Christmas is a joyous time of year. Seeing family and friends, relaxing away from the everyday pressures of daily life, eating, drinking and being merry.
However, it’s not the same for everyone! Some people have no family of friends and, at Christmas when all the shops and social centres are closed, loneliness can kick in. Almost four million people are lonely in the UK and they’re only the ones who report being lonely!
Indeed, the financial burden of daily living is tough for many people.
At Christmas, the pressure to buy more, do more and give more can sometimes be simply too much! Many people choose between eating and heating on normal days, considering buying more food for the celebration and the cost of presents is unthinkable.
Seeing family and friends? This doesn’t always go smoothly. Being together for long periods can increase anxiety. Playing games that simply go wrong, watching television when everyone wants to see something different. How often does one person take on all the chores at Christmas? It’s exhausting!
Christmas is a joyous time of year but for many people, it pushes them closer to crisis point.
Here’s Herts Ability’s top festive tips for a happier, more relaxing Xmas to help calm any Christmas anxiety…
- If you’re feeling lonely during the year, start reaching out early. If you’re lonely, somebody else is too. Getting together with those people you see during the year can form relationships and make new bonds
- When it comes to spending, set limits, and stick to them! Avoid buying on credit for Christmas, that can make the whole year tough then, what do you do next year?
- If you have space around the table, could you invite someone over for Christmas? A relative, friend, neighbour that you know is alone. That is the biggest gift you can give and, to receive it could just make someone’s year
- Set yourself a safe space at home in case you get anxious, or arguments start. A place you can go for a break. Tell someone you’re going to the safe space but, set a time to come out, don’t become lonely!
- Help out around the house! If someone is cooking, offer some help. Peel the veg, wash up, lay the table. If we share the workload, there’s less to do
- Set your limits with alcohol! Yes, we like to celebrate but, things can go wrong with too much alcohol. We love the Christmas spirit but if you drink too much spirit, things can go wrong. Even consider a ‘dry day’ over the festive period
- Go for a walk! Alone or as a family or with friends. Get out in the fresh air. Walk in silence or have a chat. This will help clear your mind. Walking can release endorphins. Endorphins help relieve pain, reduce stress and improve your sense of well-being
- Most importantly, plan well before Christmas. If you’re worried about how you’ll cope, tell somebody! Talk it through, share your feelings. If you’re worried about someone else, talk to them, check in!
We’ll leave you with this important pre-Christmas reminder from our good friends at Healthy Hub North Herts!
