Share
Tweet
Share
Share
Email

Festive balance – joy and wellbeing in the festive season

The festive season is a time for celebration, connection, and indulgence, but can of course be stressful too. The busyness and abundance can take a toll on our health and energy – many of us fall ill as soon as we stop rushing around. If possible, we need to try to maintain balance during this busy period so that we can enjoy the festivities without becoming too physically or mentally depleted. Here’s some thoughts that might help:

Encourage your desk workers to boost wellbeing in the festive season around these themes:

1. Maintain mindfulness 

A short mindfulness practice each day, or even better twice a day can help to keep you focussed on how you are and what you need mentally and physically to keep going and to enjoy the things that are important to you at this time of year.

This could take the form of breathwork (try our Grounding breath practice), a restorative yoga pose or two (some ideas in Five minutes peace) or a meditation (like this one Infinity meditation ♾️)

2. Put yourself first

For many of us the festive season is all about entertaining others and making sure that they have a good time. This may be important to you but looking after yourself and using your energy wisely should always be the top priority. Enjoy the festive season on your own terms – the more you look after yourself the more you will be able to do 😊.

Questions that may be worth thinking about:

If you’re overeating or drinking, is this because you truly enjoy it or to please others?

Can you tweak what you eat at festive events to support your health better? Maybe eating smaller portions? Focusing on the foods that you enjoy most? Making sure there are healthy foods on your plate as well as treats?

Do you regret anything the morning after and how can you avoid falling into the same pattern going forward?

Can you plan your alcohol limits ahead of festive events and how will you stick to them? Opting for lighter, longer drinks? Alternating with water? Saying “no” – what form of words will you use?

3. Rest and recharge

This time of year can be punishing, with late nights, socialising, shopping and entertaining added to already busy schedules. Make it a priority to tune into your energy levels every day, and be prepared to take down time where you need to, to focus on getting maximum enjoyment out of doing the things that you love. An evening or day of rest can work wonders, but even a 20 minute power nap can help. Gentle yoga can be super restorative and can help you to focus in on yourself and how to support your own needs. Try our Total chill out 😎 sequence to restore body and mind.

4. Keep up healthy habits  

Even if your schedule is all over the place, think about which healthy habits from your normal routine you can maintain through all the madness. Take control of part of your day and you should find it easier to stay on track for the rest of it. Some ideas to consider:

  • Daily yoga to help relax, restore and invigorate you. Even 10 minutes morning and evening can make a real difference. Try some poses from Gentle start in the morning and/or from Prepare to rest 😴 before you go to bed.
  • Getting outside and taking a short walk in the fresh air to reduce stress, clear your mind and support digestion.
  • Get the family moving too, with winter walks, cycle rides or outings, active games or activities they enjoy like dancing or ice skating.
  • Your diet may include more treats and indulgences than usual, but this doesn’t need to be at the expense of nourishing the body with plenty of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, fibre and healthy fats. Try to maintain your usual healthy eating patterns as much as you can, with the festive treats that you love being “add-ons” rather than the main event. A nutritious breakfast will set you on the right track for the day and it’s also helpful to keep healthy snacks like unsalted nuts, fruit or yogurt to hand as an alternative to sugary or salty treats.

5. Embrace the joy

Finally, remember that the festive season is about connection and joy. Go with the flow and embrace the unexpected rather than setting too many expectations. Nothing will be perfect in fact the most fun often happens when things go wrong, so stress less, try to relax and share the work of entertaining, cooking, clearing up and hosting with family and friends.

By staying mindful of your choices and tuning into your own needs first, you can enjoy the festive season while prioritizing your health and well-being. After all, a happy and healthy you is the best gift you can give to yourself and those that you care about

Happy holidays!

Helen Withers, Director, YoPO Wellbeing Limited

If you would like any further information on this update or to request access to YoPO’s bank of wellbeing resources for desk workers, please contact hello@yoponow.com

References

Here are some additional resources that may be helpful:

  1. 15 quick and healthy dinners to survive the festive season | Good Food

Ready to boost your team's wellbeing and performance?

Access to YoPO content for your employees can be provided via monthly or annual subscriptions.

For further details, please send us your enquiry using this form:

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Hey there!

Come on in...