Irritating tips and Christmas advice!

Searching for a good article about coping with stress and anxiety at Christmas, to share with clients, I was amazed with the amount of patronising rubbish I ended up reading, no doubt written by people with plenty of money and in very good health.  On the whole, I didn't find advice like this especially helpful or reassuring.

Here's a selection that actually made me more stressed and annoyed, than I was before I read them!

• Budget sensibly - Just because all your son's friends are getting an Xbox One, that doesn't mean he's entitled to one, particularly if you're a less well off family. Explain to your children that Christmas has become too commercialised, educate them about the dangers of violent games such as Grand Theft Auto and show them how to have good old fashioned family fun by getting out your old Monopoly board. (Actually, a recent survey found arguments erupted in a whopping 46% of families that played Monopoly over Christmas.  Scrabble accounted for family feuds in 23% of households that played the word game!  To date, there is no clinical evidence that playing GTA leads to violence or anti-social behaviour.)

• Make a pledge that this festive season you will not smoke, drink or eat any of those tempting but oh so naughty Christmas treats, which won't make you happy, they will merely increase your risk of cancer, heart disease and type two diabetes.  (Could have been written by Iain Duncan Smith, himself!!)

• Avoid the stress of sleeping in your childhood bedroom at your stepfather's house by booking into a nice nearby hotel for a couple of nights, therefore turning a dreaded family event into a Christmas treat.  (Hang on, I thought you said we should budget better!  If we skipped putting the family up in a 4 star hotel, we could afford little Jake's Xbox!!)

• Instead of vegging out in front of the television with a tin of Quality Street for two days, get yourself outside for a long brisk walk in the countryside. The exercise and fresh air will burn off those extra Christmas calories, improve your mood and wear you out - a much more healthy aid to sleep than those habit forming tablets!  (Not too sure how this would work for those with mobility problems or people living in the city - sadly we don't all live within walking distance of a country estate!)

• Remember, Christmas is just one day, don't get stressed out if every present isn't perfect, or the custard on your trifle doesn't set properly.  It's just one day!  There's always next year! (Words fail me!!!)