The 12 Dos Of Christmas

The 12 Dos Of Christmas

The busiest time of the year is upon us again – and that means over indulgence, stress and a sore head looms. Here’s how to make it through to the other side with your mind and body intact.

Breathe Deeply
With so many social functions and family commitments in your schedule you can often feel overwhelmed at this Time of the year. When you’re stressed, your breathing can become shallow and, consequently, your anxiety levels can rise. Studies show that controlling your breath can help manage stress related conditions. If you feel frazzled, find a quiet spot and take a few moments to practise this deep breathing exercise. Breathe deeply in through your nose and hold your breath for at least 15 seconds, if possible. Now exhale slowly through your mouth for as long as you can. Repeat this for a few minutes and you’ll soon find that it’ll restore your inner calm.

Enjoy Some ‘Me’ Time
The pressure to socialise goes into overdrive during the festive season
And it can leave you feeling drained, and exhausted with very little left in the tank so make sure you schedule in some ‘me’ time and that you are looking after yourself as well as others . it might be simply enjoy that hour of pilates or yoga or Seating somewhere quiet and reading a book. By switching off and dedicating some time for yourself you will feel refreshed, energies and ready to mingle.

Delegate, Delegate!
Buying presents, Organising Parties, Cooking Meals…
Organising Christmas without any support is overwhelming to say the least, so learn to delegate.
Share tasks between the household or family members and assign everyone something so you can feel less stressed overall.
Remember, you don’t need to take on everything – and, this way, you won’t get the blame if a certain task goes wrong!

Learn To Say No

One thing That’s important during the festive season is exerting your right to say no. Whether
it’s politely declining another wine from friends, saying no to that extra portion of potatoes your
mother-in-law is piling on your plate, or simply turning down that friend’s party invitation
you really don’t feel like going to, it’s okay to say no. “The spirit of the holidays is gratitude and giving,” says Patti Breitman, co-author of How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty. “But the conflict arises when you continually agree to things that please everyone but yourself or when you commit to tasks for which you have no time or desire.” So put yourself first from time to time and
embrace your new-found freedom. Organising Christmas without any support is overwhelming
to say the least, so learn to delegate. Share tasks between the household or family members and assign everyone something so you can feel less stressed overall. Remember, you don’t need to
take on everything – and, this way, you won’t get the blame if a certain task goes wrong!
time of the year. When you’re stressed, your breathing can become shallow and, consequently,
your anxiety levels can rise. Studies show that controlling your breath can help manage stress related conditions. If you feel frazzled, find a quiet spot and take a few moments to practise this
deep breathing exercise. Breathe deeply in through your nose and hold your breath for at least 15
seconds, if possible. Now exhale slowly through your mouth for as long as you can. Repeat this for a
few minutes and you’ll soon find that it’ll restore your inner calm.

Keep Exercising

You’re running around all day, so exercise is probably the last thing on your mind. But sticking to
your workout schedule isn’t only important for your physical health, but your mental wellbeing, too. If you have too much on your plate, get up a little earlier to start your session.
Studies show that women who work out first thing in the morning move more throughout the day and are less likely to succumb to tempting foods. Strapped for time? A quick run or spin on the exercise bike will do. “Even just 15 minutes can help you maintain your fitness level,” says Dr Tim Church, a leading physician in exercise and obesity research.

Opt for healthy swaps
That tray of canapés looks enticing, but it could end up on your hips. So choose wisely: ditch the crackers and cheese and chips and go for vegie sticks with hummus instead or raw nuts in
place of salted. If you’re cooking the Christmas lunch, use a wholegrain, such as quinoa or
buckwheat, to stuff the turkey rather than breadcrumbs, and serve with low-GI root
vegies such as sweet potato or pumpkin instead of carrots and potatoes. For salads,
avoid creamy store-bought dressings with hidden sugars and opt for a squeeze of
lemon juice and olive oil instead. When serving up dessert, swap ice-cream for frozen yoghurt and choose 80 per cent dark chocolate over milk chocolate to save on kilojoules. Festive drinks can also be a minefield of unwanted kJs. Rather than swigging down a sugar-laden mojito, go for a healthier vodka lime and soda.