HEALTH + WELLNESS
Stress-Free Christmas cont...
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PACE YOURSELF
December can be a bit like social Tetris- accepting a quickfire influx of invitations before watching empty days get filled at pace until even the things you genuinely want to do start feeling like a chore. Before saying yes, look at the week around the invitation, not just the day or night itself. A late party before an early start, three consecutive nights out or a packed weekend followed by Christmas hosting all come with a hefty energy tax. Leaving white space in the diary is not boring, it’ s how you preserve enough enthusiasm to enjoy the plans you keep.
The same goes for booze. Not-so-shocking research by Drinkaware found 64 % of UK drinkers intended to drink more over the festive period than they usually do and while there’ s nothing wrong with a celebratory few, alcohol can disrupt sleep and leave us more tired, anxious or irritable the next day, so mindfulness is one to try and harness. Easy wins? Eat before drinking, alternate with water or alcohol-free options, decide what you actually fancy rather than automatically joining every round and prioritise a few drink-free days. You do not need to attend every party, drink at every party or be the last person standing at any of them.
KEEP THE BODY BASICS
Christmas eating should be something to savour and be grateful for- December is not the month to panic because your normal lunch has been replaced by leftover pigs in blankets and the fridge appears to contain no identifiable vegetables.
Instead of swinging between excess and punishment, however, try and keep a few basics ticking over. Drink water. Eat regular meals when you can. Get outside. Sleep. And move because it makes you feel better, not because a mince pie needs to be‘ worked off’.
Physical activity can help manage stress, improve sleep and lift mood, and even a brisk 10-minute walk can help clear the head, so make the Boxing Day walk, the stroll to see the Christmas lights or the lap around the block while the potatoes roast count. Equally, if you fancy an afternoon on the sofa, take it- Christmas is allowed to contain both movement and marathons of festive telly.
Tricky, but really effective if possible, protect your sleep at all costs. Alcohol may make you drowsy initially but can disturb sleep later in the night, so if silly season rapidly becomes a blur of late nights, aim for a couple of earlier ones between events and keep your usual bedtime routine when you can.
HOST, DON’ T PERFORM
If you are hosting, remember that people are coming to see you, not assess whether your napkin rings match. The rule of thumb for calmer hosting recommends exactly what common sense often abandons in December- plan ahead, decide what time you want to eat and work out your cooking timings from there. Reduce the menu if it becomes overwhelming and delegate peeling, chopping and the never-ending dishwasher stack / unpack wherever you can. Ask someone to bring pudding, put another
person on drinks, give a willing relative the cheeseboard responsibility and let guests help themselves to tea and coffee.
Apply the same principle to the house- clean what matters; close the door on what does not. Borrow spare chairs or bedding rather than buying things you will resent storing in January, and, if somebody else lays the table differently from you, resist correcting it- delegation only lowers stress if you also relinquish control.
PROTECT YOUR PEACE
Traditions can be lovely, but expectations can be exhausting and Christmas can exacerbate pressure to socialise, difficult relationships, money worries, loneliness and a sense that everyone is supposed to be having a wonderful time, so give yourself permission to edit the season. Stay for lunch rather than the entire day. Drive yourself so you can leave when you want. Build in an hour alone before guests arrive. Decline the event you are attending purely out of guilt. The aim is not a perfectly balanced Christmas, it is a Christmas you are actually present for.
Importantly, remember the people for whom this time of year is far from merry. A message, phone call or invitation for a walk extended to someone you know won’ t be having the best or busiest time can matter far more than you think. If you are struggling yourself, tell someone rather than performing festive cheer; Samaritans can also be reached free, day or night, on 116 123 if you’ d rather keep it anonymous, just please don’ t suffer in silence.
158 • www. insidekent. co. uk