The results

MOSTLY ◆ YOU TAKE THE BALANCED APPROACH

Christmas might be a stressful time of year, but you’re able to take it in your stride – as with everything else in your life. But be careful your laissez-faire attitude isn’t perceived as indifference. It could mean you’re less likely to strive for more – running the risk of letting life pass you by.

TAKE ACTION: Check in with your goals – whether it’s finishing the gift wrapping two weeks before Christmas or making sure you’ve got your turkey ordered – doing this regularly can help you assess how you’re getting on and then you can push yourself further, says psychologist Dr Elena Touroni, co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic.

MOSTLY ■ YOU’RE HARD ON YOURSELF

You’re desperate to ‘win’ at Christmas, but it’s ruining your ability to enjoy the holiday. When you can’t complete everything as you’d like, you beat yourself up, explains positive psychologist Dawn Baxter***. ‘You may have a fear of success or a core belief that you’re not capable and not good enough.’

TAKE ACTION: Stop the tough self-talk. Do you expect your best friend or family members to throw the ultimate Christmas gathering? Most likely not. ‘We often view ourselves more negatively than we would others,’ says Dawn. ‘Speak to yourself kindly – the way you would to a friend – this gives you a break and is a reminder that you deserve some self-respect and love too.’

MOSTLY ● YOU OFTEN PROCRASTINATE

Whether it’s decorating the house or shopping for presents, you’d rather leave it all to the last minute than risk not living up to your own expectations, says therapist Marisa Peer **** . But failure can be a good thing. ‘It gives us a chance to reflect on where things went wrong, helping us improve and change,’ she adds.

TAKE ACTION: Rather than giving up when the going gets tough, write yourself a to-do list for the holidays, with achievable deadlines. ‘Doing so changes how you see the project – psychologically it seems more manageable and so you’re more inclined to make a start,’ says Marisa.

MOSTLY ▲ YOU’RE KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

You portray the perfect image of not letting Christmas get you down, but not sharing your stress with others can lead to emotional avoidance and loneliness. How? ‘When we stuff our emotions down, they inevitably end up reappearing negatively further down the line,’ says Dr Touroni. And you probably want to avoid an outburst over Christmas lunch!

TAKE ACTION: Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable with a trusted friend or family member. ‘Sharing how you really feel helps to lighten the load,’ says Dr Touroni. And, remember, others are rarely expecting you to be ‘perfect’ – nobody’s judging you like you are yourself.