Christmas is almost here. Are you enjoying this time or are you feeling stressed?

Stress

How is your life at this time? Are you getting busy or even stressed in the lead up to Christmas? This is very common at this time of year.

Busyness

There can be so many extra activities and errands and responsibilities right now. Perhaps there’s extra shopping to do - for food, gifts and so on. Maybe you have Christmas cards to write. You may have more get togethers before Christmas with friends and relatives. There seems to be a lot more traffic on the roads, as everyone else is out and about, getting ready for the big day. There just seems to be so much more to do. Plus, as we all know, in Melbourne we are coming out of tight lockdown restrictions. This has meant that we have not been able to get out and about to socialise. So you may want to catch up with all the people you have missed in the last few months. This can include catching up with interstate friends and relatives.

What to do for yourself

All this can be quite tiring. So remember to be aware of how you are feeling and where you are at with it all. You are the best person to know what you need at any moment, to know whether you are pushing yourself too much. So take a moment every now and then to check in with yourself and how you are feeling. Do you need to slow down or to rest? Are you getting enough sleep, or are you burning the candle at both ends? Do you need some space, some time on your own? Or more time with your immediate family? Do you need some stretching and exercise? (This is always a great way to help release stress).

So this year, make sure you are looking after yourself. It will be much easier then for you to relax and enjoy your Christmas day and to enjoy your loved ones.