Survive and thrive this Christmas with these top 5 tips to feeling merry in mind and body through the festive season and into the New Year.
It's not the length of a holiday that counts but the frequency. Studies have shown that taking a 2 week holiday isn't any more restorative than a week long break so just seizing the the Christmas public holidays can have a transformative effect. Make the most of the break to plan your holidays for the next year - scheduling regular time off rather than using your annual leave in one big block will induce little bursts of happy throughout the year and help to minimise stress.
Holiday Listening Inspiration:
For some great Christmas and New Year holiday listening, try organisational psychologist Adam Grant's podcast WorkLife: The Science of Recharging on Weekends and Vacations.
Date Planner Inspiration:
We love Australian-made stationery company, Notely's sustainable stationery (their beautifully illustrated notebooks make a pretty and practical addition to our Gift Boxes). Made from 100% post-consumer waste and manufactured using chlorine and acid-free processes, Notely's 2024 Yearly Wall Planner is a conscious way to book in and keep track of important get-togethers.
3 Easy Simple Ways To Boost Quality Time With Your Favourite People
1. Unplug - Focus on the people you're with and not on your phone. If you're with family or friends, suggest a phone amnesty for the duration of the function so that no one is tempted!
Why not power down your device an hour earlier than usual or switch on an hour later, and use that time to connect with someone close to you?
2. Play Games - With the power to restore balance, develop transferable skills and deepen relationships, games are an opportunity to find focus in an offline world and create lasting memories. Whether it's a family tournament, a girls' games night or a pub quiz, lock in regular get-togethers to play old favourites or learn something new.
3. Eat Together - While the majority of us gather around the table with loved ones for a Christmas meal, only a third of families do it throughout the year. Studies show that those who eat together are happier, more satisfied and better connected to their communities. Clinical psychologist and author of The Key to Calm, Linda Blair recommends using mealtimes as an opportunity for bonding.
Recommended Holiday Style Inspiration:
Trinny TV - Broadcaster and beauty entrepreneur, Trinny Woodall's enthusiasm for fashion is sure to excite and enthral!
- Turkey - packed with protein, turkey is also a good source of tryptophan, an amino acid that supports the production of the 'happy hormone' serotonin.
- Whole Nuts - high in fibre, the good fats that feed our brains and rich in vitamins and minerals, Better Health Victoria are not the only ones raving about the benefits of nuts. Ditch the salty, flavoured options and go for nuts fresh from the shells - the process of cracking them before eating will help manage portion control of these morish snacks.
- Cheese - though high in fat and best consumed in moderation, recent tests have shown cheese consumption can support cognitive function. People who regularly consume good-quality cheese also have greater diversity of microbes in the gut, which benefit digestion and overall health.
- Oranges - whether it's a mandarin in your stocking, an OJ at breakfast or the slice in your Aperol Spritz, the flavonoids (antioxidant-rich plant compounds) specific to oranges can protect against macular degeneration, a leading cause of sight loss. Research has shown that people over 50 who added an orange to their daily diet lowered their risk of developing macular degeneration by 60%.
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