It's all getting a bit much...

Just cancel Christmas this year. Get some nice turkey slices from the deli counter of a good deli or good supermarket, where you see it sliced off the bone, a few potatoes and sprouts. perhaps some pigs in blankets or stuffing - and there is your Christmas dinner.

Order up a book you always wanted to read or a DVD, or stream something you have always wanted to watch.

Cancel the social commitments - if necessary tell everyone you have COVID, or bubonic plague, or measles. Turn the heating up and have a nice quiet day on your own with a nice easily prepared Christmas lunch just indulging in little pleasures, perhaps some chocs, a tinned gin and tonic and after a quiet relaxed day. You will feel so much better on Boxing day.

Lots of support and good advice here keepingquiet but for me, 10/10 and the prize for the best is from M0nica.

Everyone else can see to their own Christmas, it's not up to you to make it special for them so do whatever you need to do, to make it special and doable for you .

M0nica gives sensible advice.

It's your christmas too, do what you need to in order to keep well.

Hello Keepingquiet.. I wonder if you have SAD (seasonal affective disorder).. thought to be caused by lack of sunshine.. you could look it upon google.. a friend of mine got it every winter until she bought herself a lightbox which really helped her..
I personally wouldn't worry about doing housework or preparations.. Just be your usual self and enjoy the people you see over Christmas.. they just want to see you... and if your sister doesn't then enjoy yourself somewhere else with treats... take the pressure off yourself, it is only yourself setting all these gaols...

I would just get one of those frozen all in one meals that Birds Eye do (probably other supermarkets too) and bung it in the oven. I used to do that years ago when I was on my own. Put the tv on and keep warm.

Everyone else can do all that rushing around getting frazzled. I was in Tesco yesterday and I'm sure there's more madness each year that passes.

You don’t need a good shake love. You need to put yourself first you are not feeling well. Your family members need to help especially your son. Be like me lol do what you can and nothing more don’t make yourself more stressed it’s two days. The decs are unimportant just put very few up. It’s ridiculous how ppl put so much pressure on themselves and get themselves in a two and eight. Ask your family for some help. Don’t cancel seeing your friends it will lift you up a bit. They probably feeling the same way! Be gentle on yourself. And good luck the more you worry the worse you will be . Have a lovely Xmas x

Viral infections do this to us.

Your world will not come to an end if you neglect any or all of your chores. However if you can manage to pick out a priority or two--

I think I would tell my family to stop making demands, kp, and tell them I'm not doing Christmas this year except, were I religious (which I'm not), maybe going to midnight mass.

None of the excess is compulsory. do what you can cope with and what you want to do.

I'm sorry you are feeling like this. I agree with what others have said. Do the minimum of chores. In the scheme of things housework doesn't matter. I took feel overwhelmed and was also recently at the docs in tears. Not over Christmas but life in general. It's all very difficult. Not helped by me and DH finding a man dead in the street a couple of weeks ago.

So much truth here. However, I have done no housework for 4 days! I have got the hoover out now and done a bit of dusting.
I do need to chill out and count my many blessings.

Things will pass between me and my son and I am sure all will be well.

Nothing a cup of tea and some quiet music won't harm.

Thankyou all for your understanding.

No, it’s def not you! This time of year overwhelms many of us.

My house is a tip, I’ve got presents but not wrapped, I’m struggling just a tad.

However, for me at least there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

6 adults live in our household, one is a Chef and is off on Christmas Day so has offered to cook lunch and they also decorated and put up the tree.

I truly hope you get sorted and don’t be scared to ask friend/family for some help/support. Good luck

Kate1949

I'm sorry you are feeling like this. I agree with what others have said. Do the minimum of chores. In the scheme of things housework doesn't matter. I took feel overwhelmed and was also recently at the docs in tears. Not over Christmas but life in general. It's all very difficult. Not helped by me and DH finding a man dead in the street a couple of weeks ago.

Ooh how awful for you both x

M0nica

Just cancel Christmas this year. Get some nice turkey slices from the deli counter of a good deli or good supermarket, where you see it sliced off the bone, a few potatoes and sprouts. perhaps some pigs in blankets or stuffing - and there is your Christmas dinner.

