How to survive Christmas?!

Recognise this? From January till November, you can't wait till it's Christmas again... around September, you have great expectations and wild plans... This coming Christmas you really want something special something extravagant. But: the closer to Christmas, the more stressed and hectic things become... What shall we do on which day, will they invite us or should we invite them? Should we also invite auntie Grace...? The children won't be pleased... but she will be on her own at Christmas... and what about brother Phil? Of course he is frustrated after his recent divorce, but why does he always spoil the occasion by drinking far too much... and what shall we have for lunch and dinner? Oh, and the presents.... and decorations... Numerous visits to the mall, supermarkets and delicatessen store, where it's packed with fellow-stress victims... and what to wear... the whole family will need new outfits...

HEY!! HANG ON A MOMENT....

What are we doing...?! Wasn't Christmas a time to reflect, and relax... and be there for each other? Is it really necessary to spend so much time, money and energy to make this Christmas even better, more glamorous, more stylish than all the previous ones? Isn't being together, sharing and enjoying the moments, more than enough? Do you really need to prepare a five-star dinner and dress like a queen or king? Is all this glamorous decoration really essential to celebrate the occasion?

Relax... Read our survival tips and prepare for a stress-free X-mas!

Learn to delegate

Organising Christmas, into every tiny detail, all by yourself, can cause a lot of stress. In the end you may get so exhausted that you are unable to enjoy the occasion once it's there.

Call a family meeting and give everyone a job to do. And remember: nobody's perfect, including you! So don't criticise the others if  they do their job in a different way than you would have done it... just learn to let go!

Lighten up... be flexible

Remember: if you want to make everything perfect, you are heading for disaster. Nobody's perfect! Do not try to make the "best dinner ever", or to be the "world's greatest host of hostess". Try to improvise and make the best of it and accept unexpected situations and changes. Christmas isn't about contests!

Fight colds

Around Christmas, colds and coughs spread like a wildfire... no wonder, with all the kissing and hugging, and all the stressed victims who's resistance level is low...

Start taking Echinacea (preferably with cat's claw) - either in tablets or drops - as soon as you notice the first symptoms - on yourself or anyone else of the family or guests. Or taking a supplement with elderberry; the antioxidants in the berries have a positive effect on your health.

Avoid awkward situations

Relationship rows are common at Christmas when stress levels run high. So avoid this by clearing the air well in advance. Before all the festivities start, take the time to resolve any unpleasant matters that have been building up over the previous few months. Don't let simmering problems explode over the turkey. (Or over your vegetarian dish, of course!).

Cut the caffeine

It may seem just what you need... a strong mug of coffee after a hectic party. Indeed, it will give you energy. But remember that overstimulation with caffeine can make you snappy, especially after late night / early morning festivities. (Know the symptoms? Little eyes, oversensitive to noise and light, feeling nimb... ) And this can lead to rows with the near and the dear ones. Instead of coffee, try the remedy Nux Vomica D30 to get you back in the saddle.

Don't overload your diary

Invitations to family gatherings, neighbours' drinks and office parties are numerous around Christmas, but don't feel you have to accept every one or you could exhaust yourself. So only go to those parties that are really important to you. Have an excuse ready and, if applicable, make sure your partner knows it too. Also, remember you don't have to be a people-pleaser, so you can say no. Please yourself, for once!

How to fight a hangover?

Before you start partying, and dive into the alcohol, think about your poor liver for a moment. Help it and protect your body against the toxic effects of alcohol, by taking milk thistle before and after the party.

Keep it slim!

Have you got slimmers among your dinner guests? Be a good hostess and don't tempt them. Serve tiny portions and keep the fat traps like roast potatoes, pork, sausage-meat stuffing and brandy butter out of their (and your?!) way and instead, serve plenty of vegetables (see how gorgeous all the bright colours are) and seasonal fruits like clementines. This should keep everybody's calorie intake down.

Beat the balloon

If your stomach feels a bit like a balloon after eating your Christmas dinner, drink a cup of tea made with fennel, peppermint or slippery elm. (So it's best to have them at hand around party times). And herbs that aid digestion include fennel and dill, so maybe you could add these to some of your dishes, if applicable. Relaxing after you've eaten should also help - so don't be too keen to start with the washing up!

Keep moving!

Don't give in to the temptation of treating yourself to a Christmas fitness break. Instead, do yourself a big favour by taking a brisk 20-minute walk each morning during the entire holiday. It won't be easy to get going, but this light cardio workout will give you more energy throughout the day than when you sleep in. And some exercise and fresh air before / after all the festivities will do you good!

