“It is the season to be merry…” but it can also be a stressful and difficult time for many people too. So with Christmas just around the corner here are five ways to wellbeing at this special time of year.
Connect…
Close relationships are great for our wellbeing, and Christmas can offer us a valuable opportunity to get together with our loved ones. Time with good friends and family can be truly wonderful and enriching, and to make the most of this chance to catch up with your nearest and dearest. If possible, try to give yourself enough time to genuinely relax and enjoy each other’s company.
Of course, Christmas can also be a time of flared tensions in families. One healthy thing you can do to help with this is making sure you nourish your connection with yourself over the holiday season. Make time for the things which help you to feel more relaxed, such as meditation, exercise, getting enough sleep, enough time for yourself or spending time with your friends. If you feel more connected to yourself it can help you to deal better with any tense moments which may arise.
Take notice…
From the presents and delicious food and drinks to extra time off work – there are lots of reasons to be grateful over the holidays. Of course everyone’s situation is different, but focusing on what we have to feel thankful for has been proven to improve our personal wellbeing, and Christmas is a perfect time to practice gratitude. You could try writing a short list of five things you appreciate about this time of year or about your life at the moment; give it a go and see how you feel.
Of course, it’s also important to take notice of the world around us and in doing this we can acknowledge the environmental impact of Christmas. There are many things we can do to counter this in our actions – in the types of gifts we give, how we make the most of our Christmas dinner and how we cut down on waste. Check out these tips, and share your own in the comments.
Keep learning…
Often at Christmas we have some extra time at home, due to the cold weather and the extra Bank Holidays. It can be lovely to watch Christmas films on the TV, and you could use this time to practice a hobby or craft, read a good book or watch a documentary series. The latest season of Blue Planet is incredible, and can help you to learn about the many wonders contained in the deep blue sea! Do you plan to read a good book or watch a documentary over the festive season? Share your recommendations with us in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter 
Get active…
We all know that sluggish feeling we can get after eating too much Christmas dinner (or leftovers on Boxing Day). Try to counter this by doing some gentle exercise; go out for a walk in your local area, try doing some yoga at home or have a dance around the living room to cheesy Christmas tunes! Whatever form of exercise you prefer, try to do at least a little bit of it over Christmas time. You’ll feel much better for it!
Give…
Gift-giving for many is an essential part of Christmas. As well as giving gifts, we can also give our time – both to our loved ones and also possibly to volunteering to causes we care about. You could try volunteering at the local homeless shelter over the holidays to help out people struggling at this time of year, or you could give a donation to a project you feel passionately about. If you are unable to spare the time or money, you can always give a smile, a hug or a caring word to someone in need. Giving to others is so good for wellbeing, and it’s important to remember that it needn’t cost lots of money to be generous and make others happy. For inspiration, check out the brilliant #ElflessActs campaign from Global Action Plan.
How do you improve your wellbeing at Christmas time?
Please share your own Christmas wellbeing tips in the comments or with us on social media via Twitter or Facebook.