The festive season is upon us again, time to celebrate with family and friends. Maybe Christmas is a tradition or a religious time for you. Whatever it is we often find ourselves feeling overloaded, overwhelmed and by the time Christmas day is upon us our stress levels are through the roof. So what if this year you could get through the next four weeks feeling great and with your well being at an all time high. If you could Leave Stress Behind This Christmas, would you?

First I wanted to share with you some stats on why people get stressed out over Christmas. Here are the top 3 reasons:

  • 42% respondents said that trying to find that perfect gift for a family member or friend
  • 37% said the cost of Christmas and the worry of not being able to afford the gifts and then the worry of how to pay off the credit card debt afterwards.
  • 21% were worried about where they would spend Christmas day and then the politics of who to invite or who would be there

Research has shown that the biggest most beneficial thing you can do is to PLAN, create a schedule but add in some extras to help you practice mindfulness on a daily basis. Some things you could start to put into that planner could be

  1. Brain Dump – Get a notepad and get write down everything that’s on your mind. Ideas, thoughts, negative and positive feelings, goals, inspiration, desires, dreams – categorise it  if you need to but get it out of your head
  2. Move – Exercise, walk, dance, do yoga, pilates – but schedule it!
  3.  Keep hydrated – if you keep forgetting set up an alarm on your phone to remind you to drink
  4. Take some time out for you – have a cat nap, get your nails done, coffee with a friend, listen to Elaine’s 10 minute download – include it in your planner
  5. Communicate – get family and friends to help you if you need it, get them involved – share the load, you don’t have to do everything by yourself
  6. Set a Realistic Budget – keep track of what you are spending and spend what you can afford
  7. Eat Mindfully – eat healthily, eat consciously and listen to your tummy – plan your shopping, plan your meals

Finally, two easy and powerful investments you can make in your well being: In your diary every day write

  • a) an affirmation to set your day up. For example,  I am present, I forgive, I invite joy, Its safe to relax, I nurture relationships that nurture me, I accept myself for who I am, etc
  • b) when you go to bed at night write down just one thing you are grateful for, eg my family, finding my passion, being healthy etc