Plans for the Advent - with Rachel McGuinness

It is a long-recognised belief that Christmas seems to be upon us a little earlier each year. It started eating into bonfire night and now we have wreaths and baubles battling for space with plastic pumpkins and polyester caldrons. Mince pies deck the shelves from mid-October and by the time the actual festive period rolls around, we can feel so overwhelmed from the constant advertising, food, and general rush, that we really need those few days off over Christmas. For those in charge of planning the Christmas celebrations, it can feel even more stressful, with marketing constantly admonishing us that anything less than perfect is failure. But don’t despair! For anyone pulling their hair out after being assaulted by Mariah Carey on 1st November, we have a handy guide for how to get through December. May we suggest no shopping without earbuds after October 31st?

Pre-Christmas work planning

This is more of a tip for next year. We’ve all been there, you think that your annual leave is lasting, only to have it disappear in a puff of school plays and shopping trips. Make sure that you have allocated enough time off over Christmas for a truly relaxing break and have a couple of days in your back pocket for extras – like lunch with friends or pantomimes.

What do YOU want to do?

If last year told us anything, it was that some people preferred the extra time to themselves. It can be so easy to over commit your time and not get enough R & R, which then leaves you exhausted when you start back to work in January. So before making back to back plans because that’s the norm, ask yourself what you really want to do. Reading that book you haven’t had time for, binge-watching a boxset or baking; whatever you want to do, make a list, and make sure you check it twice before January rolls around.

Preparation is key!

Although we probably won’t experience the ‘Christmageddon’ that some of the tabloids have been touting, it is possible that some popular items will be more difficult to find. So start buying things that can be frozen, organising a delivery slot, and arranging those ‘must-have’ toys. You will also want to think about prep-work that can be done in advance, any cooking, Christmas card writing, and if you have children, not waiting till Christmas Eve to wrap all the presents. We all know you’ll be up till 2am and woken at 5am; that’s no way to make it through the day!

Take care of you

This is the time of year when you start to get tired and stressed as you’re trying to meet deadlines before finishing for the holidays. It’s important to listen to your body and not ignore any niggles. If you’re tired and achy go to bed earlier and get a good night’s sleep. If you feel that you’re going down with a bug, take some echinacea drops to boost your immune system, pay attention to your diet, and make sure you’re getting enough water.

Tomorrow never comes

Never put off till tomorrow, what you can do today. If getting fitter, eating better, or learning a language is on the agenda for January, why not start now and ease yourself in gradually? As a bonus, you can feel smug as you’ll be ahead of the game! If fitness is your goal, there are loads of workouts on The Zest Wellbeing Hub to suit different abilities www.zestwellbeinghub.com.

Over-indulgence

It’s amazingly easy to eat so many rich foods in the lead up, that come Boxing day you just want a salad and non-alcoholic drink. So remember to pace yourself through December, and if you’re looking for an alternative to alcohol for Christmas, try out the mocktail recipes on PAGE 36. We’ve teamed up with fellow BITA member Steve Frehley from Jeffrey’s Drinks to promote these non-alcoholic tipples.

Feel the breeze

Get out in the fresh air for a long walk to blow out the cobwebs - whatever the weather. It’s important to get outside in the daytime during the winter. You probably won’t get much of a Vitamin D fix, but it will help you sleep better if you’re exposed to daylight as it helps sets your body clock. And speaking of sleep...

Prioritise sleep

If you’re feeling exhausted - try to get into a good sleep routine with the run up to the holidays and keep to it. Going to bed and waking up around the same time will leave you feeling more refreshed (provided you have 7+ hours between those times), so come the New Year you will feel energised and ready to hit the ground running.

Thinking of others

It is the time of giving, and there are many people not as lucky as ourselves. When you’re out food shopping, consider buying a few extra bits and pieces and donate to your local food bank, perhaps make a donation, or you could go and volunteer. It’s always a positive thing to help others!

Thinking of you

Oftentimes we don’t have the opportunity to think about what we want, and how our lives are. We tend to be stuck in our tracks doing the same things and not really pulling away to look at the bigger picture of our lives and how things are going. Take the time to reflect on the past 12 months, and consider what you are grateful for, what made you happy, and what should you change?

Slave to the rhythm

If you’ve got out of the habit of listening to music, get a play list together, search out playlists on your favourite music platform or ask friends for their recommendations. Check out your favourites, go for different genres or bands you’ve not listened to for a while or your choice of festive tunes. Music helps to de-stress and relax, as well as energise you and put you in a better mood. Listening to great music is fantastic for your mental wellbeing - and also your physical wellbeing if you have a bit of boogie!

We should all take the time to do what gives us enjoyment this Christmas, it’s an incredibly stressful time for many people who feel pressure for perfection and the feeling that they absolutely must enjoy themselves. Christmas is what you make of it, and if you usually start January more exhausted than you ended December, try mixing things up and taking some time for you; whether that’s dancing around the room, seeing friends, seeing no one, or enjoying a glass of something with a good book. There is no such thing as a perfect Christmas, there is only time well spent.