December is just around the corner with Christmas not far behind. Seriously it’s less than 4 weeks away and I’ve only bought a couple of presents! So I’m going to sit down over the weekend and make some lists and get organised.
What do you do to get organised around this time of year? Are you done and dusted (sigh …I remember those days ) or are you a last minute panicker?).
I remember when I used to have everything all wrapped up by now (ha! get it?) . The cards would be written, the presents would not only be purchased they would be wrapped up beautifully. Christmas dinner would be planned and I would sit back with a smug look on my face and be one of those annoyingly organised women!
That ain’t happening this year! What with a growing business, a nutrition diploma in the making, recovery, friends and family I feel like running away. Two years ago the fam and I went to Spain to stay with friends. Thats was flippin’ am-maz-ing. Very relaxed and chilled…. no garish decorations, no in your face TV adverts or supermarkets full of crap food!! So I’m wondering how I can get that relaxed feeling while I stay at home?
Stress hormones will seriously knock your lady hormones off balance. The quickest way to more hot flushes, night sweats and general grumpiness is to up your stress levels! If you want to keep calm and balanced then find ways of avoiding feeling stressed or tactics to get rid of it.
Here are some tips to keeping your chill, feel more in control and enjoy Christmas this year.
- Don’t procrastinate. Write down what you have to do, I like to use colours to make it more fun or perhaps it’s because I’m a big kid?
- Do you really need to send that many Christmas cards? I gave up sending cards 10 years ago. I only send to those people I’m still in regular contact with but live too far away for a Christmas hug.
- Rein(deer) back in the gifts. There is no point spending money you don’t have on gifts. Surely that isn’t the point of Christmas? I’d rather have a small thoughtful gift than an extravagant heartless offering.
- I personally like to celebrate the birth of my kids and buy them bigger birthday gifts than Christmas gifts. Both their birthdays are in January which was poorly planned though!
- Have some fun and share the work (I’m spending a few hours with my friend later creating some gifts, having a laugh, making a mess)
- Delegate some of the jobs as it still seems to be women who do the Christmas work (grr)
- Gratitude is always humbling and is a very quick way to turn the victim thinking around.
- Remember the true spirit of Christmas. Get back to basics. What does it mean to you?
- When it all feels like it’s getting too much. STOP! Go for a walk/swim/run or if that isn’t possible take some deep breaths for a few minutes.
- Turn off the TV and really enjoy family time together or peace and quiet.
- If you buy loads of crap food then the chances are you are going to eat it lol. Why not include some healthier alternatives?
- Keep super hydrated (no that doesn’t mean more Bucks Fizz on Christmas morning ;-))
- Drinking hot water and lemon and taking milk thistle supplement will support your groaning liver
- Don’t shop in Iceland, seriously how do you think ‘Chicken Crouton Lollipops’ are going to make you feel? Blurgh…..
- Plan some quiet time. Meditate, relax, walks in the country, sleep, bath, yoga….you get the idea.
- Change you attitude – if you go into Christmas thinking it’s going to be busy and stressful then chances are that is what it will be. Thoughts become things….
- Hate shopping? How about putting some chilled music on your ipod and smiling serenely around the shops
- Smile more, especially to strangers….it freaks people out lol
- Throw yourself whole heartedly into the Christmas spirit, get cheesy with the decorations, put on Christmas songs (you can’t beat a bit of Michael Bublé)
- Or just run for the hills………
Being busy with family and friends over the festive period and enjoying food and shelter is a privilege that some don’t have. Please remember those less fortunate than us. A Christmas pudding to your local food bank, money to the homeless or volunteering are all ways to help.
Do you love or loath Christmas and the New Year celebrations? Why not share some of your thoughts and keep us sisters united
Big love
Tanith xx
