'Tis the Season!

With the Christmas season well and truly upon us, it can be easy for us to become panicked, stressed and just plain worn out at this time of year.

The role that our emotional health plays in our wellbeing cannot be underestimated. If you are stressed your body may respond with feeling tired or you may be short tempered or irritable around loved ones.

So what are some ways in which we can look after our emotional health during this busy time of year?

1.    Breathe deeply – not only does deep breathing feel good and encourages us to calm down, it increases the oxygen flow to the brain, heart and other major organs. This enables our bodies to cope with increases in stress and maintain good function during busy times. Taking a few moments throughout the day to stop and breathe deeply can help focus our attention on any muscles that may need relaxing and also stop our minds from racing.

2.    Look around – take time to notice how your mood may impact on others in your family. Perhaps your young children are showing signs of being irritable? Could it be that they are feeling the effects of your stress? Perhaps a cuddle on the lounge or a tickle fight could dispel some of the stress and keep you and the kids connected. And we all know that children are far more compliant when they are happy and relaxed! 

3.    Is it too much? – are you putting unnecessary expectations on yourself for that “perfect” Christmas? Does it really matter if the serviettes don’t exactly match the table setting? Do you need to spend hours looking for the perfect gift for Aunty Joan or would a book voucher be just as appreciated? Take time to revaluate the things that matter most to you at this time of year.

4.    Be thankful – think of the North American tradition of Thanksgiving which is traditionally used to celebrate the blessing of a bountiful harvest of the previous year. We can use this season of Christmas to look back on our year and be thankful for the blessings we have had. Perhaps you could spend some time during your family Christmas meal telling each other about those blessings and what you are looking forward to in the year ahead.

How are you handling the emotional strain of the season? Do you have any strategies that work well for you?