1. Its OK to prioritise yourself
Social situations can be overwhelming, mandatory family gatherings especially so. It’s OK to make time for yourself. It’s OK to turn down invitations or to leave when you need to. Try telling them you would love to but you’re not feeling great or you’re tired. Offer to arrange something for after Christmas and New Year when the pressure is off a bit if you want to.
2. Be careful of social media and advertising
Social media can be a cesspit at the best of times but during Christmas it can be especially tough. We all have a family member or friend who posts pics of the mountains of presents they have bought their children or their perfectly festive home. This makes us feel inadequate if our life is not quite ‘insta ready’.Try to limit exposure to TV advertising in the run up to and during Christmas and New Year. Opt for channels without ads or mute the TV during the ad breaks, use a streaming service if you already have one.
3. Find a minute to be creative
Whether it’s decorating, flower arranging or cooking – choosing to put your phone away and finding a creative task that makes you feel good is a proven way to wave goodbye to anxiety and say hello to a clear mind!
4. Find the light
During darker days, open the curtains wide, have breakfast by a window, and walk in the light where you can. This contributes to setting your circadian rhythm, which will help you sleep at night.
5. Up your B vitamins
B vitamins may have mood-boosting properties so aim for a diet rich in B12, B6 and folic acid during the Christmas rush. Find them in seafood, green leafy veg and whole grains.
6. Try a worry download
Get your notebook out and write down everything on your mind. It all needs to go somewhere so best to get it out onto the page. Once you see it right in front of you, you can see how mindless some of those worries might be.
7. Try an anxiety-reducing exercise class
Exercise classes can encourage you to leave all thoughts of shopping and present-wrapping at the door and focus on yourself. A Pilates class often includes breathing techniques to slow your busy mind, positive affirmations and relaxing yoga poses.
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8. Avoid the perfection pitfall
Stress is the gap between expectations and reality – If you’re trying to create the perfect Christmas, you could be setting yourself up for stress rather than satisfaction. While it’s fine to have a vision driving your Christmas plans, hold that vision lightly. Sometimes just letting things happen is the key.
9. Keep your options open
If we are prepared with the mindset of having fluid plans which may change, this means we can see the options and possibilities rather than only seeing the options which aren’t possible. This can help our stress levels and mental health as we can reschedule and do it another time.
10. Take time to escape
Remember to take little moments to chill and recharge. How can you enjoy yourself properly if you’re always exhausted? Schedule in some quiet time for yourself; a run, mindful walk by the sea or a hot bath are great ideas, to make sure and resting.
11. Pause to remember
The Christmas season can be especially difficult for those who have lost loved ones. Make space for your grief, take all the time you need, and let people know how you feel – they will understand.
12. Perspective
This may seem a pessimistic thought, but Christmas is just one day. A day we put a lot of pressure and hype on and often it might not quite deliver!
So what if we rephrase Christmas Day as a time for sending loving thoughts and sitting down for a lovely meal together?
Leading up to Christmas people often tend to say to me “I must do…., I need to find time to….., I need to keep everyone else happy….”
That sounds like a lot of pressure and taking responsibility for other peoples happiness. Instead, share the load and ask for help, or just remember that the meal is what you want to make it, not what others or Christmas adverts dictate.
13. Music
The power of music to change our mood is often under rated. So if you are feeling stressed, anxious, under pressure why not create a playlist of tunes which help to lift your mood and have you smiling or even dancing around the kitchen.
14. Breathe Deeply
People who are feeling stressed, anxious or under pressure often breathe very shallowly and from the chest. Just take 3 deep breaths in and out. Allowing your tummy and chest to expand as you breath in and fall as you breathe out. This can help us feel calmer, more relaxed and able to continue with what we need to get done.
15. Christmas Mantra
If you are someone who often finds themselves focusing on the negative try finding a positive saying that you can silently repeat to yourself to help you feel less stressed and anxious.
Some people find just saying breathing in calm and breathing out calm helps. Even when it feels difficult to say or you don’t quite believe it the more you say it the easier it is. Give it a go – you can make up your own just keep it positive and open to possibilities.
16. Tell people how you feel
When you’re feeling down sometimes the last thing you want to do is talk to someone but it really does help. Talking through how you feel can help you feel less anxious about it and can also help your friends and family to be more supportive.
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