HEALTHY LIVING: Taking the stress out of Christmas
PICTURE the scene... it's Christmas Day, the turkey's roasting merrily, the sprouts are bubbling and the clan is about to sit down to dinner when you suddenly remember the nut roast for your veggie daughter is still in the freezer.
Sound familiar?
No matter how much preparation you do, Christmas will always throw up stressful situations.
Present-buying panic, money worries, anxiety over family tension and the high expectations that come with Christmas, can leave nerves in shreds by the big day.
No wonder studies show that Christmas can lead to heart problems due to increased levels of stress and consumption of fatty foods, as well as higher rates of illness while our immune systems take a beating.
Lawyers also say that divorce rates peak after Christmas.
"Burn out is a risk at Christmas, so it's important to keep an eye on your stress levels and look after your own wellbeing so you can enjoy the big day without feeling overloaded or tired out," says Sophie Corlett, director of external relations at the mental health charity Mind.
"It's easy to get carried away with Christmas shopping and Christmas drinks, and when you're constantly busy, one of the first things to go is quality time by yourself."
During the next few weeks, people's stress levels will soar thanks to overeating, excessive spending and having to deal with a variety of new problems - such as dealing with over-excited children.
As exercise routines slide and lethargy sets in, physical and mental stress are the inevitable consequences.
A recent survey, conducted by stationers BIC, revealed that 64% of parents find the run-up to Christmas the most stressful time of year.
It's not all bad news though - there are plenty of steps you can take now to ensure you have a merry stress-free Christmas.
Be organised and stay positive
Stress is at least 50% self-induced, says consultant psychologist professor Robert Edelman, so you can actually control your stress levels and reduce what he calls "anticipatory anxiety" by adopting a positive mental attitude.
"It's very much about how stressful events are perceived, how you evaluate them and what you expect to happen. Don't set the barometer too high.
Like with everyday work, if you start to fret about what needs to be done and when, then it leads to a breakdown of the system. At the end of the day, does it matter that much?"
The important thing at Christmas is that everyone feels relaxed, happy and enjoys themselves, including you.
"Start off with the assumption that this is going to be fun whatever and if it all goes wrong, it'll be funny, not disastrous."
Adopting the right attitude is half the battle, but if you really want to conquer the Christmas collywobbles, it's time to get organised.
"Write lists, make plans and prioritise," advises professor Edelman.
"If you take things steadily, organise what needs to be done and you've got a list that says the nut roast must go in at whatever time and you're ticking things off, it means you're less likely to forget something.
"There's overdoing it of course, but if you've organised everything, then it should reduce the amount of potential distress you're likely to face."
Let peace and harmony reign
Only a saint could get through the entire festive season without saying a cross word to anyone. When all the family comes together, there's bound to be friction somewhere.
The key to having a harmonious Christmas is to keep things in perspective, says Martin Riley, relationship expert from Re-Balance, www.re-bal.com.
"If the pressures of creating the perfect Christmas turn it into a living hell - then we've kind of missed the point. Let those around you know what you want to get out of the festive season, but don't forget to ask what they want too - it's a discussion that often doesn't happen.
"One of the central themes of Christmas is the sharing of love, peace and goodwill. Try to remember what it's really all about and set out to enjoy it. Families and relatives can be a pain - but they're also the people likely to be there for us when it most counts, so try to enjoy sharing some time with them."
Big family occasions can often seem like an obligation, but we do all have a choice, adds Riley.Here are his tips for coping with awkward relations:
Unhelpful partners and kids: "Make it clear that you want time to enjoy Christmas too and draw up a rota of jobs that need doing, but make it fun, with points and prizes."
In-laws you don't get on with: "Try and see the funny side of anything you don't like and remember it will all be over soon. If it really is a problem, give yourself some space."Hassle-busting checklist
Before battling the Christmas shopping, take a vitamin supplement like Seven Seas's new femibion Energetic Mum, which contains energy-boosting CoQ10 - perfect for all that running around (9.99 for 30 tablets).
Take a time out with a nice cup of calming herbal tea. Try Twinings' A Moment Of Calm range, including Calm (1.79) and Winter Spice (95p), from most supermarkets.
Finding it hard to sleep? Lull yourself to the land of nod with Valerian, an ancient medicinal herb, available from most health food stores (5.99 for 25 tablets).
Worried about the effects of fatty foods on your heart health? Try Kwai plus Omega-3 which contains Kwai garlic, to maintain good cholesterol levels and keep blood vessels healthy (7.99 for 60 capsules, from Boots).
Tisserand De-stress Roll-on, with soothing patchouli oil, is perfect for frazzled moments (4.50 from Tesco and www.tisserand.com) or try tasty blackcurrant flavour Rescue Remedy Pastilles, 5.15 from Boots.
Give your immune system a boost with Multibionta Immune Support (6.84 for 30 tablets).
Exercise more and eat less
Over-indulging at Christmas can make us feel lethargic and powerless even to turn off the TV.
If you don't want anxiety about your weight adding to the Christmas stress, think before you reach for that extra mince pie.
"Large quantities of rich foods, lots of sugar and more alcohol than usual can put a strain on our bodies," says Henrietta Norton, senior nutritionist at Healthspan.
"This change to our diet can wreak havoc with digestion, skin, sleep patterns, blood sugar levels and even our mood."
Instead of slumping on the sofa, counter the calorie-fest guilt and boost your mood with an energising walk. It's well known that a bout of strenuous exercise releases substances in the brain called endorphins, that make you feel happy and reduce stress.
"If you are lacking energy, remember that becoming more active will increase your activity levels, so schedule activity for times in the day when you feel energetic," says Ian Lahart, exercise physiologist from the University of Wolverhampton.
"Christmas is a family time, so plan to do family activities that require moderate to vigorous activity. Try playing football with the children.
"Include social activities involving exercise into your schedule, for example, if you are seeing your friend for a coffee, take a walk together instead.
"If the weather is an issue, try going to your nearest shopping centre and walk from end to end at a brisk pace for longer than 10 minutes.
"Alternatively, ask for an exercise DVD for Christmas to perform when the weather stops you from walking outside."
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Wednesday 08 February 2012
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