search Topics

Hi! I’m Emma.

I’m a psychotherapist who lives, breathes and eats the science of joyfulness, wellness and achievement. I’m the Founder of A Life I Choose, a self-development agency that guides clients to amplify their strengths so they can overcome any challenge and create the life they really want.

All the strategy sessions, workshops and talks I give are fuelled by my deep wish to belong to a world where people actively choose their lives! A person without choice is an unhappy individual. A person who passionately and resiliently lives their purpose experiences joy and fulfilment daily.

If you’re like me and you see that the more people are actively engaging in life, the happier our world will be, then we need you to be a beacon of this message by living it! My blog is one of my ways of creating dialogue with you, so that together, we can have a greater impact on our world.

With love x

Be a Life-Designer!

Enter your email address to be in the Life-Designer mailing list and receive notifications of new posts & events by email.

Join 2,089 other followers

Join the Conversation on Facebook

A Life I Choose

Promote Your Page Too

A Life I Choose Community

Follow my Insta Pics & Stories

Situations that threaten the #togetherness of the couple trigger our fear-response. Think: hot chick texting your man or his mum manipulatively getting in between you. These kinds of situations send us into fight or flight and from this fearful space, we make terrible decisions! In fact, we typically end up creating the exact scenario we're trying to avoid. Tonight on Let's Talk About Sex @with_melaniekelly on @xfm100.2 we're discussing how to bring safety to yourself and your relationship so that external threats don't burst your love-bubble. Let's focus on strengthening the trust you share so much that external threats are no longer threats but just situations that you work together on to overcome, knowing for sure that you're on each other's TEAM. Tonight's episode will be airing online only, so go to www.xfm.com.mt at 9pm to tune in! PEACE & LOVE XXX #love #safety #fightorflight #couples #relationships #podcast #radio #malta #alifeichoose

Pete and I have only been together for 7&1/2 years but when we think about when we got together, it's almost like we were different ppl back then. Of course there are certain core elements that have remained in our personalities, but we've grown so much together that sometimes we think, "Wow, we've created all of this together in just 7 years?" It's crazy cool and I'm so grateful for this beautiful man's presence and willingness to work as a #team. Have we gone through challenging times in our relationship? Yes. Does he irritate the fk out of me sometimes? YES! Would I change all we've been through together? Not a damn thing. It's through the challenges that our love has deepened. Every time we've gone through periods of thinking, "Can we go any further together?" We've leaned into the discomfort and been raw and honest abt what needs to change so we can keep growing. Love's not a picnic, my friends; it's a freaking adventure. 😍😣🤗🤔😤😬😊❤❤ Tag someone you #LOVE below. ❤❤❤👇👇👇 #togetherness #fun #presence #choice #alifeichoose

Growing A Life I Choose has been one of the most fun and rewarding journeys of my life! It's been 2 and a half years and it started with just me and a blog post. It's now me, a blog, a YT channel, an Insta acct and a thriving Lifestyle Strategy practice that includes workshops! A Life I Choose and I are at a point of discomfort, where we both know that I need to let go a little so we can grow. I'm looking for someone to share the next part of the journey with - someone creative, enthusiastic and committed who will grow with us so we can take it to the next level together! I'm looking for a Creative Content Assistant to create awesome content with me that will help people to choose and boost their quality of life. If you're that person or u think u might know that person, pls get in touch! (For more info go to link @emma_alifeichoose) I can't wait to create with you! With love, Emma xxx #mindset #health #lifestyle #selfdevelopment #alifeichoose

There was a time in my life when my world had become very small. I was in pain from head to toe, I couldn't think straight, getting through the day was just torture and sleep offered no healing and recovery. Getting off medication for #fibromyalgia was a real rollercoaster ride - from the hope of getting my life back on track to the reality of having a stroke a month later. I worried that my life might always be this way if I lived much longer. That fear and the urgency I felt to fix it was the greatest gift of my life! I researched the condition like crazy, I got down to understanding on a cellular level what's happening with the mitochondria and on a psychological level, the beliefs and needs that were keeping me sick. It's almost 1 year 9 months since the stroke and my life has surpassed what I thought was possible! I get the occasional #flareup but it passes with rest and patience. I now live an active lifestyle- yoga, walks, swims and recently circuit training! I eat a diet of 90% whole foods and I meditate and visualise my body being in a peak state of health always. Having my life back has been the most beautiful gift and i am so grateful for it that I commit to enjoying every single day. But being sick was a gift in itself- it taught me patience, it taught me abt the human needs for love, connection, significance and growth. It taught about energy, decisiveness, identity and strength. Without dipping so low, I wouldn't have risen so high. So, thank you life, for always having my back! And thank you Pete, my beautiful companion throughout this journey XXX #fibro #lovelife #fitlife #psychologicalfitness #alifeichoose

