Some folk find the festive season far from fun &, in these days of financial squeeze for many, the difficulties are likely to feel even worse. Many will be looking forward to a break from work & responsibility, spending quality family time, or just having a quiet relax. Others however, will experience Christmas as increased stress, family tensions, & alcohol misuse. Some will be weighed down by loneliness & isolation, loss & sadness.
Christmas can be stressful, producing, amongst others, symptoms of anxiety, irritability, & sleep difficulty. Exercising a bit & using relaxation &/or breathing techniques will help reduce symptoms of stress & enable a bit more control coping with difficult situations.
Keep active: don't make Christmas the be-all-&-end-all. Do things you actually enjoy - walking, going to the cinema. Arrange to meet someone for a coffee; drop in to the Club's badminton afternoon, be creative.
Get some exercise: it reduces stress & the serotonin it triggers will give your mood a boost. As simple as taking a walk!
Watch your input: too much eating & drinking makes us lethargic; but you are going to binge a bit (you know you are) so take a couple of simple steps to promote your festive wellbeing: eat plenty of fruit & veg, it'll help you feel more energetic; keep an eye on alcohol, it's a depressant & can lead to low mood, irritability, & anger.
Stay in touch: talk to folk who care. Even if you can't be with them, phone, chat online, drop 'em a line. Christmas can be a great excuse to get back in touch with someone.
Do some good: there's a huge feeling of satisfaction to be had from helping; many charities & community groups need help; simply picking up a little shopping for a neighbour will be good for both of you.
Sleep: patterns are easily disturbed; there is evidence of a link between sleep & wellbeing. There are steps you can take for a better nights sleep: stick to your usual routine; drink less alcohol; some exercise; manage stress... in fact, all the tips laid out above!
Look after yourself & you'll have a good Christmas...
No comments:
Post a Comment