My seasonal gift to you
Well, ‘tis the season as they say. And as the year winds down, we often find ourselves busier than ever, rather than winding down ourselves. Trying to squeeze in meeting friends and family, perhaps there’s work-dos on top of festive preparations - food shopping, presents to buy, the lists go on.
And on top of that, the days are short, and energy often low. It’s all to easy to end up burning the candle at both ends.
This Christmas we’re again facing rising COVID cases, there’s also colds, flu and other respiratory viruses doing the rounds - we need to look after ourselves. Meeting up with family and friends can be stressful enough at the best of times, but when we’re all feeling more tired and anxious things can get a bit snappy!
So my season gift to you is permission to look after yourself over the festive season.
My top tips for looking after yourself are:
Get some sleep - try and stick to a regular bedtime
A good night’s sleep can help improve your mood, it can reduce stress but also improve your concentration and thinking skills so you’re less likely to get into an argument. Sleep can also give your immune system a boost, and keep your heart and body healthy
Get some exercise - out in the fresh air if you can
When daylight hours are both short and busy, and many classes have stopped for two weeks, exercise can drop down the priority list. Try and get out for a walk every day, even if it’s only 10 or 15 minutes - it’ll help clear your mind - and maybe even get you some peace and quiet! Being out in nature and in the fresh air is a proven stress buster.
Be mindful - try and take yourself out of any stressful situations if you can
Mindfulness is about being present and aware in your activities. When we’re feeling under stress we react to situations and sometimes end up feeling worse. When we pause, breathe and respond mindfully we can break the stress cycle.
As a festive treat, I’ve recorded a 5-minute breathing exercise to help when you need to get away for a moment. Try and find yourself somewhere quiet to practise - I’ve been known to do these in the bathroom! Taking time to focus on the breath can help reduce stress and anxiety can calm the mind. You don’t have to feel stressed to do the breathing exercises - you can do them any day (or every day)! You might find the recording easier to listen to using headphones.
Wishing you a peaceful and healthy festive season and see you in January.