BMore relaxed this Christmas – 5 tips to deal with festive stress!

Stress is experienced when there is an imbalance between the demands being made on us and our resources to cope with those demands. The level of stress a person may feel varies from person to person, or example, something which may be extremely stressful for one can be a mere hiccup for another.

Stress is not always a negative thing. Some people thrive on stress and even need it to get things done. When the term ‘stress’ is used in a clinical sense, it refers to a situation that causes discomfort and distress for a person and can lead to other problems, such as anxiety and depression.  At this time of year there is a lot to think about, plan and organise and it can sometimes get overwhelming.  

5 tips to deal with stress over the Christmas period:

Avoid conflict – if you are going to be spending time over Christmas with people you struggle with, try to avoid trigger conversations or situations.  For example, if a particular subject always ignites tempers, quickly steer the conversation in another direction to avoid the usual pattern.

Relax – make sure you give yourself some time to relax and try to spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself.  The run up to Christmas can be extremely stressful so try to take regular time out doing something that lifts your spirit such as a walk in your favourite place, snuggle up with a book or come and have a blissful massage to ease away tension!

Eat well – a nutritious diet is important all through the year but it’s easy to overdo the rich food at this time of year. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and avoid an excess of sweet and fatty foods – treat yourself during the festivities but try not to overindulge!

Keep regular hours – with family and friends visiting it’s easy to fall into a routine of late nights and later mornings!  If you can keep your sleep patterns as normal as possible for most of the time you will find you feel more balanced and better able to slip back into your usual routine after the break.

Enjoy yourself – it’s important to make time to have some fun and keep a balance in your life so if you feel yourself getting overwhelmed take a few deep breaths and take a moment to regroup.  Remember this is the ‘party season’ so try to keep things lighthearted and have fun – you deserve it!

Above all enjoy the time you spend with family and friends and take some time to be thankful for all the blessings in your life. No matter how big or small they are, no matter how hard life can sometimes seem, we are surrounded by wonderful gifts and if you can remember to take a moment to look around now and again and appreciate the wonder of life it will make the hard stuff more bearable.

Seasons greetings,

Natalie, BMore Natural