CHRISTMAS DAY Introduce a family walk as part of your Christmas Day habit. Decide the time and route in advance and get everyone excited about it. It will re-energise you all and make you feel better about indulging throughout the day. Enjoy your food! Don’t be too strict on yourself or beat yourself up if you eat things you usually avoid. But don’t overindulge for the sake of it. Eat slowly. It can take 20 minutes for your gut to tell your brain that you are full once you start eating, so leave an opportunity for that feedback loop to work. Don’t carry on eating once you’ve stopped actually appreciating it. Stress less. The important thing is being with the people we love - it really doesn’t matter if the potatoes are burnt or someone smashes a plate. Don’t let others stress you out, either. You may be forced to spend time with people who don’t make you feel good about yourself - this is where boundaries come into play again. If you can only cope with a few hours of your overly critical family member, decide your limits in advance. And in the meantime, if they comment on what your teenager is wearing or how you set the table, breathe through it. It won’t be for long. Top tip: If you are spending the day with someone who causes you angst, have a strategy for when you need a break. Take the dog for a walk, or say there’s a friend you want to call and wish Merry Christmas to, and take a stroll around the block. Or grab ten minutes to escape to a room to meditate - it will go a long way in reducing your stress levels.
ONAIR Mi LL i
Powered by FlippingBook