Happy Christmas eve everyone!

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” 
Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

The Christmas Holiday is finally upon us! For some, (mainly children), it is a time of great joy and cheer, for others, it is a time of great stress and anxiety. Financial and time pressures along with family tensions can cause great amounts of anxiety and tension over the festive period taking away all the magic and Christmas spirit!

Working so closely with many of you, we know that 2024 has been a challenging year for lots of different reasons. With a New Year just around the corner, we can look to draw a line under the past year and look to a positive start to 2025.

Here are some useful tips to help you through the Christmas break:

Have realistic expectations. If you don’t ‘get on’ with your relatives throughout the year, chances are, you will not ‘get on’ on Christmas Day!
Be very flexible, take a more relaxed approach to the day, go with the flow, allow the day to take its own course, rather than the restrictive structures of a normal working day!
Be prepared Be prepared for more people to show up than you invited. This might happen, this might not. It's better to have more than less. You can always send everyone home with leftovers.
Learn to say no! I have had Christmas Days where I have been to three or four different places in one day, just to keep friends and family happy! Make time for rest breaks over the holiday period, where you see no one and do only what you want to do!
Go easy on yourself! Avoid overindulging in alcohol – the reduced inhibitions could contribute to (or cause) an unnecessary argument, as well as leaving you feeling lousy the following day! Keep hydrated with lots of water, if you are out for dinner, sip water alongside your wine. Keep lots of healthy snacks at home to help you revive your spirits the morning after. Take time out for a long walk, nothing feels better than a brisk walk on a cold day!