Christmas is supposed to be a magical time to spend with the family. However, unfortunately it can also be a stressful time. The majority of families who get together over the holidays end up arguing at some point.
While family arguments are considered an inevitable part of the festive season, they really don’t have to be. If you’re looking to eliminate family arguments this year, below you’ll discover some great tips you can follow.
Make Sure You Set Expectations Early On
Part of the reason families argue over Christmas is because expectations weren’t made clear. That is, letting people know how long they will spend together, what they should bring (if anything), and how the day will go. What activities will you be doing and does everybody have to participate?
Letting the family know what is happening and who is in charge of what can limit arguments on the day. You can also plan ahead to ensure you spend as little time as possible with family members you always tend to argue with.
Set a Positive Vibe
It can really help to set a positive vibe on Christmas day. This is especially true if you have notoriously grumpy relatives. Positive, relaxed people tend to really lighten up the mood. They can even make usually grumpy people relax and have fun. The more positive you are, the harder it will be for family members to fall out with you.
So, even when you start to feel stressed, take a few deep breaths and maintain a smile and positive attitude. You may just be surprised by how well this tip works.
Don’t Expect the Day to Be Perfect
We tend to have high expectations of Christmas Day. However, if you’re expecting it to be perfect, you’re going to be disappointed every time. As much as you want it to be, Christmas is never perfect. There is always something that can and will go wrong. Whether it’s burning Christmas dinner, or your kids starting to argue, you’ll have a lot of things threatening your perfect day.
So, let go of perfection at Christmas. It’s more than likely not going to run smoothly. However, that’s all part of the Christmas experience. The fewer expectations you have, the happier you’ll be. You’ll also avoid getting stressed with the family if they aren’t following your perfect Christmas narrative.
Provide Plenty of Entertainment
A sure-fire way to avoid family arguments is to make sure there’s plenty of entertainment. A lot of arguments can start out of sheer boredom. So, have lots of activities and entertainment available to suit everyone. Movies, board games and music are all great things to do at Christmas. So, stock up on the entertainment and make sure there’s something to do to suit all age ranges.
While you might not be able to eliminate family arguments completely at Christmas, the above tips will at least reduce them. If certain members of the family don’t get along and cause trouble every year, consider having them over at different times. That way, they won’t run into each other, but they’ll still get to enjoy some of the day with you.
