Merry Christmas! We can say that now, right? It’s the beginning of December! We’re about to leave our second national lockdown of the year, and if that’s not the perfect excuse to break out the baubles, pour the Baileys and pull on your fave festive onesie a little earlier than usual, then what is?!
Christmas 2020, we’re ready for you!
This year, more than ever, we’re looking forward to spending time with our friends and families. Time off work, long dinners with loved ones, a cheeky mulled wine here and there, visits to relatives we haven’t seen for months and an entertaining schedule that would make Nigella weep.
It’s going to be big. And it’s going to be brilliant.
But dare we say it, potentially exhausting? And possibly somewhat stressful.
Festive fatigue is real. Part and parcel of the highs of merry making are the inevitable lows that follow the festivities. And it’s not just because we tend to overdo things during December.
A number of factors contribute towards a general slump in our wellbeing as we edge towards the end of the year.
The days are shorter and the weather’s grim. It’s cold and flu season (no mention of the C-word here). Money’s tight, to-do lists for the Big Day are ever-increasing, and family politics mean planning the perfect party isn’t actually that easy.
The majority of us feel far from rested as we approach Christmas, with a recent YouGov survey reporting that close to 50% of Brits feel stressed as the most wonderful time of the year approaches.
So what can you do to make sure you enjoy the merriments?
Here’s five tried and tested ways to help you stay the course…
Be prepared – Stock up on vitamin C, echinacea, black elderberry and other immunity boosters to see you through the season with a spring in your step. Remember to take them daily through till Spring and supercharge your diet with citrus fruits, leafy greens, nuts, seeds and green tea to keep bugs at bay.
Sleep – Sounds obvious, we know. But good sleep hygiene is key to remaining in fine fettle during the festive season. Commit to waking and going to sleep at the same time each day. Sleep is restorative. While your brain and body enjoy some downtime, your cells repair and replenish, readying you to wake up refreshed and reinvigorated.
Get fresh – Pull on your parka and wellies and head outside. Whatever the weather. Breathe in the fresh air and take in the scenery. Move your bones! And make sure you do it daily.
Take deep breaths – One of the most effective ways of boosting your energy is to increase the flow of oxygen around the body. Deep, slow breaths throughout the day is a great place to start, supported by the use of supplemental oxygen at regular intervals. It’s guaranteed to clear brain fog and re-energise your day.
Delegate – That’s right. One of the simplest ways to help avoid Christmas fatigue is to hand off responsibility to someone else. You know that to-do list? Grab a highlighter and mark all the items that a friend or family member could take charge of. And in the words of everyone’s favourite ice queen, ‘let it go’…
Merry Christmas from the team at ClearO2.
Need help forming habits? See here for four easy ways to do just that.