About a month ago, I made a commitment to myself to have more fun. It feels like a really weird goal to set... in fact when I set it, it felt like kind of a non-goal. Up until now my goals have always been about work, money, my body and mind - improvement and achievement. Things that I can measure. It's easy for me to stay in work-mode because I love it. But like anyone else, I need to just goof off sometimes. And as A Life I Choose has gained momentum, it's becoming more and more apparent to me that it's vital for me to just have FUN often! I'm holding myself accountable to my 3 main goals for this year by vlogging my action-steps for my YT channel and I'm really enjoying the process. In only 4 weeks, I can see clearly how the simple decision to invite more fun into my life has brought with it more opportunities for connection and more calm and joy in general. It's been good for my focus, productivity and health. This week, no matter what's happening or how intense stuff gets, let's all commit to having FUN. #bethegenerator #bringthefun With love XXX Link to my YT channel @emma_alifeichoose #fun #fibromyalgia #wealthhacking #healthy #alifeichoose

You might not know that before I met Pete, I was planning my wedding with someone else. I had bought my dress, the church was booked, the venue was booked. All was good to go... Except me. I was having massive anxiety attacks and although I loved the man I was going to marry deeply, something within me knew this wasn't right for me. "I called off my wedding and this is what I learned about relationships" on the Good Faith Podcast with @cperegin is out now. Link @emma_alifeichoose . . . #relationships #lovehurts #lovelife #loveyourselffirst #alifeichoose

I've never considered myself a super "fun" person. Growing up I was mostly serious and I've always opted for an evening in with my books than for any kind of goofing around! This year, I've promised myself that I'll celebrate more. By this, I mean, I want to invite more fun and more playfulness into my life. In this eve's vlog, I open up to you about my 3 goals for this year (#plenty, #healthy, #wealthy) and I take my first action-step towards one of the goals with you. Follow my journey towards my 3 goals by subscribing to my YT channel. Link @emma_alifeichoose #goals #lovelife #designalifeyoulove #alifeichoose

I've had so much fun today editing tomorrow's vlog! It's all about goal-setting and celebration! I cant wait to share it with you! How are you doing?! 🤗👇 Photo by @larisadizdarphotography #goalsetting #love #celebration #selfdevelopment #lovelife #alifeichoose

When I receive a plant 🌵or a bunch of flowers 💐 it just LIGHTS ME UP. And I love to give flowers to others because I'm sure it lights them up too🌻! Today I bought flowers for my Grandmother. I want to invite you to buy flowers for someone for no other reason than you ❤ them! Comment down below who you're buying flowers for 👇, and commit to buying them in the next 3 days 📅. #lovemore #showlove #lightup #alifeichoose

My beautiful husband organised a photoshoot for us and so far I've been using our images to tell you about "Why we fall out of love"...am I a crappy wife or what???💩👰 But the truth is, even the most Instagrammable couples fall out of love 💔 and all I ever want is to keep it real with you. And I've checked with Pete and he's cool with it! PHEW! So, not such a bad wifey after all 😇 So, this msg is to let you know that the show @with_melaniekelly & I recorded on @xfm100.2 last wk is up on my YT channel now. Link👉 @emma_alifeichoose On this episode we discuss why we fall out of love 😔, whether it's possible to fall back in love 😍 and if so, how to do it. And when you've tried everything, how do you know when it's time to call it quits 🤔? #lovelife #lovehurts #lovesucks #loverules #couplegoals #alifeichoose

I'm in ❤ with journals. I have them in every room, in bags, different journals for different goals/subjects. Writing in journals helps me to make sense of my jumbled thoughts, to get clear on my intentions and to strategize meeting my goals. Pete knows a good gift for me is a good-looking journal! Do you ❤ journals too? Let me know what you use your journals for 👇 #journalling #knowthyself #goalsetting #strategy #alifeichoose

"Why do we fall out of love?" Join us for a conversation about LOVE: why we fall out of it, if it's possible to fall back in love, and how to decipher when it's time to call it quits. On "Lets Talk About Sex" @with_melaniekelly on @xfm100.2, tonight at 9pm. #couplegoals #love #authenticity #vulnerability #sharedvision #alifeichoose

Like any self-development journey, for it to be most effective, you need to get deep-down truthful with yourself- cut the excuses, embrace the fear, own your decisions, take action and reap the rewards. Be with us after each day at Unleash the Power Within with @tonyrobbins as we process our experiences - the best parts and the most challenging. Vlog link @emma_alifeichoose #upwlondon2019 #selfdevelopment #goals #fear #lovelife

