Just not feeling it this year! Any suggestions?

[Kirst26]

Hi everyone!

Normally I love this time of year but for some reason I am just not feeling it this year. I wont be able to put my tree up until the weekend before Christmas but I have got my fireplace mantle all decorated. I have pulled out my Christmas socks but I just am not feeling at all festive, just tired and frazzled!

Does anyone have any failsafe tips to get me in the festive mood at all?

An early night! You can't feel christmassy when you are frazzled.

After feeling very festive a few weeks ago, I've now lost it and been feeling the same as you after a bout of illness.

What's helping me: Put on some Christmas music (Spotify have good playlists), eat a mince pie or your favourite Christmassy snacks, make a festive drink - something boozy if you drink alcohol. Go for a walk around neighbourhood as the light fades later to see the lights or mooch about the shops somewhere cheerful and soak it all in. Maybe get yourself a little gift (if you can afford it, and it could be something small). Top off with a good Christmas film tonight, more snacks, more booze....

Good luck I hope you feel better :)

I’m the same! Felt quite Christmassy just before the start of advent and now not feeling it at all. Can’t even face decorating or wrapping - it’s most unlike me! Just feel tired and stressed .

I have found playing some Christmas music helps a bit and a Christmassy candle.

Agree though that some early nights are probably the key

I always get a bit tired and grumpy around this time in December.
There's so much to do and it all gets overwhelming. Then I push on through and finish off the last few bits and start to relax and get the Christmassy vibe.

Could you take a day (or few days) off work? Have a lie on and then treat yourself to lunch or coffee and cake somewhere? Maybe put on some Christmas music and start wrapping presents. There's something very exciting about a pile of wrapped presents, even though I know what's in them and none of them are for me. The anticipation of giving, I guess, and hoping that the recipients like them.

Same here. I'm flat out at work (self employed online retailer) so I'm exhausted, and am starting to feel panic rising about all the Christmas things next week and the week after that we couldn't do last year, now being cancelled. I was supposed to be at a party this evening but the host has now to self isolate and it was cancelled at the very last minute. I've made hot choc stirrers this evening instead (boozy ones for the adults) and tomorrow I'm going for a family Christmas film night and hot chocolate. Hopefully that will help. I do have a gingerbread candle on the go that is very festive.

Im not feeling it at all this year. I'd be quite happy if Christmas was cancelled this year. In fact Im totally stressed atm but when I rationalise it I dont know why. It's DH birthday this week and I havent bought him anything (as he told me not to). Im hoping I'll feel better when his birthday is over and I just have to think if Christmas. Although now stressing that ive left it too late to order anything over the internet. I cant believe Im saying this but I'd even be okay if I caught covid now. It would be the perfect excuse not to have to think about Christmas.

We’re not having Christmas this year and I am so relieved! I have had a hideous 18 months with no signs of it getting better and quite frankly I cba to pretend to be festive and jolly.
I will cook a Christmas dinner but beyond that I haven’t written a single card or bought any presents (family all in full agreement so no one’s getting huffy) and the Christmas tree we drag out every year has gone to the recycling centre.
I’m not being bah humbug, I just don’t need the ridiculous amount of pressure we usually inflict on ourselves every sodding year!

It’s bad enough with 15 birthdays and anniversaries between November and New Year!

Probably best to just accept how you feel, you can still take comfort in the food, the lights, the days off (if you get them), the films.

We are complicated emotional beings, and bullying yourself into a specific mood is unhealthy. Kindness - to yourself- is a good aim.

Majaso, I can see how annoying it all is but I also suspect DD feels stuck in between and may not feel confident enough to speak up to the parents. I'm guessing bf parents may have no idea of all this. But not sure why bf is not sorting it out for her. He should have a word with his parents and explain the situation.
I still don't know when my 2 are coming home....they would need picking up from the station as awful public transport where I live. And uh, I do have other things to do than being taxi driver, like working.....

Oh, not sure how I ended up on this thread???????.mobiles .....

@delilahbucket fellow online retailer here also not feeling very festive!

Thanks for the responses everyone! I agree I need to sleep, I am just exhausted and drained at the moment but I am going to try all of your suggestions out :)

I agree with the suggestion of accepting how you feel rather than trying to force anything.

Good luck

@CatrinVennastin today is the absolute pits for awful customers. I've really been pushed to the brink this morning. It was about this time last year I broke too.
Sending strength and patience to all of my fellow retail business owners.

I've managed to book half a day off work tomorrow so I am going to get super cosy and watch Christmas films :)

I’ve given up this year it’s not doing it for me too depressed to care really sick of H this years broken me.

This is a list of tips

Buy a Christmas advent calendar
Write out a Christmas shopping list
Order or make Christmas cards etc
Attend a wreath making workshop
Embark on a drive in order to see the festive lights in town
Take part in a festive service
Get a festive gift
Put on some Xmas movies and music
Make some mulled wine and mince pies
Decorate the house completely
Display candy canes in a bowl on a table
Hang up a wreath on your front door
Wrap up all the presents
Bake a Christmas cake
Put up a tree
Light a Xmas candle
Prepare some festive activities and so on
Do a Christmas quiz/photo shoot competition
Look at Christmas books online
Invite friends to a Christmas party
Do a Christmas hamper

@languagelover96

This is a list of tips

Buy a Christmas advent calendar
Write out a Christmas shopping list
Order or make Christmas cards etc
Attend a wreath making workshop
Embark on a drive in order to see the festive lights in town
Take part in a festive service
Get a festive gift
Put on some Xmas movies and music
Make some mulled wine and mince pies
Decorate the house completely
Display candy canes in a bowl on a table
Hang up a wreath on your front door
Wrap up all the presents
Bake a Christmas cake
Put up a tree
Light a Xmas candle
Prepare some festive activities and so on
Do a Christmas quiz/photo shoot competition
Look at Christmas books online
Invite friends to a Christmas party
Do a Christmas hamper

Exhausted just reading that

🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️Agreed.

@Holothane

I’ve given up this year it’s not doing it for me too depressed to care really sick of H this years broken me.

and a nap

Thank you for flowers cake and hot chocolate I’d love this.

I was really looking forward to advent and Christmas but now I feel like I'm just going through the motions. My DS is 5, and is wonderful and an absolute joy, I'm doing it for him.

But we lost his baby brother last November at 21 weeks and his baby sister last week at 15 weeks. The effort of just keeping going is exhausting.

I'm going to wrap DSs presents this week, and the elf is a daily thing he loves. I'm watching Christmas eve box videos on YouTube and trying to just keep balanced and get festive. DS is so worth it, and I will absolutely not sully his Christmas memories with my grief.

@HeyFloof

I was really looking forward to advent and Christmas but now I feel like I'm just going through the motions. My DS is 5, and is wonderful and an absolute joy, I'm doing it for him.

But we lost his baby brother last November at 21 weeks and his baby sister last week at 15 weeks. The effort of just keeping going is exhausting.

I'm going to wrap DSs presents this week, and the elf is a daily thing he loves. I'm watching Christmas eve box videos on YouTube and trying to just keep balanced and get festive. DS is so worth it, and I will absolutely not sully his Christmas memories with my grief.

Really sorry to hear this, you must be exhausted

You're a really top tier mum to keep on doing the elf etc. when you must be wanting to crawl under a blanket.