Day 1 – Try not to overindulge
Think about what you eat and drink. With so much food and drink right at your fingertips, it can be tempting to have that extra slice. Try to keep your diet as balanced as possible with lots of fruit and vegetables. This will help you to avoid energy lows that can have an effect on your mood. Livewell has some helpful healthier Christmas recipes you can try.
Day 2 - Be prepared
With so much tempting food on offer in the shops, it’s so easy to get carried away and buy things that will take you off course. Try to think in advance what food you want over the festive period. If making a menu plan helps, then sit down a few weeks before to decide what you need to buy. When shopping try to stick to your list! Don’t be hard on yourself if you sneak in just the one treat!!
Day 3 - Have fun
At Christmas it can be all too easy to get swept up into other people's ideas of fun. But it's important to make sure that you do something you want as well. Eat in moderation, be kind to yourself and fit in those walks or exercises if you can. Or why not have a good boogie in the front room – burns those calories just the same. Make it a bit of ‘me time’ – this is something you can indulge in!
Day 4 - Get plenty of sleep
Sleep restores your body and gives you the energy to get up motivated the next day. Feeling sleepy can also leave you feeling low, so try to keep to regular sleep patterns as much as possible over the Christmas period. You're going to need all the energy you can get for cooking all those healthy meals or for last minute shopping - not to mention how early the children will get up on Christmas Day.
Day 5 - Set realistic goals
Set yourself some goals that you know you can stick to, and make them before you get caught up in the festive moment. Can you do 5 mins of exercise a day? Can you resist that mince pie or extra chocolate? But be kind to yourself, don’t make it unachievable because if you feel like you’ve failed that will not make you feel motivated. If it helps, write them down as it makes it more real and you can refer to them if you feel a bit lost.
Day 6 - Drink water
It is good for your metabolism which means you are less likely to put on those extra pounds after the Christmas dinner. It also keeps you hydrated which is essential for a healthy body as it stops you feeling sluggish and having a headache. You also eat less too. Bonus!!
Day 7 - Stay balanced
Have some downtime alongside the hectic preparation that is expected around this time of year. Taking time away for a bit of space to renew yourself, is essential for maintaining balance in your life. Perhaps go for a walk/run or have lovely long bath.
Day 8 - Don’t skip meals
It’s tempting to think that by missing meals in the day you can overindulge for your main meal, or make up for the extra chocolate you had the day before. This is counterproductive and will not help your metabolism. Remember, breakfast is an essential meal as it sets you up for the day.
Day 9 - Prioritize what you need to do
Avoid unnecessary stress by planning as much as possible in the run up to Christmas and being careful not to take on too much. None of us are superhuman, so we can’t do it all. You may feel pulled in lots of different directions, but some things really can be left for another day. Don't forget to make time for you!
Day 10 - Take a walk
Going for a wintery walk - even if's just around the block - can be the perfect way to get some fresh air and re-energise. Being in the same house for too long can get a bit intense so a change of scenery will do everyone good!
Day 11 - Talk to someone
If you're worried about Christmas, feel overwhelmed or under pressure, then don't be afraid to talk to someone you trust. Give a friend a call or go out for a walk together. It's good for our mental health to be able to talk things over. Derby Samaritans is also available if you're struggling to cope.
Day 12 - Have some treats
There is so much food out there, you don’t have to feel like you are missing out but choose your treats wisely. How about dates or nuts as your snacks or a lovely satsuma from your Christmas stocking?