I've been quieter on Instagram lately because I've been needing more time and space. Before the workshop in January, life was go, go, go. I thought the pace would calm down a bit after but work really picked up - which has been a wonderful wonderful side-effect of a project that meant so much to me! Helping people to heal, notice limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering ones, make challenging decisions and design their lives moving forward - this is what I love to do! It fills me with joy. At the same time, to be able to do this work effectively, I need to be focussed, clear-headed & warm-hearted. This means, I need to take care of myself. I can't be exhausted, I can't be burnt out, I can't be trying to please everyone. So, I've been scheduling time for me to rest & recover, and to be with those I love most and sometimes that means I'm not on Insta as much, and this week it even means, I won't have a new YT video out. My past self would have freaked at this lack of consistency. But right now, it's what I need to do to be able to focus on what's most important. What is most important for you to be focussing on right now? #lifeflux #priorities #rest #love #workwell #alifeichoose

DATE DAY yesterday was Pete's turn. We: 1) Got coffee where we bumped into lovely friends and had a good chat. Shout-out to Anna & @willprivitera 2) Went to check out @calleja.sarah 's new art exhibition at Gallery 23 in Balzan and fell in love with a beautiful painting that we're adopting! 3) Went to Gozo for a lazy afternoon: Lunch by the sea in the sunshine. Fresh fish and prosecco, followed be a walk. REST & RELAXATION. We focus so much on productivity and results. We undermine the importance of rest and relaxation. But when we don't allow ourselves to rest, we physically cannot recover from the stressful states we've been enduring and we mentally cannot integrate and make sense of our experiences. So we become a little (or a lot) imbalanced: we find ourselves irritated, frustrated, angry or sad habitually. That's when we start arguing with our partners, finding everything they do irritating, pushing for change within them. We need to prioritise rest & recovery. And we need to prioritise it with the people we love, so that we can be together without doing. We can just be - see each other, listen and enjoy each other's company ever so blissfully imperfectly. Link to "How to prioritise love when you're busy AF" @emma_alifeichoose. #love #couples #stress #rest #recovery #alifeichoose

When I was first invited to a SHE networking event, my initial reaction was to decline. I'm not a social butterfly. I like books, movies and cups of tea. Rooms filled with lots of people aren't my thing. But I kept having this nagging feeling that if I didn't go to the event, I'd be missing out on something exciting. So, I bought a ticket. I enjoyed my first networking experience but it wasn't like lightning hit me at that moment. I didn't become instantly successful. But I put myself out there, and slowly, slowly, I got to know others and others got to know me. It lead to me speaking to the community twice, to being invited other places to share my work, to spreading my ideas with awesome people, and to learning from creative women. Most importantly, it lead to developing friendships and a sense of belonging. The next SHE networking event is 28th March. If you sometimes think about coming to SHE but feel shy, worry you won't fit in or think it's not for you because you're not an entrepreneur, I'm going to challenge you right now. Sass & Julia - the founders of SHE - have given me 2 tkts for the A Life I Choose community. What I suggest is, you meet me there, we sit together, we get to know each other and other women better. And we have some fun 😊 All you have to do is follow @she.malta and send me a DM telling me WHY you want to come. I would love to have to opportunity to meet you, get to know you and introduce you to this awesome community that continues to bring me so much value. I'm looking forward to your message. 😉 Follow @she.malta Pic taken by @majda2me #networking #connection #women #iamshemalta #lovemalta #alifeichoose

Pete and I both get sucked into the world of "doing"... do more, be more, achieve more... bla bla bla. Sometimes we get so focussed on this mode and our work that we put each other to the side or on the backburner. We give our best to the world and then bring home our sloppy seconds. It's okay to do this sometimes but when we do this for too long, our relationship starts to struggle. Communication goes awry, we don't feel good together. We become dysregulated. Tonight on Let's Talk About Sex @with_melaniekelly , we speak about "How to prioritise love when you're busy AF". We delve into why prioritising love matters for our health, for our sense of safety and our ability to thrive in this world. It's good to be achieving. But don't forget to share and goof off with the people you love. Getting to the top won't taste 1/5th as sweet if you get there alone. LTAS is on @xfm100.2 tonight at 9pm. Watch Pete and I react to your assumptions about us in the link @emma_alifeichoose With love x #relationships #love #whylovematters #fulfilment #alifeichoose

Is it true that: Emma does more housework than Pete? 👩‍🍳 Emma makes Pete go to therapy?🙊 Pete is way more chilled than Emma? 😎 We never shout at each other? 👫 We react to your assumptions about us!😁 And get into a misunderstanding about our wedding day 😓😂👰🤵 Thank you for taking part in our Instagram poll! 😘 Link @emma_alifeichoose #love #relationships #selfdevelopment #alifeichoose

Archives

Archives

Post to

Cancel

Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address

Cancel

Post was not sent - check your email addresses!

Email check failed, please try again

Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.

%d bloggers like this: