Christmas and the festive season is a crazy, crazy time, and I’d argue that it’s unnecessarily crazy. But, that’s the way it seems to be these days, so it’s doubly important that you make it as stress free as possible and take some time out just for you.

Here are my top tips to help you stay sane this holiday season

1. Enjoy the run up to Christmas. Don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure and use Christmas as a deadline. Do you really need to complete everything by Christmas? Can some things be scheduled for the New Year?
2. Have a budget and stick to it. Remember, you don’t have to spend the earth – a well thought out present can mean so much more than an expensive one.
3. Grab a pen and paper – or your laptop or an app – and make a list of everything you need to do at home and work before Christmas. Now prioritise everything on your list, putting your most important tasks at the top and the nice, but not all that important ones at the bottom. Add dates and cross off as you go along. And don’t stress if you don’t get to the bottom of the list, after all they were your nice, but not that important things.
4. You don’t have to do everything. Even though the kids may not decorate the Christmas tree just as you like it, does it really matter? Or why not give one of your colleagues the chance to help you out? You never know they may take the task off your to-do list forever.
5. We’re often really good at looking after everybody else first, and then we come way down the pecking order when everyone else is sorted. But it’s incredibly important to look after yourself. What are you going to do today to look after yourself? Why not take a long, hot bath, massage your tired feet with a spiky massage ball or try one of my little acts of self care?
6. Get some exercise. Only 20 to 30 minutes of exercise that increases your heart rate three times a week will really benefit both your physical and mental wellbeing. When you feel like it the least is when you need it the most, so put your coat on and take a brisk walk around the park or try a few rounds of Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) moving with the breath. You’ll feel so much better.
7. Get enough sleep. It’s a scientifically proven fact that we all need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night, so try not to burn the candle at both ends. And if you’re struggling to get to sleep, treat yourself to a mug of warm milk with a pinch of turmeric or dried ginger and nutmeg just before bedtime.
8. It’s OK to say ‘no’, but if you feel under pressure to say ‘yes’ to something you really don’t want to do, why not suggest an alternative. Maybe a pub lunch on Boxing Day instead of having the extended family over or a long walk with friends.
9. Remember, the only thing you can control is now. Are you rushing hither and thither, getting everything at home and work sorted before Christmas, worrying about what you’ve done and what you still need to do? Then stop and take a moment – connect with your breath, mindfully taste your food, smell the flowers as you pass the florists, look at the view or feel the wind in your face. It will help clear your mind and reconnect you with your body.
10. Christmas doesn’t have to always be the same. Maybe it’s time to try something different. Things change – children grow up and leave home, the next generation arrives, friends get married… and then there’s the break-ups. Trying to keep everything the same can be very stressful, but changing how you enjoy the festive period can make a huge difference. Ask everyone what they enjoy most about Christmas and mix things up a bit.
11. Denmark is officially the happiest country in the world, so it’s no surprise that the Danish have a word for their approach to wellbeing: Hygge – roughly translated as a mindful focus on simple everyday pleasures. Hygge is all about appreciating, savouring and really experiencing the little things in life we take for granted. Those little things that we forget about when we’re feeling overworked, overwhelmed and under pressure. So slow down and ditch the guilt. Bake a cake, brew tea, read in bed, dance, walk in the snow or meet friends for coffee.
12. Christmas is often a time of over indulgence, but you don’t have to wait until 1 January to make healthy choices. Drink plenty of water – what about having a glass of water between each alcoholic drink. Everyone loves desserts, cheese and roast potatoes, but why not have half a portion? You’ll still be able to enjoy the treats, but you won’t feel so sluggish afterwards.
13. Even the most sociable of us needs some time out, especially if you’ve got a house full over the festive period, so make some time for you. Lie on the floor in Savasana and breathe, take the dog for a walk or curl up with a good book, and make sure your guests know they’re free to do the same. You’ll all feel so much better when you come back together.
14. Remember, there’s no such thing as perfect. No matter what you see on TV, Facebook or Instagram, most people’s lives are not perfect… and neither is their Christmas. Accept what you can’t change, enjoy what you have and forget about what you didn’t have time to do.
15. Many people use Christmas and the New Year to look towards new beginnings, so perhaps take some time over the festive period to think about what you really want. Are you living the life you want to or is your life controlling you? If things aren’t quite how you want them, perhaps it’s time to make some changes, starting by focussing on you and what’s really important to you.
16. When we’re stressed, we experience a rise in the levels of adrenaline and cortisol in our bodies. A recent study by Drexel University showed that doing something creative lowered cortisol levels in 75% of participants. From singing or craft to dancing or journaling, you’ll feel calmer, your confidence will soar and you’ll feel a great sense of achievement.

I hope that you have a healthy, calm and happy holiday period. However, if you feel that you would benefit from some nurturing allwoman support, please get in touch.

I specialise in working with women one to one and enjoy being part of their journey of reconnection and self-discovery. I support women to find more balance and harmony in their lives by deepening their inner connection to their own body’s needs, helping them cope pre-conception, with fertility issues, prenatally, postnatally or during times of transition, grief or loss and helping alleviate the symptoms of menstruation, perimenopause or menopause.