Embrace Joy This Festive Season!

Motivation and Inspiration

Explore Categories: Motivation and Inspiration

Embrace Joy This Festive Season!

The festive season is rapidly approaching and our thoughts now turn to the celebrations and joy that lay ahead in December. Or do they?

Sadly, for many people, what should be a time of pleasure, fun and enjoyment can often be full of stress and anxiety. Unrealistic expectations, family pressures, loneliness and overspending or all themes that take us away from the true joy of the festive season.

So now’s the time to take a stand against all that!

Here are some of our top tips for embracing the true joy of Christmas:

Forget Perfection – We put so much pressure on ourselves to create ‘the perfect Christmas’. It’s hardly surprising given that we are bombarded with media messages that portray the perfect happy family in the wonderfully decorated house, all enjoying themselves! These unrealistic expectations will bring disappointment. Let go of the need for perfection and enjoy everything exactly as it is. You will have much more fun!

Make Time For Yourself – It’s important to take time out to nourish your body, mind and soul. Take long baths, enjoy crisp winter walks in the woods, meditate, eat well and avoid too much over indulgence (a little is fine!). Exercise will get the serotonin pumping round your body and aid sleep, ensuring you are facing the festivities grounded and on full form.

Plan Ahead & Prioritise – Becoming clear about what needs to be done is important. Do a little bit each week from now ensuring you are ahead of the game and leave yourself enough time to actually enjoy the joys of the festive season!

Have A Big Clean – Getting your personal space clear and inviting will definitely aid a clearer, calmer mind! Get rid of things you no longer need, clear out and clean down the fridge and freezer, organise cupboards! Do what it takes to make your environment comfy and inviting. After all, we can spend a lot of time at home over Christmas!

Exercise Kindness – Kindness doesn’t have to be the giving of gifts. Reach out to those around you that may struggle this time of year. Perhaps ask an elderly neighbour if there’s anything they need help with. Listen with compassion to friends and relatives who may be struggling this time of year. Radiating kindness and compassion will not only help others but it will make you feel good too.

Be Grateful – If you start to feel stressed, why not take some time out to make a gratitude list. However difficult things may seem, focusing on the good will throw open the doors to more of the same. There is always much to be grateful for!

Remember, You Can Say ‘NO!’ – Don’t feel that you have to attend every festive gathering or party you are invited to! If you really don’t feel like it, it’s ok to say no. Exhausting yourself with things that you really don’t want to do will make you feel resentful and unhappy.

Be Creative – With the colder, darker nights, it’s a wonderful time to start getting creative. Why not turn your hand to hand made gifts? Get baking? Start thinking about a new 2019 vision board? Creativity and play will help unleash your inner child. And we all need a bit more of that in our lives!

As Wayne Dyer once famously said, ‘change the way you look at things and the things your look at change’. Rather than anticipating stress, make a commitment to yourself to embrace the fun, connection and joy of Christmas, however it unfolds.