It’s the most wonderful time of the year… (I’m sure there’s a song there somewhere!)

You can’t deny Christmas is magical. The crisp air is filled with the aroma of mulled wine, scented candles, and festive street food.

The sparkle of tinsel, glitter and Christmas lights dominate shop windows, and Christmas music fills the air. Cheesy jumpers are perfectly acceptable, and chocolate for breakfast is no longer frowned upon, but encouraged, thanks to your [insert brand here] advent calendar. 

But for many, it can also be a time of stress, worry and concern. 

Memories of friends and family long gone, finding the time (and money) to buy suitable presents for the world and his wife, working out how you will fit 14 family members around your table of eight… and don’t get me started on the food. 

Cooking a Sunday roast for four is stressful enough!

If you’re anything like me, you want Christmas to be Pinterest perfect. But realistically, it’s not always possible. 

So, perhaps controversially, I’m here to tell you to stop. Stop trying to be perfect. Stop thinking of everyone else. And definitely stop trying to make 28 homemade Yorkshire puddings (yes, the four minute Aunt Bessie ones will be fine – trust me, you’ll need the oven space!).

An empty tank will take you nowhere

If you’re reading this, then chances are you work in finance, marketing, or both. Both of those can be pretty stressful careers, and might not leave you a lot of time for other things, like actually having a life. 

We all have a lot going on, and often things others know nothing about.

Taking time out for you to breathe, do things you enjoy and see people who make you smile is vital for your wellbeing, preventing burnout, and protecting your sanity!

The days are long, but the years are short

The average lifespan for us Brits is 83 years.

A pretty long time, right?

Broken down into Christmases, that means you’ll get to live through 83 Christmas days to spend with loved ones. 

Bearing in mind you probably haven’t got a clue about the first two or three, let’s say 80 that you have a chance at remembering, and making memories for. 

Back to work life, 80 days is 16 weeks, or roughly four months. 

80 days in work terms is nothing. 80 Christmases = everything. 

Make sure you prioritise spending the right time with the right people. After all, when all is said and done, your work can (reluctantly) replace you. Your family can’t. 

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted

People bang on about kindness, but rarely practise what they preach. 

Being kind doesn’t just mean being kind to others, it means being kind to yourself too!

We can be our own worst enemy, and say things to ourselves that we’d never dream of saying to others. Instead, try and be your own cheerleader. You’re trying your best, and doing a great job!

Focus on being productive instead of being busy 

We all have never ending to-do lists.

Some days, you’ll smash those lists with time to spare.

Other days, no matter how hard you try, you’ll be inundated with jobs, overwhelmed and completely fail at being an adult.

You know what? That’s OK too.

Giving yourself a break if you’ve had a rough day. Make time to get your nails done/ buy a new Xbox game/ go to the pub with your mates/ doing what makes you happy, because, guess what? A happier you is a healthier, more productive you.

Keep going, and keep growing

Life is a never-ending learning curve. And with learning, comes mistakes. You can minimise them, but we’re human – there will always be things we didn’t do well, or could have done better. 

Whether it’s taking time out to hone your skills, or simply learning how to make the perfect hot chocolate (your colleagues will thank you for it!), the fact that you’re willing to learn and grow speaks volumes about your character. 

So what can you take away from this?

Just to clarify, I’m not saying a constant lack of effort or consistency on your behalf is the way forward from here on out. 

What I am saying is, your world does revolve around you sometimes. And that’s OK. Because helping others only works if you’re the best you that you can be. You’re no good to anyone if you’re not here to begin with!

Why else do you think you get told to put your oxygen mask on first?

If you’d like to spend more time putting yourself first, and less time worrying about your marketing needs, then you’re in the right place! 

If you’d like to learn more email hi@theyardstickagency.co.uk or call 0115 8965 300.