Wellbeing Tips to be Happy and Calm this Christmas
Christmas can be a very stressful time for many of us and looking after our wellbeing can be challenging. The key is to not put yourself under too much emotional pressure. Advertising and social media have led us to believe our table should look like the M&S advert (even though Dawn French had a little help from the Christmas fairy) and every room in our house should be decorated like a winter wonderland.
Don’t strive for the perfect Christmas, focus on creating meaningful moments instead.
Here are some Christmas wellbeing tips to help with that:
- Talk – Discuss expectation and plans with family and friends well in advance.
- Limit your budget – Christmas is a time for giving but avoid overspending. Set your budget on how much you will spend on presents, food etc and stick to it.
- Do not feel guilty – Avoid overwhelm. It is perfectly fine to say no to invitations without feeling guilty if you really don’t want to go. Especially on the run up to the big day.
- Look after your mental health – Practice gratitude, every evening before you go to bed write down three things you are grateful for that day. Try not to choose anything generic, instead choose something personal to you, even something as simple as a smile from a stranger.
- Take time out – Find time to meditate, or engage in something that relaxes you like a long bath, reading a book or listening to music. If you need help to unwind, have a listen to my podcast ‘Relaxation With June‘ or take a look at my other resources.
- Get plenty of sleep – Try to keep to a regular sleep pattern to reduce stress and improve your mood.
- Keep Active – We tend to spend more time indoors at this time of year. Make sure you get out for wintery walks as this will help produce endorphins – your brains feel good neurotransmitters.
- Reflect on 2024 – Write a journal about the things you have done, mentioning all the people who have made the year special.
- Plan for 2025 – Set goals for the coming year that excite and inspire you.
Wishing you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
June Brade – Wellbeing Consultant