It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Christmas can, for many of us, also be one of the most
stressful and exhausting times of the year. Finding balance in the run-up to Christmas is essential to make sure that you’re still sparkling come December 25th.
Here are some ideas that may help if you’re feeling squeezed this December.
Find harmony between pleasure and meaning
Pleasure is all about the immediate return, where we’re feeling good. So, for example, when we’re pampering ourselves or enjoying a pre-Christmas glass of fizz with friends, we’ll get an instant dopamine hit. Dopamine is known as the feel-good’ hormone that gives you feelings of satisfaction, pleasure and motivation.
It’s an immediate reward and makes our brain feel good in the short term.
It’s important to balance this with the idea of meaning, reflecting on what’s really important to us – it’s much more purposeful and while it doesn’t necessarily give us an immediate pleasure hit, it’s all about the long-term gain for our health, happiness and wellbeing.
Manage your energy instead of your time
Just where does the time go?! I’m sure that there are plenty of us who wish we had more hours in
the day and, over Christmas, finding time does seem to be even more elusive.
Focus on your energy instead and figure out what your non-negotiable routines and traditions are; how can you make space for the things that give you energy without putting too much pressure on yourself? Switching off socials for a while is also very good for you – at any time – but particularly over the festive season.
Don’t forget Twixmas
Some people describe the period between Christmas and New Year as a portal to another world. After the big day is over, there does often seem to be a lot more calm in the atmosphere and it’s worth taking advantage. Whether you’re at work or still on holiday, this is a good time to snatch some restorative time to do the things that nourish you: quiet reflection time, catching up, taking a bit more time than usual.
Need a little practical help?
On the CALM hub we’ll be hosting our annual 30-minute online Christmas Slow Down CALM Hub workshop with mindfulness expert Cheryl Finch on December 6th.
Cheryl has nurtured a passion for complementary health care for more than 20 years and is trained
in Reiki, Swedish massage, Aromatherapy and mindfulness. A mindful slow down can be just the tonic needed to maximise peace this Christmas.
Not only is it a powerful coping strategy in itself, allowing us to step back and feel less pushed about
by our thoughts and feelings, but it also forms the foundation for self-care and helps us to stay calm
amidst the Christmas squeeze.
To grab one of the last few spaces, visit: calminabox.co.uk/events and follow the link to register.
Calm In A Box partners with businesses, teams and leaders to help them perform at their best to deliver change and deliver through change in a world of work where change is now the only constant.
We have developed our CALM philosophy and toolkit to facilitate focused and proactive work on culture, mindset and behaviour change programmes so leaders and teams can be well, to do well.
Supporting businesses going through change to accelerate successful transformation of all types, we’ve worked with global brands and growing SMEs who are passionate about supporting their people through change for better results.
We provide value in a range of ways through our CALM product ecosystem including consultancy, workshops, coaching and free digital learning on the CALM hub.
If you’d like to chat with us, we’re always up for an online coffee. Get in touch – hello@calminabox.co.uk
