Hey you,
There’s definitely something extra special about this time of year – but it often comes with stress in all its forms and it can be hard to catch our breath. The Xmas parties filling in your calendar with all the tempting foods & drinks that your waistline does not like so much, the pressure of finding gifts, rushing around in the hustle and bustle to visit everyone, having people visit you, getting to see relatives who aren’t always a joy to be around.
The truth is you can totally turn things around to your advantage, even with some of the stress involved. Walking into this time of year with a great mindset and helpful reminders gets me through every year… and I’d love to share my little tricks with you.
For a stress-free holiday season, my plan is …
Remember what I said in my blog “4 Tips for Weight Management this Christmas”, a plan doesn’t mean you stick to it 100% but you know what to do and stay within the lines as much as you can!)
You might not find the perfect gifts, you might arrive late or might not be able to take as much as day off as you wanted to, you might have to work a bit from your tablet while you’re on xmas holiday, it might not be a fully relaxing period and so on. Accept that things won’t be perfect and let it go.
The only thing the people in your life care about is being with you.
Don’t feel bad about saying “no.”
You can’t do it all, you have to focus, prioritise and know what’s important. There’s no reason you need to go to every party and event from now through New Year’s. Decide which ones are most important to attend and politely decline the others. Spreading yourself too thin isn’t good for anyone, and it makes the time fly by faster, also.
Stay away from crash diets!
I have shared here reasonable ways to handle healthy eating during the holidays. This is pointless to starve yourself to compensate for the extra calories you had or are going to have at that holiday party. If you do slip up, forgive yourself and make a point to be more mindful. Don’t punish yourself, there is no mistakes or failures only learnings for growth girl. Just move forward positively with better decisions, that’s all.
Know that asking for help is okay
Let me repeat: you can’t do it all and it’s HUMAN. Let family and friends help out when they offer. They can bring a dish, grab something from the store on their way, or help with the dishes. If you have to go to someone’s party and don’t have the time to make something, grab something pre-made from the store. There comes a time when we all need help and learning how to accept it will be incredibly beneficial for your sanity. I would never be able to do it all on my own so I ask for help and delegate as much as I can!!
Fit in time for yourself
Women, in particular, spend less than 30 minutes a day on themselves, a shocker right? Go for a run, get a limited-edition special-roasted coffee at the corner café and sit there in peace, read a book, take a bath, or make time with your best friend to just have one-on-one time without your kids tagging along. You’ll feel your cup again, which renews your mind and spirit like nothing else. We can’t give from an empty cup, as the saying goes.
Remember, the holidays are about joy. Find yours within, and you’ll be able to spread more of it around. What makes you feel most joyful?
So that I can contribute to your happiness this season I have created the awesome e-book below with tonnes of delicious recipes all ready to feed a crowd.
Do you know what would be amazing too? It’s you contributing to someone else’s happiness too by forwarding this message to a friend, colleague or family member that needs inspo😊
No signup, just click the link and download.