‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year…’ or so Andy Williams told us, and there is no way that Andy would fib to us in a song.
Of course it’s wonderful and of course we all love Christmas, but please forgive us for getting a little bit serious here, mental health wellbeing is important all year ‘round but perhaps even more so at this time of year.
We’re not qualified to offer advice but what we can do is ask that you take a little time out for yourself this Christmas and to perhaps consider the emotional wellbeing of those that are close to you.
We asked our good friends at Oakleaf in Guildford to let us have a few notes about coping at Christmas, and in the true spirit of the festive period, they came through with their very own Top 10 tips!
- Alcohol – Set yourself a stay-well (and spending) limit, it’s easy to be ‘too generous’ at Christmas
- Food – Eat sensibly, it stabilises your mood and can prevent a depressive dip
- Sleep – As hard as it may seem, try to avoid napping during the day and get a good night’s sleep instead
- Connect – Social interaction is healthy and showing compassion for others is good for your own mental health
- Exercise – Sorry, we had to mention the E word but it’s a really great way to lift your mood…it’s all about endorphins
- Boundaries – This is not about being selfish, it’s about making time for yourself. So many of the pressures associated with Christmas are self-imposed, give yourself permission to say no.
- Planning – Dull but necessary, write a list of what’s important to do and tick them off one at a time…but don’t stress if you miss a ‘deadline’
- Time Out – Regardless of what’s going on around you, take some ‘me time’, a hot bath, a nice stroll, read a book or do a bit of mindful colouring.
- Avoid comparisons – Try to look beyond social media images of ‘the perfect Christmas’ as posted by somebody else, perhaps ask yourself why they feel the need to project themselves as ‘perfect’.
- Christmas alone – It’s OK to spend Christmas alone if that’s what you prefer, but remember there’s a big difference between alone and lonely, perhaps check on that neighbour or friend just to make sure.
We’ve added our own tip too…
- Have a great Christmas, surround yourself with as much love as you can and remember…it’ll all be over soon
With the very best seasonal greetings and the warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2020 from Green Team Interiors !