Looking After Your Mental Health at Christmas

The festive season is one of the most enjoyable times of the year, but it can also be tiring, stressful and completely overwhelming. This Christmas, try not to forget about looking after you and your mental wellbeing. Here are our top tips on how to do just that…

Prioritise Headspace

Whether it means going for a walk in the fresh air or doing 20 minutes of mindfulness practice, prioritise getting some headspace to give your brain a break. We’re all for encouraging regular workouts, but maybe try a yoga class instead of your usual hectic HIIT session if you’re already feeling stressed.

Don’t Say Yes to Everything

When the exciting invitations start flooding in, it’s easy to jump at every opportunity. But make sure you’ve also carved out time for you. Set clear boundaries and avoid going to events or parties when you’re only attending to please someone else.

Prioritise Sleep

The increase in late, boozy nights routines often means our sleep routines go out of the window during the festive season. Going to bed at 10 pm might seem lame when everyone else is out having fun, but we’re far more likely to feel overwhelmed and stressed when we’re sleep-deprived. Trust us, it’s much easier to cope with the Christmas madness after a solid 7+ hours.

Get Organised

Often the stress of Christmas comes from a lack of organisation and a million things racing around your head. Write down lists in your notebook of everything you need to do or gifts you need to buy. It keeps your head clear and means you won’t forget anything important – like buying a gift for your office secret Santa!

Forget Perfection

It’s a total cliché, but we often put extra pressure on ourselves at this time of the year. It’s this unrealistic expectation that causes a lot of our stress and sadness over the holidays. Forget about what others think and acknowledge that Christmas is never going to be perfect.

Digital Detox

Especially for the days around Christmas, take advantage of having no urgent emails to reply to and switch off your phone and laptop. Make the most of spending time with your family and friends instead, it’s time to get back to the present moment (and the actual presents!).

Drink Sensibly

There’s no beating around the bush here: alcohol is a depressant. Drinking too much can have a massive impact on your mental health. So, if you’re starting to struggle, consider cutting back a little at the bar to improve your mood.