Seasonal Stress
In this post we look at the stresses that celebrations and family gatherings can bring and what you can do to mitigate this in the run up to Christmas.
For some people this may be a wonderful time of the year, and for others the pressures of spending time with extended family, financing Christmas, social events and work Christmas functions, the expectation of this being such a happy time can all prove to be too much.
As this time of the year comes along anything that we are struggling with can seem heightened. This is the time to look after ourselves even more than usual. It is important to recognise that it is okay not to want to join in everything, it is normal to miss those loved ones that we have lost, and it is okay not to feel overjoyed about Christmas.
Here are some thoughts of things you can do to avoid a Christmas melt down:
Plan – getting organised and planning ahead can be the difference between feeling like it’s all under control compared to its all overwhelming. Our activity scheduling
Self-care – this is the time to really look after yourself. Make time to have some time for yourself to do the things you want to do. Implement all the things we have previously mentioned in our emails like the mindfulness to really look after yourself.
Delegate – realise you do not have to do everything on your own, delegate jobs or to do lists to others and share the load.
Saying No – in the same way its ok to exercise self-care without feeling guilty it’s also ok to say no if you don’t have the time to perform a task or merely just don’t want to.
Reach out for support – if you are struggling, think about reaching out to friends, family, colleagues or professionals for whatever support you need.
Sleep and exercise – This is often the time of year when everything is taken to excess, but let’s not forget the importance of exercise and good sleep patterns for both our mental and physical wellbeing. Unplug – put those devices down for a period of time each day and give yourself the space to reflect on what’s going on around you in the here and now.
Make time for yourselves and use any time off that you may have over the festive period to recharge your batteries.