Keep Calm And Get Your Ho Ho Ho On!

Eek, there are only five days until Christmas! Christmas can be a challenging time of the year for many of us. Running around trying like crazy to get everything done before the big day, worrying about money, catching up with family and friends, trying to be all things to all people. This kind of pressure on top of an already busy life can leave us tired and stressed. Following are some of my top tips or reminders to help you to stay sane this Christmas.

Take Some Time Out. If you feel yourself getting stressed take some time out. Go for a walk, a bike ride, a yoga class, read a book, meet a friend for a coffee, switch off from technology and take some tech free time. Whatever it is you enjoy doing, take some time out for yourself and in-joy it! Honour Your Boundaries. Remember you cannot be all things to all people. Over the festive season give yourself permission to get in touch with your own needs and honour your personal boundaries.

Breathe. Yes, really! If you feel the tension rising in your body and you are getting stressed – take a conscious breath. Conscious breathing activates the body’s natural relaxation response (i.e. the parasympathetic nervous system) and in turn can lower our heart rate, blood pressure and tension within our body. Create A Christmas Gratitude List. Write down all of the things that you are grateful for this Christmas. If you want to take it a step further, write down all of the things that you are grateful for that money cannot buy (i.e. time with your family and friends).

Buy What You Can Afford. This time of the year there is a tendency go overboard with purchases and use credit cards for things we cannot afford. However, will those gifts really make you or another person happy in the end? If money is tight, try your hand at baking and give the gift of home made treats instead. Only purchase what you can truly afford and remember that your worth does not relate to the amount of money you spend on a present/gift. Last but not the least, by mindful not to over indulge like the little fella below ;-).