Maintaining health and wellbeing over the holidays!

It’s hard to believe the end of year is here already. I know that while many of us look forward to the holiday break, it is a challenging time for others. Pressures such as finances, family conflict and expectations placed on us can cause significant stress and impact on our mental health.

Stress can present itself in a number of ways:

·         Difficulty sleeping

·         Being short tempered

·         An upset stomach

·         Poor concentration

·         Headaches

·         Tension in your neck, shoulders and jaw

·         Getting sick more often

·         Fatigue

Tips to manage stress

Be kind to yourself

Some of us love the holiday celebrations and some of us don’t. However we feel it is okay. Let’s cut out the negative ‘feedback’ around us and try not to engage in negative self-talk.

Tell yourself you can cope, that you will get through this and you are worthy of celebrating the holidays in a way that makes you happy.

Set reasonable expectations

It’s easy to get caught up trying to do everything in order to have that ‘perfect’ holiday. We place unrealistic expectations on ourselves and those around us. Let’s re-think what is essential and what isn’t. We will have a much more enjoyable holiday!

Think about ways to manage conflict

The holiday period can be difficult. We sometimes we feel we have to ‘keep the peace’, ‘put a smile on’ or ‘be the bigger person’.

• Let’s remember that others may also be feeling stressed. Suggesting a game of backyard cricket or tennis is a great distraction.
• If we need some space, we can pop outside for fresh air, go help clear the table, or check on the BBQ.
• Also remember that if we don’t feel emotionally safe, it’s okay to not attend or make a polite exit.

Take a Break

• Don’t forget to take some time out for yourself, spend an afternoon or an hour, doing something just for you.
• Go for a walk, head to a movie, enjoy a coffee or have a nap. Whatever you chose to do, make sure it’s something that gives you a break from the stress around you.

Look after yourself

• It is okay to enjoy some overindulgence, whilst being mindful that what we eat and drink can impact our mental health.
• Alcohol is a depressant, too much can cause low mood, irritability or potential aggression.
• Drink in moderation, stay hydrated and try to maintain a balanced diet.
• Having quality sleep and exercising are also essential to maintaining good mental health.

Practice Mindfulness

Everyone is talking about mindfulness these days and with good reason – it’s an effective, low cost and discreet way to deal with stress. It isn’t difficult to practise either.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed at any point, some quick mindfulness tips are to:

ü  Focus on something around you by engaging the senses of touch, sight, smell, taste and sound to bring your attention to the present moment

ü  Slow your breathing – a short and effective way to do this is to breathe in for 3 seconds, hold for 3, breathe out for 3, hold for 3. Then repeat these steps using 4 and then 5 second intervals. Repeat this exercise if you need to.

There are many other mindfulness activities you can do including meditation, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation and relaxation exercises.