It’s that time of year again and I’ve heard many people say, “Tis’ the season to be jolly.” Christmas is just around the corner and you realise that you still need to complete the ever-growing shopping list. You look around you, everywhere the lights are sparkling, beautifully decorated Christmas trees in the stores and kids laughing and getting excited about seeing Santa Claus. However, with all the stress of trying to organise everything, the in-laws coming to stay, buying presents for the kids it really doesn’t feel like a jolly time! Every Christmas seems the same, we wait for that one special day that is filled with love that will help us forget about the hard times that we experienced during the year. You are looking forward to spending this special day with family and friends, but you are probably wondering why the lead up to Christmas is the most stressful time of year. Perhaps it can be straightforward after all and you CAN find the time during the run-up to Christmas to relax and reduce the stress levels for a positive and healthy festive season with your family and friends.
Keep reading for my top tips to stay positive and healthy during the festive season to help you keep stress to a minimum and get ready for a magical Christmas filled with love and fun that you deserve.
KEEP YOUR BODY MOVING
If you live in a cold climate Christmas is usually a time when everyone wants to stay indoors eating and celebrating with their families. It’s so easy to want to stay in your pyjamas all day and watch movies until the end of the holidays, however try not to change your routine too much and continue to wake up early and do some exercise, go for a walk, run or do yoga. It may be cold but getting outside in the fresh winter air will help to clear your head, maintain your energy levels and is good for mental health.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Sleep, we all wish we had more of it. I don’t know about you but for me being able to spend a whole day in bed wearing my cozy pyjamas and wrapping myself in my blanket is part of my plan during the holidays. It’s my gift to myself for working hard during the year. Sleep helps to improve my skin and is included in my health goals. Try to get as much sleep as your body needs during the holidays. Some people can sleep for 5 hours and be able to maintain their energy, and some people need to sleep for 7 hours to feel good. Listen to your body and how you feel as getting enough sleep can be beneficial for many reasons such as reducing stress, maintaining a healthy weight and improving your mood.
STAY HYDRATED
Our body needs to stay hydrated to improve energy levels. Drink as much water as you need to help you feel your best. Even though it’s cold outside, don’t forget to stay hydrated and if you don’t like water on it’s own you can try adding some lemon to your water and take regular sips throughout the day. I am so busy that sometimes I forget to drink water so I set timers on my phone to remind me to stay hydrated! If you really don’t like water, then drinking herbal teas all count. Drinking coffee is fine in moderation but remember, don’t over-do it with the caffeine!
MAINTAIN A HEALTHY IMMUNE SYSTEM
More stress can lead to illness and that is the last thing you want for Christmas. Keep your immune system strong to help fight off flu, colds and other viruses. Here are a few things that can help keep your immune system healthy:
- Eat lots of fruit and vegetables, eating healthy food can help your immune system function properly. Balanced meals contribute to increased energy levels, better mood and positivity and overall better quality of life.
- Drink as much water as you need.
- Daily exercise helps to control weight gain, improve your mood, it can also help you deal with stress.
MAKE TIME FOR SELF-CARE
Make time to enjoy alone time and do the things you love. Self-care is even more important during the festive season as we are busy looking after everyone else and we don’t have enough time to look after ourselves.
Try and schedule time for self-care once a week to relax and recharge as this is even more essential if you are spending the holidays with family.
Here are some self-care practices you can try:
- Yoga
- Breathwork
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Massage or facial
- Walk in nature
DRINK LESS ALCOHOL
It’s the festive season and there are many parties with lots of food and alcohol. It’s the time where drinking plenty of mulled wine and many other types of alcohol can quickly have a negative impact on your body. Make a plan before you start drinking and set a limit on how much you will drink and ask yourself: “Do I really need the next drink, or am I drinking just because everyone else is drinking?” Remember you don’t need alcohol to enjoy yourself, but if you want to have a few alcoholic drinks, alternate with non-alcoholic drinks as they can be great alternatives, contain less calories and can reduce the risk of that dreaded hangover.
VOLUNTEERING IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL
Helping others can reduce stress and is good for the soul. If you know of any people that will be alone for Christmas, it’s always nice to check in on them to see if they are okay. You can volunteer at a local charity, or bake some cakes for your elderly neighbours. Do what feels good for you and makes you happy. Christmas is not just about presents but giving our time to help others can have a massive impact on our wellbeing and community.
TRY HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES OF HOLIDAY FOOD
The festive season is a time to unwind and spend time with family and friends, there seem to be endless parties and we conveniently forget our regular healthy habits and schedule. However to continue feeling good throughout the festive season it is important to continue with healthy eating as much as possible.
Plan ahead and continue with a schedule that is enjoyable and helps you relax without being too strict on yourself. After all we only get one life and we don’t have to feel guilty about allowing ourselves to have fun with family and friends and enjoying our time on this planet. For example if you want to eat extra slices of cake during the holidays it won’t be the end of the world for you! Instead of stressing about calories, why not try healthier alternatives like carrot cake, pumpkin pie or gluten free recipes. There are many plant based recipes you can try and healthy eating can taste better too! Allow for some extra indulgences over Christmas, you can continue your healthy routine in January. In the meantime know what makes your body feel good and enjoy yourself.
DEALING WITH FAMILY STRESS
Family gatherings form part of the celebrations and are expected during the festive season. I don’t know who said, “It is the most wonderful time of the year” but for many people the holidays can be the most difficult time of the year as many people are dealing with difficult relationships and family stress. There are many posts of perfect families celebrating the holidays on social media but what they don’t show are their struggles. Many people believe this is reality and this can trigger feelings of loneliness as they are reminded that their own lives are far from perfect. So how do you deal with family pressure and arguments to reduce the holiday stress? Here are some ways to manage family stress and difficult relatives during the festive season:
- Create a plan and how you will respond in stressful situations.
- Spend less time on social media, be aware of your emotions and how you react
- Be realistic, know that your opinions may not always be appreciated.
- Learn to set boundaries and know how to say ‘NO’. You don’t have to agree with everything.
- Don’t take everything personally, family members can trigger feelings, learn to let it go.
- Take time away, go for a walk, long bath, create opportunities for “me” time.
- Be organised and start each day with a plan can help create positive conversations.
- Be grateful for what you have in life and know that EVERYTHING is happening for a reason to help move you to another level in the human experience.
- Be gentle on yourself as you remember loved ones that are no longer here to spend Christmas with you. It’s okay to be sad, get plenty of rest and go out for a walk to help clear your mind.
- If you really don’t want to attend the Christmas family gathering, book a holiday far away. It is YOUR choice what you decide, how YOU want to spend your time.
LISTEN TO YOURSELF
The festive season can be one of the most difficult times of the year or one of the happiest as we spend our time with the people we love and the people that cause stress in our lives. We can stay positive and healthy during the holidays and remember all the things we have to be grateful for to help us get through the difficult moments. Nothing lasts forever, we can learn to manage and deal with the stressful times and know that our relationship with our family and friends is the most important thing we have in our life.