Slow down its Christmas and in case you’re thinking ‘Jenny are you crazy I’ve got a list as long as my leg never mind my arm’. I hear you. BUT the thing is… when you’re rushing around you’re placing yourself in a state of high alert and this isn’t good.
Plus, you’ll hit the big day totally exhausted and unable to enjoy a single slice of turkey (other meats are available).
Believe it or not, when you slow down you are likely to get more done and create time. Let me explain, have you ever been rushing out the door only to find you can’t find your car keys? You then spend valuable time searching for them to fly out the door even later then you wanted and worrying if you’ll find a car parking space, which you won’t. And the cycle continues, all day.
When you slow down, you are less likely to find yourself in time eating situations.
Give yourself the gift of kindness
Firstly, and not surprisingly at Sarum, we recommend you don’t give up your exercise at this time of year. As this is exactly what you need because exercise is good for the mind and soul. Also, it’s much harder to get back into the routine if you start skipping classes or your morning run – so keep it up.
Here are five ways to slow down and gift yourself kindness.
- Take a look at that ‘to-do’ list and decide what can be delegated or even dropped. Be honest, do you really need another string of lights in the garden? Order your supermarket shop online and remember even on Christmas day the local shop is open for a few hours if you’ve forgotten anything.
- Do only one thing at a time. That means if you’re preparing the spare bedroom for visitors, do just that before moving on. Women particularly are brilliant at starting one job and then finding themselves distracted by another because ‘there is so much to do’. Keep focused on the job at hand.
- It doesn’t have to be perfect, so let the kids help wrap the presents or bribe them (okay that might not be ethical) to clean their rooms. Stop searching for those perfect napkins, especially if you’re buying paper ones. And don’t get your knickers in a twist over the perfectly sized Brussel sprouts.
- Look for timesavers and embrace them. You don’t need to peel and cut the veg – you can buy it that way. Yes, it would be lovely to have handmade crackers but give yourself a break you’ve got enough to do. You can even simplify Christmas Day lunch (it is only a roast dinner after all) and don’t try anything new.
- Schedule time in the diary every day for you and this needs to be in addition to your ‘exercise. Even fifteen minutes a day can help. Moments when you simply stop to enjoy a hot beverage or perhaps a glass of sherry. Or why not hide in a coffee shop while out shopping with a book or magazine.
You can choose to be busy; you can choose to be frantic or you can choose a different way. Be kind to yourself and slow down this Christmas.
And of course, we are always here for you and in particular our fabulous massage team who are on hand to ease the tension. Ready to work out the knots and bring your shoulders back down where they should be.
