Managing the challenges of Christmas

Sharon O’Dell

1st December 2025

3 min read

The excitement and anticipation that comes along with Christmas Time is sometimes overwhelming for those with ADHD.

With the disruption of daily schedules, you and/or your child may suffer at home, school or work and the impact of ADHD symptoms may be disastrous.

Those that are normally hyperactive may become even more so .
Those that are easily distracted will find it even more difficult to stay focused on mundane tasks.
Those that are impulsive may find their impulsiveness increases.

Look at pictures from a previous Christmas

If Christmas is stressful for you, this will provide reassurance and help you to come to terms with how everything looks different:

From the lights in town to the decorations in the home.
For people who struggle to cope with change, just moving the furniture to fit the tree in may cause a meltdown

The impact of ADHD on being organised

This time of the year is all about being organised and being a disorganised person with ADHD is stressful.

Not only does it annoy the people in your life who pick up the pieces, but it can also make you feel out of control, overwhelmed, and swamped.

Many people with ADHD struggle to:

prioritise figure out what to do next

They may feel overwhelmed and/or hopeless

Getting started on your to-do list can feel overwhelming, but the first step, prioritising those Christmas tasks is easier than you might think:

Ask yourself

“Which one thing, if I got it done right now, would make me feel better?”

That’s where you start!

The following tips may help you to have that
Merry Christmas we all wish for…

Consider using a Christmas gift app to keep you on track, such as ‘Gift list’

especially useful for managing over-spending!

Help your children – and you – to see the progression of time

An Advent calendar counting down, helps to see the big day getting closer.
It doesn’t have to be chocolate!
But be prepared – it may not prevent them from obsessing about getting
the things on their Christmas lists
For some children with ADHD, waiting for Christmas may be a challenge
beyond their capabilities
When they say, “I can’t wait for Christmas” they mean it literally!
Combine a calendar with a reward system – where they earn extra trips or
treats for successes or good behaviour

Make a holiday calendar to be on display

Play rehearsals, Christmas parties, Church services – School routine has
suddenly changed
Christmas drinks, Secret Santa, Office Parties – Work routine has
suddenly changed
Present shopping, visiting relatives, being visited, strangers saying Merry
Christmas – Home routine has suddenly changed
Make sure you include school events such as Christmas parties, plays and
assemblies on your calendar
Use the calendar to keep track of visits to friends and relatives, as well as
times you plan to do Christmas shopping and wrapping presents
include down-time!
Remember to include a plan – with rules – for the big day
If you have children, get them involved in creating the calendar

Be proactive in your approach

Think back to previous celebrations

For you:

If you found yourself in a situation you couldn’t handle, do you know what
caused it?
Is there any way you think you can avoid a repetition of a difficult situation?
What tends to trigger you/ your panic attacks?
Once you know the triggers, you can work on avoiding them and be better
prepared to deal with issues when they arise
Talk through with your partner/friend before each event about what to expect
and what your expectations are

For those with children:

Think about what problems may develop and determine if your expectations fit the situation
If necessary, shorten the time of a visit with friends or relatives
Talk with your child before each event about what to expect and what your
expectations are
Be prepared with extra snacks or extra clothing that you know your child will like/need

Be understanding of your child’s extremes

They may not be as reasonable in their demands, or their impulsiveness may
lead to making more requests for gifts
Take time to talk with them about their expectations and what Christmas
means to your family
Some children become overwhelmed by the stimuli of sounds, sights and activities they can’t filter out
They might become more irritable and tearful, or could just as easily become overly active and wild
Many will complain that it is too noisy or busy and that their head hurts

Maintain routines

Keep your household rules in place as much as possible.
Schedule events around your family routine, energy levels, interests and capability.
Make sure you maintain sleep routines.
Keep giving your children chores and responsibilities around the house – just because they have no school, it doesn’t mean they have no chores!
Tip: chores build life skills

Medication

If you or your child take medication for ADHD, don’t stop it without considering the following:

Any break from medication should be done under the supervision of your/your child’s clinician.
If you/your child are particularly hyperactive, those symptoms are likely to come back if you stop medication. So the “medication holiday” can turn into a bad experience for both child and parent.
You/your child are likely to need medication to cope with the increased noise, activity, and excitement of the season.
Plan behavioural strategies to deal with your child’s individual ADHD behaviours.
Remember that medication may work less well when there is more stimulation.

Think about the invitation you have received before accepting

Is this a place you will all feel comfortable and accepted?
Is this a place where you can excuse yourself or your child for a short time to allow yourself a few minutes to calm down if you need it?
You do not need to accept every invitation; it is okay to decline if it isn’t in your family’s best interest.

Make sure your child understands that there are different rules in different households

When visiting friends and relatives, let your child know ahead of time what behaviour is expected in that house.
Talk with your child before you enter the house.
You may want to shorten visits if you see that your child is not handling the situation well.
Provide pre-established ‘escape routes’ for your child in any situation that may become overwhelming:

the car on a shopping trip
another room in a house
a designated person who can help to distract them

Visiting at mealtimes

Ask ahead what the menu will be.

If there are not any foods your child will like, bring along dinner for them or make sure to feed your child dinner before you go – Your child will be much better behaved if they are fed.
Some children – and adults may have narrow food preferences.
No matter what the person with ADHD may enjoy or not enjoy eating, be wary of excess sugar intake when Christmas treats seem to be everywhere.
When sugary foods are consumed regularly, it can affect behaviour, attention span and learning ability, and can aggravate hyperactivity.

The BIG DAY

Opening presents

Don’t give too many presents at once
It can overstimulate and overwhelm an ADHD child – or adult
Pace your present giving gradually over a few hours or if necessary, days
Keep any you are holding back out of sight so your child is not constantly asking for them

Christmas Dinner

If you or your child have big issues with food or sitting at the table it can be the most stressful part of Christmas as the pressure is on for the family to sit all together. It would be wonderful for you all to be sat at the table for Christmas Dinner, but……

Many people with ADHD struggle to remain at the table
They may see it as just another meal time, but with more people adding to their stress levels
Especially if they do not normally sit at the table or eat this particular food the rest of the year
Hyperactive? -During those endlessly long, seated dinners, allow the adult or child with get up frequently or even help serve the meal
Impulsive child? – Other children running around and the high pace of activity might lead a child to do and say things without thinking – you might need to provide increased supervision during the least structured times
Easily distracted with a short attention span? – Sit your child next to you to help refocus if necessary, or sit yourself next to someone who understands your condition

It’s the most challenging time of the year!

Don’t make it harder on yourself by trying to tick all the boxes of what we are “supposed” to do at Christmas time
Remove the “should’s” and “supposed to’s” from your Christmas
Don’t worry about what makes other people’s holidays meaningful, think about what can make yours a time to make memories with your family
Create new traditions that work with what you and your child can handle
You don’t have to be traditionless, just creative
Even with the best-laid plans, you may see some regression and worsening ADHD symptoms over the holidays
Give yourself a break for not being able to magically avoid it
It is a good idea to set realistic expectations and ‘success criteria’ up front
Be ready to hold your ground in as calm, firm, and consistent a manner as possible

…….and have a wonderful Christmas!

You might find our Resources page useful for supporting you and your family access places to help:

Written by Sharon O’Dell

1st December 2025 , Thanks for reading.