The lead up to Christmas can be hectic, between shopping, preparations, social events, pressures at work, catching colds and perhaps travel. Christmas day can feel like the finish line in a hectic race and an opportunity to down tools, forget about rules, relax, overindulge for the holiday and deal with the fallout in January. And I’m not criticising that approach, but for those who don’t want to have a healthy-ish Christmas, here are a few tips.
Prioritise sleep. Try not to throw your normal sleep routine out the window. While a sleep in can be bliss (I realise for people with small folk to look after it might be something to look forward to in years to come), but getting to bed at a reasonable hour most nights and aiming to get around 7-8 hours will help maintain energy levels, support our immune system and help keep our mood and stress levels on an even keel.
Get out for a walk, or a cycle or some kind of exercise. Go on your own, with the dog, the family or use it as a way to catch up with friends. Again it will boost the energy, mood and feel like an accomplishment. I’m keen on the early morning ones. Getting out into the early morning light can help reset the circadian rhythm and help you get a better night’s sleep.
Mindful Eating. Picture this, you’re on the sofa watching a Christmas movie, there’s a box of Roses / Celebrations / Heroes / or if you’re posh, those Lindt balls, open beside you. By the end of the movie you reach for a sweet and can only find wrappers. What the?! Choose your choccie(s) before the movie and put the tub in another room. Ask yourself, ‘am I actually hungry?’ Recognise hunger v appetite. Hunger is the need for food, appetite is the desire for food. At mealtimes - get those lovely colouredy veggies into you and eat slowly, even take a two minute break in the middle of dinner and give your stomach time to let your brain know where it’s at!
Booze. Match your glass of wine or whatever your tipple is with water. It will help you pace yourself, stay hydrated and you’ll be going to the loo so often you won’t have time to drink as much.
Stress management - Christmas can be a hectic time. Delegating tasks, saying a nice ‘no’, not aiming for perfection, and taking some time out - maybe read a book, meditate or just screaming into a pillow, can help. We can’t control everything but what we can control is our reaction.
Happy Christmas peeps.
