It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the festive period comes glitter, gluttony, and good times, but what about wellbeing? Self care, whilst also important during the rest of the year, is even more essential during the festivities. Whether your Christmas is looking merry and bright or maybe you’re not the biggest yuletide fan, following a few essential tips can make it a more mindful and enjoyable season.
Despite twinkly lights and clear skies, December brings darker, colder nights which — if you’re still revising for exams — can make motivation much harder to find. When all you want to do is curl up in bed with a hot chocolate or hibernate in the pub with friends, the urge to be productive is likely to drop. Romanticising the festive period is one of the best ways to keep upbeat and motivated during the winter season. Whether it’s sipping warm pre-library morning coffees with friends or the Christmas music that it’s finally acceptable to blast while studying, taking joy in the small moments can make the festive season all the more sustainable and enjoyable when the break arrives.
As well as experiences to find the small pleasures in, changing up your style and enjoying a new wintery aesthetic gives you the opportunity to take time and effort into looking and feeling good in the cold. Whether it’s jumpers, hats and scarves or a newly purchased ‘knitted hood’, winter pieces and accessories are here to brighten up the festive season. With Christmas just around the corner, adding in accessories such as sparkling bows, ribbons, and scrunchies can make even the most casual of winter outfits pop. Take your time and enjoy planning what you are going to wear for Christmas events and parties — the more sparkle the better!
Christmas is always a wonderful time of the year on Instagram. It’s also a prime time to overindulge on online content and start comparing your festive season to your social media feed. Putting pressure on Christmas to be a perfect ‘highlight reel’ often puts unrealistic expectations on the season. It’s inevitable that everything might not go to plan: there may be arguments, extreme weather or even a burnt turkey thrown into the mix. Instagram is never going to show these sides to every celebration, especially influencers who are being paid to create flawless content. Remembering that Christmas cannot be jolly the entire time relieves expectations, often resulting in a much more enjoyable festive season for all.
Finally: you no longer have to wake up for 9 a.m. classes or sports practices and there’s little to no time restraints on your day. As tempting as it may be to retreat under the duvet for the next month, a lack of routine and structure could soon get you down. Sticking to some sort of light schedule, such as making sure you move your body each day and eating three meals, can really help you to stay on track amongst all the festivities. A sense of purpose can be important, even during periods of rest, so setting yourself some small goals is extremely beneficial. Even if you plan to take one walk per day whilst listening to a podcast or finish at least one book before the start of the new year, these little targets help to keep your mind and body healthy over the holiday period.
After a busy and hectic 2023, it’s easy to forget to take some time for yourself this Christmas. Have fun, dress up, slow down and may your holiday season be as mindful as it is merry.