We all seem to spend weeks worrying about getting the christmas shopping done. Maybe next year start to plan ahead. Start stocking up with the food and presents as soon as possible. You could get a few items over the remaining weeks leading up to Christmas along with your regular shopping. As for presents, a great tip is to have an emergency supply, just a few small gifts to save you from embarrassment in the event of someone arriving unexpectedly with something for you.
Don’t expect to create the ‘perfect’ Christmas as it’s likely to fall short of your expectations. The most important thing is for you and your family is to have fun. That doesn’t mean landing yourself in debt for the next 12 months by buying expensive gifts. Simply spending a bit of time together can be the best present. If something does not go quite to plan, it really isn’t the end of the world.
If you are cooking and entertaining on Christmas Day, don’t try and do it all yourself. Ask others to chip in with different parts of the meal, such as snacks, salads or desserts. You could even ask the kids to help out. Make sure you have some time for YOU, even if it’s just allowing yourself to watch one special TV show that you really want to see.
Christmas seems to be about excess in everything, but there is not much enjoyment in feeling completely stuffed and bloated. The best advice is moderation – apply it to everything you eat and drink. Drink moderate amounts of alcohol and try to alternate soft drinks or water with alcoholic ones. As for food, have a bit of what you fancy but try not to overdo it.
If you have overdone it on the alcohol, then it is important to get yourself back on an even keel. Even if you have been good, the chances are you could still be feeling pretty rough. Don’t just sit there feeling ill, drink plenty of water and flush out the liver.
Get active and work off all those second helpings you may have had. It will also help you feel normal again, dispel any festive cabin fever and help repair some of the damage you have done to yourself.
Sleeping is the time when our bodies recover from the excesses of life. Drinking and eating too much can severely affect our sleep patterns, as can the frequent late nights that are a regular occurrence during the festive period. Over Christmas and New Year, many people are sleep-starved leaving them not fit for much after a few late nights, let alone being the life and soul of the party. Therefore, make sure you get some quality sleep – even if it is just a few hours.
