Men: 3 Genuinely Useful Tips for Surviving Christmas

Published by Alison Wem on

Christmas can be confusing territory for men.

There are:

  • strong opinions
  • emotional undercurrents
  • unspoken rules
  • and conversations that seem to mean more than the words being used

Here are three tips that actually help.

1. Don’t try to fix it
If someone is stressed, upset, or overwhelmed, resist the urge to solve the problem. Often, what’s needed is not a solution, but attention.

2. Read the room, not the schedule
Christmas isn’t just about logistics. It’s about atmosphere. Notice when things are getting tense and take a pause — even a small one can change the tone.

3. Be present, not perfect
You don’t need the right words. You just need to show up. Listening counts. Small kindnesses count. Putting your phone down counts more than you think.

Surviving Christmas isn’t about doing it right.
It’s about doing it together — imperfectly.

If you feel the season brings unexpected tension or challenge, you might also appreciate this reflection on responding with wisdom and inner strength:
Responding with Wisdom: Finding Strength in Life’s Tough Moments

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It can be joyful.
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For some, this season brings connection and familiarity. For others, it carries loneliness, grief, or mixed emotions. Often, both experiences exist side by side. Christmas does not arrive the same way for everyone.

Meaning at this time of year is not created through effort. It is found through attention.

Slowing down, even briefly, allows something different to surface. A conversation that matters. A small kindness. A quiet understanding that needs no explanation.

When we release the pressure to make Christmas “special,” space opens for something more honest. Presence replaces performance. Care replaces comparison.

These are not grand gestures. They are small, human choices. And they shape how the season is remembered.

🌱 Practice for the week

Choose one moment this week to be fully present.
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The deeper truths of Christmas are not found in what we achieve, but in how we show up — for ourselves and for one another.

If this season feels complex, you may also appreciate…

Responding with Wisdom: Finding Strength in Life’s Tough Moments

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Life Lessons

Women: The (Unofficial) Guide to Surviving Christmas

At some point in December, many women discover they have become the invisible project manager of Christmas.

Suddenly, you are:

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None of this was in the job description.

Christmas, for women, often comes with an unspoken expectation to make it magical. To keep the plates spinning, the traditions intact, and everyone vaguely content — preferably without looking tired.

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The real survival skill this season is remembering that your presence matters more than your performance.

Need more ideas on surviving Christmas? Try Christmas Is Nearly Here… Feeling Panicky?

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Life Lessons

Year’s End Reflections: Kindness, Community, and New Beginnings

Every year around this time, I notice the same quiet contrast.

We talk a lot about togetherness

And yet, just beneath that, there’s often a sense of who is missing. A chair not filled. A conversation that didn’t quite happen. A message that might have been sent, but wasn’t.

Year’s end reflections tend to surface these things. Not loudly, but persistently.

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🌱 Practice for the week

Notice one moment where inclusion is possible — and choose it, simply.

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Sometimes the most meaningful way to mark the year’s turning with a small act of care, offered quietly.

Further food for thought: Gentle Practices to Return to Presence


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