Wellbeing at Christmas: Time to focus on you

Can you hear the sound of the bells? 

It seems to be floating in the crisp, wintery air, ringing closer and closer. The holidays are nigh!

And whether you are thrilled and brimming with joy or sighing resignedly at the thought of another Christmas coming your way, the holiday season can and should be approached consciously. 

When we think about well-being, we need to include various aspects, such as physical health, mental health, the state of our relationships, and financial well-being, into the picture. 

Holidays mean endless opportunities to indulge yourself. 

After all, we deserve a little treat, don’t we? We sure do, but be careful not to go overboard. 

Lethargy instead of enjoyment is too high a price to pay for a moment’s weakness, so don’t neglect your health during the holiday season.

From candy canes to chocolates, from Christmas cake to hot cocoa with heavenly little marshmallows, everything about Christmas is sweet and sugary. 

Do enjoy an occasional treat (or five!), but watch your sugar intake. 

Abrupt spikes of blood sugar levels, followed by drops (or ‘crashes’), result in fatigue and low energy spells, so you might end up feeling drowsy and tired all the time. 

The same goes for overeating.

And holidays are also an opportunity to explore tastes and to keep up family traditions. 

But don’t forget about the balance. 

If you really want to binge on something, binge-watch a new series over the weekend or have a comfort movie marathon. 

Whatever movie genre fits this description for you — be it action, period dramas, or romantic flicks — everything goes as long as it makes you feel good and leaves a pleasant aftertaste.

If you are planning on drinking alcohol, do so sensibly.

And, last but not least, make sure you get enough rest. 

It’s easy to be caught in the excitement of parties and celebrations, but nothing restores your strength better than a good old-fashioned eight-hour sleep. 

In addition to regulating your mood, it also helps to reduce stress, which is extremely important at this time of year because, surprising as it may sound, holidays can be stressful in more ways than one. 

Why am I not happy? What’s wrong with me? 

These are the questions we often ask ourselves when we just can’t join in the fun everyone seems to be having around us.

You can’t switch happiness on and off at your own volition, and removing the expectations might bring you relief. 

Let yourself be, and allow your heart to decide when it is ready to rejoice. 

This being said, don’t make others responsible for your festive mood. 

Become your own magic-maker. 

And maybe you’ll even discover that you wish to do some magic for others, which can bring just as much satisfaction.

Find beauty in the imperfect, the random, the unexpected. 

A carefully planned event, an impeccable outfit, or an ideal family photoshoot all sound great. 

But they aren’t nearly as memorable as the funny little things, totally unplanned yet unforgettable, such as freshly baked cupcakes eaten by the naughty dog or the lopsided Christmas tree with ornaments hung on one side by the kids. 

That’s what you’ll remember in a few years’ time; those are the memories you’ll hold dear.

Make lists if you feel that you need to, but remember: they are there to help you, not to haunt you. 

From the very beginning, make peace with the fact that you won’t be able to do everything you have written down. 

Prioritise and let things go. 

Simplify what you can, and don’t forget to set aside some time just for yourself. 

Ultimately, what can be more important than your mental balance and well-being?

If you have been doing intellectual work all year, revisit an old handicraft hobby or even take up a new one. 

You can also do things you know you are good at, things that bring you joy and peace of mind. 

Don’t question your motivation too closely; just enjoy.

Holidays are all about family, some would argue. 

And most of us have shared many celebrations with close relatives and old friends, people who have known us since we were little, people we grew up with.

Not every journey down the memory lane is a happy one. 

Not everyone’s family relationships are unclouded and full of unconditional love. 

Very often, a family reunion means stress and psychological discomfort. 

And being held hostage by the obligation to come and enjoy the time together can only make it worse. 

Nosey aunts, overachieving siblings, parents who expect you to be someone you are not — all of these are cliché for a reason. 

So if a potentially toxic interaction can’t be avoided, enter it prepared. 

And I don’t mean ‘prepared to fight’.

Approach this situation consciously and cautiously. 

You can’t magically change other people, but you can change your attitude towards their antics. 

And nothing helps better with this endeavor than being at peace with yourself. 

Of course, we can’t choose our family, but we can choose to be kind to ourselves.

On the other end of the spectrum are those without company for the holidays. 

Feeling lonely and left out, with no family or friends to share happy moments, nobody waiting at home — this sure can be challenging. 

And it’s especially daunting in the midst of all the festivities. 

If you find yourself in such a situation, make sure that you do everything to maintain your psychological well-being. 

And give yourself the treatment you would someone valuable and important in your life. 

Because that is who you are.

Cook proper meals, even if it’s just you at the table. 

Clean and declutter your living space to make it more cheerful and inviting. 

Decorate if you are in the mood for it. 

Create your own traditions: take yourself out for a cup of coffee; visit a cozy bookshop and buy yourself something to read; start a Christmas-tree ornament collection — even if your tree for now is just a twig with one little silver ball dangling. 

Have your own routines to fall back on in case you feel sad. 

Which, by the way, is also completely normal. 

We are allowed some sadness, just like we are allowed joy.

It wouldn’t be fair to shy away from the topic of spending and, most importantly, overspending at Christmas. 

It’s a gift-giving season, no doubt, and so it should be. 

But how do you avoid exceeding your budget in the gift-buying frenzy? 

Well, you need to have the budget in the first place.

If you have some money set aside for such occasions, you are probably a very sensible and financially literate person already. 

If you don’t, all the expenses will have to come out of your monthly income. 

Consider carefully and budget for all of them. 

If you accidentally find that the math just doesn’t add up, don’t get upset. 

Chances are a lot of what you have planned isn’t essential and can be safely crossed out or substituted. 

Cut back on things. 

Balance and modify your budget plan until you are happy (or somewhat happy) with the result.

Here are some very basic but efficient money-saving tips. 

If you are celebrating with family or friends, and gifts are expected, it’s a good idea to agree on the budget for presents and set a limit that would suit everyone.  

Also, writing and sharing lists of desired gifts could make this whole exchange easier and more satisfying. 

It’s a pleasure knowing that the recipient will get a good use out of your gift and it won't be just tossed aside or collecting dust somewhere in the dark corner.

Also, if you are in the habit of drinking coffee at cafés and coffee shops, you might be surprised to find out that you are paying quite a lot for something that can be made at home. 

Of course, very often, eating out isn’t so much about food or drink as about the atmosphere. 

Of course, do enjoy this occasionally, but include it in the budget to avoid any unpleasant financial surprises that can spoil the holiday season for you.

Whether you donate, help an animal shelter, contribute to a fund, or put together a care package for someone you know is struggling — all of these are gifts that you give to yourself.

Just like everything in life, the holidays will pass in a blink.

Who knows, you might even rediscover the pure joy you used to feel as a child at the mere thought of holidays and winter vacations. 

Maybe you’ll remember the mysterious gleam of ornaments in the candlelit room, the fuzzy feeling inside, the bubbling excitement, this fairy dust that used to make us fly as kids. 

But if you don’t — hey, it’s perfectly fine too!

Those of us who are waiting for the holiday season to be over will exhale with relief. 

Normality will be restored with its everyday challenges and routines. 

And we’ll surely appreciate the effort we put into our self-care and everything we did to improve our well-being.