Order up a book you always wanted to read or a DVD, or stream something you have always wanted to watch.

Cancel the social commitments - if necessary tell everyone you have COVID, or bubonic plague, or measles. Turn the heating up and have a nice quiet day on your own with a nice easily prepared Christmas lunch just indulging in little pleasures, perhaps some chocs, a tinned gin and tonic and after a quiet relaxed day. You will feel so much better on Boxing day.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

I'm sure you could find a cleaner for a one off pre christmas clean, finances permitting, of course.

A lot have offers on at this time of year as they have spare hours free.

I really have to blame the avalanche of articles scattered through magazines and newspapers about "How To Have The Perfect Family Christmas!"
They harp on about how everything has to be so just right on that particular day. Family tableau glossy spreads are very deceptive - they're cobbled together by regiments of stylists and photographers sometime about July!

Isn't outright lying like that against some sort of Advertising Standards Authority rules?

mae13

I really have to blame the avalanche of articles scattered through magazines and newspapers about "How To Have The Perfect Family Christmas!"
They harp on about how everything has to be so just right on that particular day. Family tableau glossy spreads are very deceptive - they're cobbled together by regiments of stylists and photographers sometime about July!

Isn't outright lying like that against some sort of Advertising Standards Authority rules?

I rarely buy magazines and certainly not at Christmas. I agree the constant articles on the perfect Christmas are nauseating.
Over the years we’ve had a variety of Christmases, I’m absolutely sure non of them were perfect, but most of them fun!

It’s such a shame that Christmas is imbued with such emotional baggage, and adverts hyping 5he perfect family don’t help. Oh to have the less commercial consumer simple holiday of the past, with fewer expectations.

firstly look after yourself including take some paracetamol, a hot drink and a sit down.
while you are sat down get a notepad and pen, write down what needs doing
if you have kids and a hubby get them to put up your decs they may not be perfect but hey they will be done. if that is not an option stick the tree up then dont worry so much about the rest of it for now
do online shopping much easier
and finally a nice glass of wine!

It's not you.
I gave a flare up of sciatica at the moment,coming down stairs is a trial,shopping is out of the question and stressing about that. Just tell everyone your jot feeling the edge and ask them to help out. Hope you feel better soon.

Go to a Cooks and get a ready prepared Christmas dinner to cook. Or Marks and Sparks. It will keep in the freezer.
Don’t worry too much about the decorations just yet. Years ago no one put them up till Christmas Eve and you still have a week to go. I too am in overwhelmed mode atm so I tell myself these things to cope.

There's stuff going on in the background I can't talk about. I think I don't handle stress in the same ways I used to.

I will message my sister about Christmas dinner later but for now I'm enjoying my granddaughters company surrounded by complete chaos and mess! It isn't bothering anyone else so why should it be bothering me? That's the way I see it now.

Thanks for letting me offload.

That's the ticket. I always feel better once I've given up hope.
Just go with the flow.

I’m so sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed at the moment, but having a viral infection and suffering a recent bereavement are taking their toll on you.

I think there has been some excellent advice proffered here for you, and I hope that you can use some of it.

I’m sorry, too, that you have had a row with your son, which must be upsetting you, and probably affecting you even more because you are run down and grieving.

It sounds as if this year you would prefer to spend Christmas Day at home? If so, then may I suggest you do just that - Monica has given a brilliant idea for a quick, yet still festive lunch. Perhaps also buy yourself a mini Christmas pudding (if you like it) or another special dessert and perhaps a half bottle of wine if you enjoy a seasonal tipple with the Xmas lunch, perhaps a box of special chocolates as a treat, too.

Use your infection as a very valid reason to turn down social events (and also the visit to your sister for Christmas Day). Indulge yourself this one time, and do what you want.

If the decorations go up, great; but if not, don’t worry. Only do the very necessary tidying up and cleaning and shut the door on the rest until you feel stronger.

I hope that you soon feel brighter, but try not to let all these external pressures we are bombarded with to do this, that or the other for the “perfect” Christmas spoil what should be a special time of year.

💐💐

Well my day got a whole load worse... I just can't cope with the chaos anymore...

Is it mostly the house that's getting to you right now?
I know you've other, more important stuff going on, but mess is very wearing,on top of that.