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IT MAY be the season to be jolly, but many parents will agree that Christmas can be anything but. With the pressures of buying presents, cooking, cleaning and keeping the kids entertained, stress seems to pile up as the weeks go on.
But this is no good for you or your family at any time of the year, let alone at Christmas. So, it’s important to find ways to manage your stress during the festive season (and beyond).
Of all the well-known coping techniques for stress, exercise is one that is frequently recommended by health care professionals. Exercise may feel like the last thing you can fit in, but getting active will help the whole family relax, unwind and have a good time.
FEEL GOOD FACTOR
PHYSICAL activity encourages the production of endorphins, commonly known as ‘the brain’s happy chemicals’. It’s important to find time – no matter how busy you are – to get moving.
Any activity that makes your heart beat faster, increases your breathing rate and makes you feel warmer will release endorphins.
So, whether it’s taking the kids for a kick about at the park, managing 45 minutes at the gym or simply adding in a few brisk walks to the shops, you will release enough happy chemicals to help keep stress at bay.
BRING ON THE BOOGIE
WITH Christmas songs constantly playing on the radio, there’s no excuse not to get your feet moving.
Encouraging the whole family – including granny and grandad – to get up and have a dance when your favourite song comes on is a great way to release some of the children’s energy without having to head outside.
Not only does it get your heart thumping, it’s also a great opportunity to get the family away from their screens and enjoying a different kind of sensory movement.
FILL YOUR LUNGS
CHALLENGING the kids to a treasure hunt, or going for a walk armed with an iSpy book, is the perfect way to get out into the fresh air and open up your lungs.
If you don’t have access to a green space, why not take kids for a walk around the estate to look at all the
Christmas lights and decorations?
Walking is a really affordable way to keep the whole family entertained without much planning or specialist gear.
FLOAT AWAY YOUR TROUBLES
FOR those with older kids, swimming is a great opportunity to relax. It will help keep the children entertained during the long two-week break from school, and also provide you with an opportunity to take a little time to yourself.
The simple act of floating can be hugely calming. The repetitive motion of swimming lengths can help you drift into a form of meditation, helping you clear your mind and reach an emotionally calm state.
Most swimming pools have dedicated family-fun times during the holidays, where they bring out the inflatables and you can have a splashing good time. Likewise there are quieter adult-only sessions too, usually after the kids’ bedtime. So, it’s worth checking out what activities are available at your local leisure centre.
SLEEP TIGHT
A GOOD night’s sleep is essential to help your brain reset and recharge. But that’s easier said than done when you have a million and one jobs to do!
However, boosting your activity levels will wear out both you and your kids, ensuring that you fall asleep quicker with less time to lie awake worrying. Exercise also stimulates our bodies to release serotonin, a neurotransmitter which helps improve our mood and most importantly, regulate our sleep.
So, fitting in that quick run around the block or dancing around the kitchen to All I Want For Christmas will increase the chances of a worry-free night.
EAT WELL
I’M SORRY to have to say it but avoiding over indulgence can also help you keep your stress levels down.
Devouring a box of chocs after a long day may feel like the answer to all your problems, but the sugar high will soon be followed by a low and can have a detrimental effect on both mood and sleep. Not to mention the kids’ activity levels!
Too much alcohol, coffee, sugar and rich food will also cause your hormones to go a little crazy, so if you do have some heavy days, take a few rest days, or stop a few hours before bed.
If you find things are getting on top of you, or you find you’ve eaten most of the chocolates off the tree before you’ve even decorated it, try and balance it out.
Go for that run when the kids have gone to bed or take advantage of quiet gym sessions over the festive period.
Moving more is the answer to everyone having a great break whether it’s dancing at your Christmas party, going for a run or a swim, or spending a few hours outdoors with the kids. Staying active will help you expend excess energy, work off some of that over-indulgence and hopefully help everyone chill out a little. Your body, mind and family will thank you for it!
■ Ruth Lynch is Head of Fitness, Health & Communities at sports trust, lifeleisure.net