Have yourself a Merry Christmas with these 12 stress-relieving tips
Christmas is a time for family and friends and perhaps caring for those who can’t arrange things for themselves, like young children or older relatives. Remind yourself of how kind and caring you are being if you are doing a lot of the arranging, funding or hosting, and make sure you treat yourself after it’s over.
Learn to breathe in ways that switch off your stress response and truly get you to relax. Check out how to do this.
Are you a bah humbug person when it comes to Christmas? Be aware of unhelpful thoughts about Christmas derailing you, causing more stress and frustration, influencing how you behave, and affecting those around you. Relationship breakdowns are not unusual at Christmas. So, speak to those close to you before Christmas, express yourself carefully and thoughtfully and see what can be changed to make it something you want to be engaged with.
Light is part of the Christmas vibe, and smells are very powerful, so light candles with favourite aromas to evoke different moods, whether you want to be energised, sensual, calm or relaxed. Zone into the moment with the smell and the sight of that candle and even ten minutes will be restorative.
Donate food or blankets to homeless charities, volunteer time to those in need and give something different this Christmas.
Eat well, but keep an eye on balance and moderation. Keep an eye on alcohol consumption levels and if you’re prone to low moods or anxiety try not to exceed recommended guidelines. Save the indulgence for Christmas day and Boxing day, and try not to buy too much, using the incentive of saving some money.
Dismiss any self-critical thoughts in favour of some loving kindness towards yourself! Remind yourself of your good heart and good intentions. Try listening to this exercise.
Think carefully about how you communicate what you would like to do or not do over the month so that you have the support of your nearest and dearest. If you complain easily then it sets you up for an argument, but if you express calmly how you are feeling first about the situation and follow up with what you need, you are more likely to get a supportive response.
Keep physically active to burn off excess calories and to keep the endorphins flowing. This doesn’t have to be a five-mile run or a long gym session, it can be sorting the winter gardening jobs, or going for a winter walk.
If Christmas is a tough time for you, find someone to share this with so that you can talk it through. Expressing thoughts and feelings improves self-awareness and understanding, lifting your mood. Along with the support of a listening friend, it can really help.
If a lot of the Christmas work falls to you, don’t wait for the rush to start and do some preparation and organisation, including getting others to help you by delegating some tasks out!
Finally, set aside a moment to be grateful for this traditional break in the winter to gather with loved ones in the warmth and share our food. Back through the ages, this winter celebration has given a much-needed boost, and still can, if we get our priorities right.