EASY WAYS TO STAY CALM OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD

If you find this time of year overwhelming and stressful, building some relaxation into your day is a must!

You will likely feel your tension levels rising in the coming weeks, and knowing how to manage this is key to getting the very best out of your Christmas celebrations. A great way to create calm in the chaos is to practise mindfulness. This is the ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, but not to be either distracted, overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. That may sound easier said than done when you consider just how busy your brain can be during this period, but there are some simple ways to achieve it. A great thing to try to do each day is to stop for a minute and tune into your senses, so think of five things you can see, or hear. When you eat, instead of rushing, concentrate on all the colours, textures and fragrances. Mindful eating has been proven to reduce the amount of food that you consume, while increasing your satisfaction. Try puzzling, crafts, baking or any activity that involves focus, as this can help create a mental state of flow, which reduces feelings of stress and anxiety. Get outside on a daily walk, but leave your phone at home. Connecting with nature aids a sense of overall wellbeing. If you have kids, help them spot as many plants, leaves, trees and winter wildlife as possible. Practising gratitude is also hugely beneficial, so write down three things you are grateful for before you go to bed each night to help create a positive mindset, and share lots of hugs to release feelgood chemicals in your brain.

singles aren’t sure what the best thing to do is.

I’m inclined to believe it’s the result of so much implied choice on dating apps that we’re all a bit overwhelmed and fatigued by things and don’t know where to turn next. But why do we need to know what we want? Having an agenda can really backfire while dating. If you go into every first date wanting a boyfriend/the next love of your life/the father of your kids, then you can easily be blinded and not get to know the person you’re on a date with. I’ve done it before and it’s so easy to do – you suss out dates to see if they are boyfriend material, instead of just working out whether you click and they’re a nice person.

It’s wise to take the pressure and expectations off when dating, and just see it as a meet-up with a potential new mate – keep it casual, don’t have any agenda and just enjoy the moment. Usually, that’s when love blossoms.