Although Christmas can be a time of great joy it can also be a time of stress and anxiety. Worrying about loved ones, trying to juggle everyone's expectations and trying to do everything can sometimes replace the joy with worry, frustration and overwhelm.
Putting yourself first and doing what makes you feel good before you take care of everyone else is going to help you feel calm, more relaxed and ready for anything! Because when you feel good, and take care of you, everything else falls into place.
Try these tips to bring back the joy this Festive season:
What makes you feel good?
Doing just one thing a day to fill your cup is going to help you feel destressed, calmer and much more able to deal with those last minute road bumps that seem to crop up.
Whether its more sleep, a hot bath, meeting up with friends, watching a Christmas film, meditating, exercise, journalling or reading, doing what makes you feel good is really going to help you take on the day.
2. Get outside
When the weather gets cold and drizzly getting outside is sometimes the last thing you want to do! But getting outside and spending time in nature is scientifically proven to calm your nervous system. It's also going to help burn off all that excess energy that children have (and hopefully leave your house intact for 5 minutes!)
A walk, cycle, run whether that's with family and friends or for some glorious time to yourself (bliss) grab your coat and off you go. Plus, that log fire and hot bath (plus pjs naturally) will feel sooo much better.
3. Lower your expectations
Rome wasn't built in a day. Release the pressure on yourself to do it all. Get everything out of your head and onto paper ( I love a list), then ask yourself how realistic it is. Are you really going to wrap all the presents, write all the cards, make a gingerbread house and host family in one day? Believe me I've tried!
Instead what one thing could you do that day? And celebrate it when you've done it!
4. Ask for help
You don't have to do it all. There I've said it! Do the things you like to do and delegate the rest. Can your other half and kiddies write the Christmas cards this year? Do the mince pies have to be homemade? If your in laws want three types of potatoes can they bring one?
5. Breathe deeply for 5 minutes a day
Whether this is first thing in the morning, last thing at night or hiding in the loo, breathing deeply for 5 minutes is going to help calm your parasympathetic nervous system helping you feel more relaxed, its also going to help more blood flow around the body so you feel more energised.
6. Move your body
Moving your body even just for 5 minutes is going to help boost endorphins, energise you, ease out aches and pains and relieve any stiffness and tightness in the body.
A few cat stretches in bed, shoulder bridges in front of the telly, heel raises or squats whilst cleaning your teeth, all of these are going to keep you feeling great.
If you want to do a longer workout there's loads of great videos from 5-60 minutes long in our Online Membership at www.inbalancepilatesrutland.com. Classes available for Beginners, Improvers, Intermediate, Pre and Post Natal.
7. Have Fun
Above all, have fun! Christmas comes and goes so quickly so do sit back and enjoy it, you deserve it.
Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!
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