Christmas and the holiday season can be a stressful time for many people who are juggling multiple responsibilities, and find the extra pressures of hosting or preparing for a Christmas event stressful. Reasons for stress can include financial pressures in buying gifts for family and friends; time pressures in getting all the cooking, baking, shopping and decorating done; feeling busy and rushed with many work and family Christmas events and possible travel during the holiday period. There can also be the challenge of coping with more difficult emotions, such as feeling alone at Christmas time, or spending time with relatives whom you dislike.
Here are Compass Psychology’s Top five Tips for looking after yourself this holiday season:
- Get enough sleep – schedule in time to catch up after those late night Christmas parties.
- Eat well – while some fear the ‘indulgent’ eating of the Christmas period, really it’s just one or two extra-large meals. Say no to some of the extra sweets, snacks or drinks. and eat regular, healthy meals as much as possible.
- Moderate your alcohol consumption – where possible, pace your drinking so that you don’t consume more than 2 or 3 drinks per day. Excessive alcohol use can have a devastating effect on your mood and sleep, and, as a consequence, sometimes negatively affect your relationships with other people.
- Try to schedule in some regular exercise, even just short walks are helpful.
- Take a break, breathe, and be aware of your mental state.
We hope you have a wonderful holiday season!