Tips to manage STRESS at Christmas...

Although Christmas is meant to be a happy and joyful time, this isn’t how everyone feels at this time of the year. Christmas can be a stressful and depressing time for many people.

It is all about having fun & relaxing with your nearest and dearest…. If only that were true! For some of us, Christmas is busy, stressful, financially draining and can cause anxiety, depression and loneliness – not to mention tense if you are socialising with family members that you may not necessarily get on very well with.

This week, we will pass on some great tips that may help you to cope better in dealing with the ‘emotional’ side Christmas.

If you are planning to host / attend a big family Christmas, then no wonder you may be feeling anxious! Family gatherings can be stressful, so just keep in mind the following tip:

Don’t expect miracles. If you and certain family members argue all year long, you can be sure there’ll be tension at Christmas gatherings. Be polite but don’t engage in too much conversation with those who ‘rub you up the wrong way’.
Avoid known triggers. For example, if politics is a touchy subject in your family, don’t talk about it. If someone brings up the topic, use distraction and move on to something else to talk about (or better still, move away from the conversation and talk to somebody else!)
Before you head off to your Christmas function, take time out to meditate for 10-15 mins. Calming your mind, can just put you in such a better head-space before you walk into a crazy Christmas celebration.
If you do find yourself getting ‘stressed’ during your Christmas function, find a quiet place and practice some relaxation techniques (even if it has to be the bathroom!), such as deep breathing.
People under stress tend to ‘self-medicate’ with alcohol to get them through a stressful time but that is not such a great idea at Christmas as you are more likely to say something you will regret. Remember that drinking won’t make the problem ‘go away’, so steer clear of overdoing it.
Get busy! If you are not hosting Christmas, volunteer to be the person who helps put out all the Christmas dishes and then assist with the clean up afterwards. The busier you are, the less likely you are to get involved in long discussions.
Volunteer. In the weeks leading to Christmas day, why not lend a hand to a local charity – it sure takes the mind off your own problems! There are lots of charities who need help. You’ll connect with people and feel good about making a positive contribution….

Finally, the best treatment for stress & anxiety is exercise! Make an effort to move your body every day of the weeks leading into the festive season – your brain releases feel good endorphins when you exercise, and these ‘happy’ hormones help you feel more calm and relaxed.

Got your copy of the Christmas Program? Not yet – get it ASAP – it has great ideas to help you get through Christmas & New Year!

All this for the small price of $15 AND you receive a $25 voucher to redeem in January 2022. Give The Natural Way a call on 1300 SLIMMER (1300 754 663), or Mail Order Cora on 0458 754 663 or online here: https://thenaturalway.com.au/product/christmas-program-25-00-voucher/