The festive season isn’t normally associated with the word calm – think last minute present buying, boisterous family get togethers and the infamous office Christmas party, but this time of year is frequently linked to the word peace. “Peace on Earth” features as carol lyrics and on Christmas cards, but is peace a gift we ever think to give to ourselves?
This year will go down in the history books and be remembered for many reasons; a pandemic, two lockdowns and many threatened incomes. According to the charity Mind, 60% of those surveyed said their mental health had deteriorated during the first lockdown (click here to see the full report). That’s a big number.
Negotiating the changing social, economic and health landscapes around us as we go about our daily lives can result in stress and anxiety. Given what we’ve all had to adjust to, it’s not surprising if we’re feeling drained, fatigued, stressed or anxious. And whatever our position in life: an SME owner, a parent, an employee, or a high-profile CEO, we all have our own challenges to face.
Although Christmas won’t look or perhaps feel the same this year, it’s still a wonderful opportunity for us all to find peace and redress the balance in our lives. A chance not just to relax, but to reassess, gather our resources and, metaphorically speaking, refuel (and not necessarily on Christmas pudding and alcohol!). Christmas as a calmer affair with fewer visitors, guests and parties might not necessarily be a bad thing.
Why not spend time engaging in the things that you know will improve your mental and physical health? This will be different for all of us, but could include setting aside time for yourself each day or spending that time with family and friends (though make sure to stay within the local lockdown rules). Do the things you love doing or if you’re fortunate enough to have access to a green space, take advantage of this and get outdoors into the fresh air.
You can actively relax too through breathing exercises, mindfulness and meditation; there are plenty of resources online to guide you through this. And if you are facing a particular challenge, perhaps seek help and support from those around you – family, friends or a maybe a professional.
The end of the year is often a time of reflection and a time to look forward to what’s to come. With a vaccine now being rolled out we should be hopeful for the brighter future ahead. If you can, take the chance to step back this Christmas, and whatever you do find under your tree this year, consider giving yourself the gift of peace and start the New Year refreshed.
If you’d like to know more about relaxation techniques, mindfulness, hypnotherapy and the health conditions I work with, please get in touch: https://www.francesdunning.com or 07973819867.
References
Mind (2020) The mental health emergency: how has the coronavirus pandemic impacted our mental health? London: Mind. Available at: mind.org.uk.
Links
https://www.mind.org.uk/media-a/5929/the-mental-health-emergency_a4_final.pdf
Last visited: 07.12.2020
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/ways-relieve-stress/
Last visited: 07.12.2020
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mindfulness/
Last visited: 07.12.2020
Last visited: 07.12.2020