Give yourself a boost

A stressful Christmas can leave you too tired to enjoy New Year's Eve. Give yourself a quick boost with Siberian ginseng. It helps your cells absorb glucose and convert it to energy, as well as helping your body adapt to stressful situations.

Sleep soundly

Children are likely to have sleeping problems around Christmas... for what would Santa bring them this year? Can they hear the sleigh, or the reindeer? But it's a fact that also many adults struggle to sleep during busy times and especially around Christmas. No wonder, after all the organising, preparing, late and sumptuous meals, too much alcohol and/or caffeine, and a disturbance of your daily rhythm. But the main cause is probably stress and worrying. If you recognize yourself in this, take a break. Have a relaxing bath with a few drops of lavender oil, or take a nap. Half an hour's rest can really give you your energy and enthusiasm back. You could try the muscle relaxant valerian and lemon balm. These two remedies together have the same impact as sleeping pills! If late-night revellers have disturbed your sleep, try passionflower, hops or 5-HTP. These herbs work on the central nervous system to help soothe away worries.

Avoid "festive" injuries...

Christmas is a common time for accidents, from falls to burns. So take extra care, and don't experiment with new dishes or extravagant desserts with fireworks...

Every year, the A & E departments of hospitals are being confronted with people who have met with all sorts of accidents on Christmas Day. Like children who fell off their bikes, or cutting injuries by opening a present, burning injuries by heating the sauce in the microwave or drunk party-animals who fell off the stairs.

Also in the days before Christmas, a lot of specific injuries can happen, for instance when decorating the tree... installing the lights; electrocutions, cuts; small children who have swallowed something or put something in their nose or ear...

Keep your head clear; stay alert; pay attention to what you are doing, and if you spill something, clean it up immediately. And - perhaps the best advice of all - don't drink too much when you are busy with risky jobs!

Sprained ankles...

Diving onto the dance floor with a little too much enthusiasm, especially encouraged by a drink or two, three, etc., may cause sore knees, bruises or a sprained ankle. And because of all the decorations, presents under the tree, toys spread out over the floor and extra furtinure, ornaments, lamps and cables, it is not unlikely that you stumble over one of these items. So clear up regularly and tie the cables as neatly as possible. If it's too late, and you have already stumbled despite this advice, rub some arnica cream or gel on the bruised spots, or take glucosamine or chondroitine. Both remedies are important for the building up of cartilage and can help to prevent further injuries.

Watch out for high blood pressure!

When your house is full of hungry and thirsty people, desperately wanting your undivided attention, it is not unlikely that even the most "cool and stable" ones among us will feel their blood pressure rise. If your blood pressure is permanently too high, your risk of getting a heart attack or stroke will increase considerably.

If you think you are in the risk-zone, contact your GP.

Nutritionists advise to limit your salt intake. Don't eat more than 6 grams of salt per day. So: leave the salted peanuts, and take raisins instead!

Back problems

Christmas can be a nightmare for your back. The problems may start already weeks in advance, whilst dragging and lifting all the extra shoppings. Tip: take a backpack to store all your shoppings. It's better to carry everything in one place than to have handsful of loose separate bags with various weights. Also, spending the night on a spare bed or, worse, mattress on the floor, when you're staying with family or friends, can be an attack to your poor back.

A soft or old mattress can cause serious back pain the next day. Try to put a PLANK under the mattress to make it more STEVIG and perhaps it's an idea to bring your own pillow.

Don't forget the risk your children run: not only by lifting heavy presents, but also by hanging in front of the tv or playing computer games for hours and hours. Let them have a break every half hour and have a walk around or so some exercise. This advice is also applicable for adults!

Save your skin

Skin is sensitive to the Christmas cocktail of late nights, cold weather and overindulgence. Drinking lots of water is an excellent detoxifier. Also, keep a small bowl of water on top of a radiator to help humidify the room and stop your skin from drying out.

Volunteer to spread Christmas cheer

Research shows that many of us dread the festive season, but you don't have to take part. You could spend the day volunteering at a homeless shelter, or a care home. Volunteering can raise your self-esteem and make you feel more connected to your community, and what's more Christmassy than that? Check out where you could help. Look for ideas on www.volunteering.org.uk.

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 | Posted in: Miscellaneous | Posted by: Georgette Henson

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