Christmas is a season geared towards connection and family.<\/p>\n
The upside of this is excitement, celebration, generosity and indulgence.<\/p>\n
But for some, this comes with a downside, which can include unrealistic expectations, endless To Do lists, financial strain and exhaustion.<\/p>\n
There are those who have experienced loss, and the holiday season can emphasis grief, or it may be highlight feeling a long way from loved ones.<\/p>\n
As part of a multi-disciplinary health hub, what my colleagues have noted lately is that we\u2019re seeing a lot of clients
\ncarrying more tension than usual. This presents in a variety of ways, from tight shoulders and headaches, to feeling worried and shallow breathing.<\/p>\n
The race to meet pre-Christmas deadlines leaves a lot of people feeling wired and depleted, and lacking the energy or enthusiasm to engage what the festive season is all about: family and connection.<\/p>\n
If you fall into the lucky category of people who have a Christmas elf who cooks, cleans, shops and does the accounting, leaving you free to fully appreciate the best of the Christmas Spirit, please spread your good cheer far and wide.<\/p>\n
However, if you resonate with some of the stressful aspect I\u2019ve listed above, consider these three Christmas Hacks to ease stress and tension, and enjoy the holiday season more fully.<\/p>\n
1. Hydrate. The hot days, air conditioning, and perhaps some boozy over-indulgences at the Christmas party all quickly and easily cause dehydration. This may show up as hunger, thirst, headaches and brain fog.<\/p>\n
2. Breathe. Remember to take the breath deep into your belly. Stress will impact the way we breathe. Taking a few minutes to focus on slowing down the rate of your respiration, particularly the length of your out breath, will help to reset your stress nervous system<\/p>\n
3. Take a break. We lose concentration and efficiency when we do anything for a prolonged period. If your mind is telling you you\u2019re tired, and your body is telling you that it\u2019s feeling stiff, you\u2019ve been at it too long.<\/p>\n
Taking a short break will improve your work output and avoid physical strains persisting.<\/p>\n
This is not rocket science, but it\u2019s the simple things that create a strong foundation, and sometimes get overlooked. And if it\u2019s getting all too much, reach out for care from your support network or health team.<\/p>\n
Wishing you and your family a loving, peaceful holiday season from the Quay Osteo team.<\/p>\n
Dr Laura Walsh is osteopath and director at Quay Osteo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Christmas is a season geared towards connection and family. The upside of this is excitement, celebration, generosity and indulgence. But for some, this comes with a downside, which can include unrealistic expectations, endless To Do lists, financial strain and exhaustion. There are those who have experienced loss, and the holiday season can emphasis grief, or […]<\/p>\n