As the decorations go up, in preparation for Christmas, and the New Year grows ever closer, the festive season really is upon us. This is an exciting time, but Christmas can also be stressful. There are jobs to get done at home, as well as mounting workloads in many businesses. This mounting pressure along with the obligatory Christmas parties and overindulgence can leave us feeling a little run down and not at our best.
But, it’s easy to get back into the Christmas spirit by being organised and taking some time out to breathe. Read on to find out more…
Here’s our 4 step plan to a stress-free Christmas
1.Plan ahead. We know a happy and successful Christmas Day needs some planning and foresight. Good organisation will save you hours of time in the lead up to the big day. The same approach can be taken in the work place. Don’t let the mince pies and mulled wine distract you. Prepare for the increased workload that is likely to arrive before and after Christmas. Preparing in advance will mean you won’t spend the Christmas period worrying about your business or your customers. Instead, you’ll be free to pull crackers and play charades to your heart’s content.
2. Time management. Write a plan of what needs to be done in the coming days and assign it to a loose schedule to keep you on track. Make sure you include some ‘me time’. Leave the office on time and go to the gym, have a relaxing soak in the bath, play computer games, whatever helps you relax and unwind.
3. Delegate. Don’t try and take too much on yourself. Sharing responsibilities will help lighten the load and give you back some valuable time, relieving the pressure.
4. Step back and breathe. Try this simple relaxation techniques:
- Close your eyes, clear your mind.
- Breathe in quietly through your nose for a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of 7.
- Then exhale through your mouth to a count of 8, letting all your tension go.
- Repeat up to 4 times whenever you are feeling stressed.
So, with a little forethought, some good planning, and breathing, you really could have a stress free Christmas. When the festivities are all over, you can look forward to the year ahead. Make one of your New Year’s resolutions for more ‘me time’ to help avoid future stress.
Merry Christmas!
