These 7 Tips May Help Make A Christmas At Home Much More Peaceful

In the grand scheme of things, something I've learned is that, in this life, you cannot control other people's actions, but you can control your own actions and, more importantly, your reactions. Making the subtle change of responding instead of reacting is a game changer. Instead of reacting by chucking a sprout at uncle Terry after he shares his problematic views on politics, try and change the topic or approach the debate with an even and measured response.

Finding some precious moments of solitude is generally quite a difficult feat in every day life. Now add to that daily challenge to being surrounded by people you seldom see who have a gazillion questions. Although there's no denying that this can be a lovely thing, it can also get a bit anxiety inducing. As the Telegraph writes, "If guests are squeezed into smaller spaces than they’re used to (think four people squeezed on to a three-man sofa to watch a film of someone else’s choosing), and if there’s nowhere to calm down or be alone for a while, emotions are liable to run high."

Take time to find some space. Maybe delving into a new book or going for a brisk wintery walk. You'll be amazed how much better you feel and, real talk, how much better company you'll be too.

Something that's super interesting when you reflect on more, shall we say, difficult interpersonal communication break downs is there's usually a sort of build up or switch when things go south. Be wary of these and try to steer away from them.

Endless amounts of booze that you've potentially not had to pay for is the contemporary version of Eve and that damn apple. And this Eve has eaten a whole bushel of apples, figuratively speaking, and suffered the consequences.

Be conscious of what you're drinking, how often your glass is being filled up, and what drinks just don't serve you very well.

Even if someone is saying something you seriously disagree with, let them finish. The BBC reports that author of book How To Argue Jonathan Herring, who's also an Oxford University law professor, says butting in can cause butting of heads. "When you interrupt someone you are essentially saying you don't want to hear what they are saying and that creates a bad atmosphere," Herring explains.

So less butts, more ears. Respectfully disagree and move on.

Although it can be difficult to try and rally the troops and not be referred to as bossy (let's be real, it's only women that get called bossy) it can prevent a surge in seething resentment.

There's a whole load of help needed to pull off a big meal, to clean, to shop, to tidy up. So make sure that people all get involved so nobody feels hard done by.

As someone who openly loathes and despises Christmas and all of its pressures, this thought soothes me a great deal. Yes it's hard to get involved with traditions that are no longer yours and boy oh boy it's hard not to regress to your former childhood, grumpy self. Respect your own boundaries and those of the people around you and feel the weight of the season lift from your shoulders.

Hopefully all of the above should ensure a relatively peaceful Christmas time at home for you. But, remember, if Christmas with your family feels like too much to bear, take a step back and think about your mental health. If spending Christmas with friends, a partner, or even by yourself, feels like a better option, maybe that's the one you should go for.