Perfectionism is one of the main causes of festive stress – here’s how to let it go

As we start the countdown to Christmas, clinical psychotherapist Stephanie Regan helps you lay the foundations for a peaceful festive holiday

Clinical psychotherapist Stephanie Regan

Stephanie Regan

Surveys tell us that 51pc of women report stress during the Christmas period and that perfectionism is considered to be one of the major causes of that stress. Christmas perfectionism is a reality, but there are some steps that you can take to unlock this impulse, and to find yourself a little more at peace with the inevitable imperfections of this time of year.

There’s a lot of perfection around us! Pictures of the perfect Christmas are everywhere, and while you are being urged toward perfection and having high standards for Christmas, you’ve got to know when enough is enough and where to draw the line.