- Breathe: don’t let the stress of Christmas shopping get to you, quick meditation sessions each morning and night really helps to calm the mind and reduce stress.
- Take 5-10 minutes in the morning and evening to sit still and breathe. Remember there is no wrong way to meditate, so sit somewhere comfortable and quiet, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth or nose. You can listen to soft relaxing music but you don’t have to.
2. Eat well: eating healthy leading up to Christmas day and between Christmas day and New Year’s Eve can help to prevent any Christmas weight gain and unwanted symptoms. Staying healthy during this time can be really easy, there are many recipes online for healthy versions of our favourite treats such as:
- Raw “cheesecake” –so easy to make, no cooking required and tastes delicious.
- Bliss balls – you can make any flavour combination you like
- Avocado chocolate mousse – freeze to make ‘’ice-cream’’
3. Relax: take some time out to do something for yourself that is relaxing. It might be something simple like going for slow walk, having a bath, or it could be a bit more lavish like having a massage or visiting a day spa.
4. Exercise: exercise is great to increase the feel good hormones, reduce stress and improve fitness. Do something you enjoy, it can be going to the gym or going for a run or other forms of exercise such as team sports, dancing or rock climbing.
5. Have fun: don’t forget to have fun! Enjoy the holiday season with your family and friends or join a laughter club – http://www.laughterclubsvic.org
Laughter is a great medicine!
Oh and last but not least – Enjoy the holiday season in moderation!