I do enjoy a stress-free festive period.
I have to admit, I cannot understand what all the fuss is about.
What’s the point if you refer to the words ‘frazzled’, ‘stressed’, ‘anxious’, ‘hassle’, ‘hassled’, ‘frustrating’? You get the idea. I’ve heard these words a lot the past couple of weeks and I wonder why this season of goodwill brings about these words and emotions.
People who know me, know I ‘don’t do Christmas’. What I really mean is that I don’t get caught up in all the hype and commerciality of Christmas. It’s supposed to be a period of enjoyment, especially if you do things you don’t do all year. So, enjoy it I do.
I know it’s cutting it fine to give some hints and tips about how to have a stress-free festive period and Christmas. Even so, here’s some of my thoughts (Only a few. This is a blog, not a book) and most of them are stating the obvious:
- What are you aiming to achieve? Perfection? There is no such thing, so don’t bother trying. If something is not perfect, it doesn’t matter. Your best is always good enough. If you are aiming for perfection, ask yourself why? Who are you trying to impress and why? And, if you don’t achieve perfection, what’s the worst that can happen? Ask yourself if it will matter in 5 hours time? Will it matter in 5 weeks time? 5 months time? You get the idea. The answer is likely to be ‘probably not’.
- If you still have a lot to do. Get it written down NOW and then DELEGATE! It can be hard, but you know what? Many people will help. They just need to be asked (or told) sometimes. On the whole, people like to share. Some people may want to learn to do things too. If you can’t delegate because no-one does it as well as you, see point 1.
- If you still have stuff to do, plan when you are going to do it. Be realistic though. There are only 24 hours in the remaining few weeks, and you may have to work in that time, and you certainly have to sleep and eat! Build that time in too. Don’t forget to plan having a cuppa, to eat some nutritious food and to take time to exercise. What about the things you cannot plan? Oh no, those crisis moments you cannot control. Allow time for those to happen too.
- You know that nutrition and hydration are important, so eat well and drink plenty of water. You also know that exercise is important, so don’t forget that taking a 10minute walk (as a minimum) can do you a world of good. Get out, calm down, re-energise, refocus and compose yourself.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Yes, another obvious fact but if you are getting stressed about the festive period, then you are forgetting the obvious anyway. Hopefully, if you have taken note of point 3, you have planned when you are going to start resting. Take time to have a bath, read a book, write your journal. The calm down time before bedtime is just as important. Keep your bedroom well aired and the bedding comfortable. Try to keep to your usual bed-time routine as much as possible. And, if you have taken note of point 3, then you can go to bed not worrying about anything to do.
- There are tons of relaxation techniques, essential oils, massage techniques, mindfulness and mediation techniques, and breathing techniques that can all help with restful sleep and feeling calm and focused. There is not a one size fits all approach to any of these, so if you need some help with any of them, then just make that call 07803399594 or 01889808388 or send that email tracey@plumessencetherapies.co.uk
Most of all, remember this is your time too. You have to enjoy the festivities before everyone else can.