Relax; It’s Christmas

You’re physically and mentally exhausted, and the body is crying out for a break over the Christmas holidays. So we reward ourselves by staying up late watching movies, drinking most – if not all – nights of the week and eating as much food as physically possible over a 10–14-day period. The body didn’t stand a chance of getting some much-needed R&R.

If this sounds a bit like your Christmas break, then maybe it’s time to plan what you will do to help your body and mind relax this Christmas. Don’t worry. There still will be times where you can drink and eat plenty, but here are a few ways to break the cycle.

RESET YOUR SLEEP CYCLE

Sleep is the one thing that trumps all when helping the body recover, and what makes it super effective is resetting your sleep pattern by going to bed at the same reasonable time and waking up early. So instead of staying up until after midnight watching a movie you’ve already seen a few times, watch it around 8pm, so you are going to bed at 10.30pm and waking up for around 6.30/7 am.

This may seem like your worst nightmare, but for most adults, this is what our sleep cycle should look like.

MOVE

Remember to keep active, and this doesn’t mean you need to run 5ks or smash a workout in the gym. Instead, use the extra leisure time you have to try something different.

Take a drive to your nearest forest walk, head to the beach (even brave a quick dip), play a game of 5-a-side with a few mates you haven’t seen for a while. Try recording a Tick Tok dance with your family or a five-minute yoga session on YouTube.

Whatever you do, just move and enjoy it. The chemicals released from movement puts you in a better mood, plus, you burn a few extra calories along the way.

READ

Rather than always picking up the remote, why not try picking up a book?

Read something that you are interested in or that thriller that has been gathering dust all year. Reading books helps increase your knowledge, provides mental stimulation and reduces stress. That’s a little bit more than you get from watching Elf four times this Christmas, but please watch it once every Christmas. That’s an unwritten rule!

LISTEN TO PODCASTS AND AUDIOBOOKS

If reading isn’t your thing, you can still get the benefits of a good book from listening to one. Even better if you listen to it while you move.

Download Audible on your phone and choose from thousands of books or explore old and new podcasts on any topic you want. There is a wealth of knowledge out there, and it’s also free.

PLAN YOUR MEALS

Planning your meals helps you make better choices and reduces the risk of just reaching for the first thing you see in the fridge. Given it’s Christmas, poor decisions on food selection increase. When you plan your meals, you make better choices. You aim to go with clean and fresh options, and your shopping should reflect this.

KEEP HYDRATED

We may lose our daily routine of drinking enough water over Christmas break. Get into the habit of waking up each morning and taking a glass of water, and be more mindful about consuming it throughout the day.

Plus, if you have a few other beverages, including coffee and alcohol, these can dehydrate the body, so it’s always good to keep sipping on the water throughout the day.

These are just a few ideas that you can follow this Christmas. The main thing is to enjoy adding them into your Christmas break, and when you do get the chance to have a few drinks or eat until you can’t move, you’ll enjoy it even more.