Fast fixes to avoid a festive meltdown
Left everything to the last minute? Don’t panic. HANNAH BRITT asks the experts for their top tips to ensure a stress-free Christmas
TWAS the night before Christmas and all through the house… are so many things to do, you don’t know where to start. The presents aren’t wrapped, the decorations aren’t up. And don’t even mention the turkey. But don’t panic, help is at hand.
Here our experts share their last-minute tips for a stress-free Christmas.
ALL WRAPPED UP
You’ll be surprised what you can use around the house, says JANE MEANS, wrapping expert for gift site Cartwright & Butler.
● With a little imagination, anything can be used to wrap gifts beautifully. Even white printer paper can look eye-catching when teamed with a bright red bow.
● The pages of old comics and magazines can have a real wow factor when paired with a simple gold ribbon, as can maps and old wallpaper.
● When you start wrapping, ensure you have everything ready and work on a table rather than the floor.
● It’s easy to re-use ribbon. Just snip the ends to remove any frayed edges and curl with scissors for a professional finish.
TIME FOR TURKEY
Creating your festive feast needn’t be a chore, says JOHNNY JOSEPH, chef at The Huntsman pub and restaurant in Bath.
● Write a list, putting everything you need to do in order. Cross off each task as you complete it, so you can stay in control.
● Prep your veg the night before and keep it in ice water in the fridge overnight.
● Organise your fridge so you can see your ingredients. This way you won’t miss any and forget to include them. Save space by leaving wine to chill in the garden.
● If you’re doing a starter, keep it light and simple. Everyone is going to have a huge roast main course, so make life easy and make soup that can be prepared in advance.
● Set the table the night before. All the family can help and it will free you up to enjoy time with your loved ones.
● After you parboil the potatoes, shake them in the pan to rough up the edges before roasting. This will make them crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. For extra crunch, dust them lightly in flour before roasting.
AVOID A FESTIVE FALLOUT
With the right approach, you can stop family rows in their tracks, says relationship expert SARAH LOUISE RYAN.
● Expectations about the festive season can add pressure for everything to be perfect. But remember that nothing is perfect, not even Christmas.
● If your family start asking questions such as, “Why are you still single?” or “When are you going to have children?”, be firm and confident in your response and change the subject. It’s your life and you can lead it in your own time.
● If an argument starts over dinner, calmly suggest it can be discussed another time.
● If you experience difficulties in your relationship over the holidays, take time out for each other. Keep a couple of hours free in the morning or at night to spend time with each other away from family. Go for a walk or have breakfast together. Let your partner know how much you care and want to work on getting things back on track.
MAKE TIME FOR YOU
Christmas can be stressful, so take time to unwind, says life coach CAROLYNE BENNETT.
● Put aside some time just for you on Christmas Eve, even if it’s just 15 minutes. Run a bath and add your favourite bath oil, light some candles and relax.
● Play some festive tunes. Uplifting music plays a big role in releasing feel-good hormones.
● Set your alarm early on Christmas Day. If you can get up 15 minutes before the rest of the house it gives you time to start the day in a calm and relaxed frame of mind. Take some deep breaths, relax your body and focus your mind.
● Planning is key. Give each guest a job to do on Christmas Day. Guests love feeling useful and giving them each a job means you have a chance to sit down for a bit too.
● Remind yourself of the true meaning of Christmas Day. So whether the turkey burns or you didn’t get the present you’d hoped for, do your best to accept things as they are. Feeling grateful is a great tool to shift perspective and appreciate the moment you’re in.
DECORATING DELIGHTS
House looking decidedly unfestive? No problem, says DEEMER CASS, decorations expert at Fantastic Services.
● Make a Christmas decoration out of an old photo frame and baubles. Paint it green, attach a thread and hang the baubles.
● Fill glass vases with lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit. Either mix them all together or fill each jar with one type of fruit only. Add a red ribbon to make it look more festive.
● Tie ribbon around a few cinnamon sticks and hang them on the tree.
● If your decorations are old and shabby, you can give them a new lease of life with glue and glitter.
CAN’T find gift tags? Use leftover scraps of wrapping paper in a contrasting colour. Or get creative and print out a small photo of you and the recipient and stick it on the box.
FACTOR in enough time to rest the turkey after cooking. This will stop the juices from escaping and keep the meat moist. Ideally you should rest the bird for half the time you cook it. So if you cook it for three hours, rest it for one and a half under tin foil and a couple of tea towels, which will keep it hot.
TAKE a walk. There is nothing like fresh air to get rid of stress. Focus on observing what’s around you, for example the sound of birds, the clouds in the sky or the feeling of crisp grass under your feet. Being mindful gets us back into the present moment.
STOP worrying and be positive instead. You may worry about Christmas Day, thinking, “What if I burn the turkey?” or “What if we argue?” You need to flip these statements to positives. For example, “What if the Christmas meal turns out to be really good?” or “What if we all laugh together?” PINE cones make great ornaments for the tree. Paint them in different colours and add glitter. Alternatively, place them in a big bowl along with mistletoe and fir branches, or in a shallow dish and put a scented candle in the middle.