It’s hard to work out what happens around November. The world seems to go mad as we approach the run-up to Christmas. Social events crank up, pressure at work surges, parents and kids have a million events to attend. It can feel like we need to finish everything on our to-do list before the end of the working year, and it can be very overwhelming – so much for the season to be jolly!
So how do we avoid feeling like we’re drowning in year-end commitments? It’s not good for our brains, and as we often see with our clients, it’s not good for our bodies either – the effect that stress can have on our spines and, consequently, our general well-being is often underestimated. While we love to see you, we want to see you for regular maintenance adjustments rather than because you’ve stressed your body into a terrible state.
Here are our top tips to try and reduce your stress levels amidst end-of-year madness.
Don’t buy into it
Keep perspective on the pressure. If you don’t catch up with everyone before the end of the year they won’t disappear. Put off all those social events till summer when you can all relax. Ditto work – be realistic about what really needs to be done before the Christmas shutdown and what can wait. Don’t add any unnecessary pressure to your life
Make time to breathe
Obviously, breathing is mandatory. But scheduling in some deep, slow diaphragmatic breathing daily can kick your body out of flight or fight and into operating from your parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS). When the PSNS is activated, it slows our heart and breathing rates, lowers blood pressure and promotes digestion. Our body enters a state of relaxation, and this relaxation breeds recovery and good health. Take a few minutes each morning to sit quietly, focus on your breath, and clear your mind. This mindfulness exercise can help you stay composed amid the frenzy.
Schedule in the important stuff
Make sure you have a good overview of the weeks leading up to the end of the year, and before it all goes crazy, schedule in the things that are important to good health – activities like exercising with friends, taking some time out for yourself. And of course come in and see us to keep everything aligned in this period of increased busyness. It really is amazing what a quick maintenance appointment can do to help make the end of year less stressful.
Keep moving
Don’t get stuck to your chair because of long hours. Keep your body moving – walk, do yoga. We can really let our health suffer at the end of the year when we’re trying to do it all and are glued to our screens.
Don’t let this year end get the better of you. Try and see it as just another two months and not a reason to increase your stress levels. With a bit of planning and a conscious effort to prioritise good health you don’t need to arrive at the festive season worn out before it even begins.
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