It’s the most wonderful time of the year! We get some time off work, spend time with loved ones, eat delicious foods – it all sounds great, right?
Whilst Christmas is described as the most wonderful time of the year, it can actually be the most stressful for many of us. In fact, a study by Robert A. Kloner showed that there is an increase in cardiac deaths over the holiday season. The festive period can take a toll on our 8Wise™️ wellness elements, which leads to poor overall wellbeing.
So why is this time of year stressful?
Well, although we might get some time off over Christmas, many people have to content with a heavier workload in the lead up to Christmas. There might be tight deadlines and longer hours, which can lead to poor Occupational Wellness and burnout. Many people need the time off just to recover from overworking in the lead up to Christmas.
In addition, a lot of people have difficult relationships with family members which impacts on Social Wellness. Perhaps they clash in their political views, or have a strained relationship. Getting together over the holidays can be a source of stress. This is even more stressful if meeting up with family involves travelling long distances. Even if you get on with your family like a house on fire, being in close quarters for a long period of time with little privacy can be stress inducing, especially if you’re not used to it.
Let’s talk about something that most of us love about the festive period – lots of eating and drinking! Whilst eating copious amounts of mince pies and chocolates, and drinking many a glass of mulled wine sounds like a fantastic idea, it’s not so great for our Physical Wellness. Foods like fruit and veggies have actually been proven to reduce stress levels, and sometimes we don’t get enough of these during this time (except on our Christmas dinner of course!). When we add this to spending a lot of time watching Christmas films on the sofa and not doing much exercise, it’s guaranteed to make us feel rubbish. Now, we’re not saying to skip the festive foods and drinks all together, just make sure you’re getting some daily physical activity and eating your greens too! And of course, drinking lots of water.
Are you feeling stressed out and overwhelmed by the festive period? On our social media we are running a daily de-stress advent calendar, where we’re sharing a tip every day to help you manage festive stress. Be sure to follow us and check back daily!