When you finish work make sure you slow down and catch up with rest and relaxation. It’s time to be kind to yourself. Learn to breathe in ways that switch off your stress response and truly get you to relax.

Light is part of the Christmas vibe, and smells are evocative, so light candles with favourite aromas to evoke different moods, whether you want to be energised, sensual, calm or relaxed. Scent is one of our most powerful senses and can have quite an influence if you’re open and in the moment with the smell and the sight of that candle. Even ten minutes will be restorative.

It’s easy to be self-critical when there is a lot to do and a lot to go wrong at times like Christmas, so remind yourself of your good heart and good intentions and dismiss those self-critical thoughts in favour of some loving kindness towards yourself! Listen here.

Get involved and make a contribution around the Christmas period. 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. Save the indulgence for Christmas day and Boxing day, and try not to buy too much,  using the incentive of saving some money by doing it this way.

Christmas is a time for seeing family and perhaps caring for those who can’t arrange things for themselves like young children or older parents or 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.

If you can, set aside a moment to be grateful for this break in the winter to gather with loved ones in the warmth and share our food. Winter used to be harsh and unforgiving for most families in previous ages and this winter celebration gave a much-needed boost, and still can, if we get our priorities right.

Have a drink and be merry if you want to, but, keep an eye on alcohol consumption levels and if you’re prone to low moods or anxiety try not to exceed recommended guidelines. 

Think carefully about how you communicate what you would like to do or not do over the period, 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, following up with what you need, you are more likely to get a supportive response.  

Keep physically active to burn off excess calories eaten and 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.

Make sure you connect with someone in some way. This could be a deep chat about life with an old friend, or a trip to the theatre or cinema, or even a quick coffee with a mate (restrictions willing).

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 helps us understand ourselves better by hearing these words when we speak them out loud. Along with the support of a listening friend, it can really help. 

Don’t like Christmas? Are you a bah humbug person when it comes to Christmas? Be aware of unhelpful thoughts about Christmas derailing you and causing more stress. Perhaps you think it is far too commercial, or so busy that there is no relaxation or fun.  These thoughts will affect how you feel, causing frustration and even anger. This in turn influences how you behave, affecting those around you. Relationship breakdowns and fall outs 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. 

The best gift you can give yourself for the duration is to let go of any grudges or bad feelings, accepting you can’t control everything but that you do the best you can, and ultimately be kind to yourself.

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!

Look forward to a New Year by making fresh plans and setting some achievable goals. It doesn’t have to be too grand, it might be saving a little each month towards a purchase, or engaging in exercise or hobbies more.