Discover
Five ways to be more mindful this Christmas
Christmas can be a great time of year – it’s a chance to spend time with friends and family, eat nice food and relax. But all too often you can get caught up in the busyness of the season and end up feeling stressed out. Here, I’ll discuss five easy ways for you to have a more mindful Christmas this year.
1. Try making your Christmas presents
2. Eat slowly and enjoy the taste
3. Take some time out
4. Get outside
5. Make time for fun
1. Try making your Christmas presents
Rushing around the busy shops looking for last-minute gifts is far from relaxing. Why not try something more mindful and sustainable this year? You can make all kinds of personal and special gifts at home and enjoy yourself at the same time. You could try making some edible gifts or get crafty this Christmas with some homemade decorations.
Why not put some festive music on, sip a cup of something hot, and take your time to make your gifts? Wrapping mindfully is also soothing, and your friends and family will appreciate the effort of a handmade gift.
2. Eat slowly and enjoy the taste
Christmas can be a time of excess. Eating too much too quickly, and then feeling bloated and uncomfortably full. But eating slowly can be mindful, and you can enjoy your food more that way. Try to notice the smells, tastes, and textures of what you eat and drink.
Savouring your meal can help you to notice when you’re full and prevent digestive discomfort. You could also try mindful drinking this year, to help you feel your best.
3. Take some time out
It’s easy to get swept up in the festivities, going from one thing to another. But this can cause you to feel stressed and may prevent you from sleeping well. Taking little mini breaks during the festive season can help to reset your nervous system. And it needn’t take long.
You could try sitting quietly with your eyes closed and taking five slow, deep breaths. Or consider taking the time to have a warm bath, which has been shown to reduce stress. Even better, take a book with you, as reading can also help you to relax.
4. Get outside
When its cold outside, it’s tempting to stay indoors watching festive films, which leads to sitting down for long periods of time. But taking a leisurely walk outside can help to regulate your sleep/ wake cycle, boost your mood, and reduce stress.
So, wrap up warm, take a flask of hot tea, and find somewhere in nature to take a Christmas stroll. You could try turning your phone off and taking notice of your surroundings. Look out for festive birds such as robins. Birdwatching has been shown to bring you into the moment and help you to let go of worries.
5. Make time for fun
As a child you probably had plenty of time for fun and play at Christmas time. But as adults, we can get stuck into chores and responsibilities instead. Play brings you into the present moment and helps you to feel joyful and carefree.
Studies have shown that having fun can reduce your anxiety and boost your mood. Try playing with a dog, throwing snowballs, or doing Christmas games.
Our health insurance allows you to skip a GP referral in some cases, and speak to a mental health practitioner. Learn more today.
-
Sources Sources
- Christmas stress and anxiety. Patient UK. www.patient.info, published 8 November 2022.
- Christmas coping tips. Mind UK. www.mind.org.uk, accessed 14 December 2022.
- Goto Y, Hayasaka S, Kurihara S, et al. Physical and mental effects of bathing: a randomised intervention study. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018; 2018: 9521086.
- Mindful eating. British dietetic association.www.bda.uk.com, published 6 April 2022.
- Explore sober curious and mindful drinking. Drinkaware. www.drinkaware.ie, accessed 14 December 2022.
- Murray K, Godbole S, Natarajan L, et al. The relationship between sleep, time of physical activity and time outdoors among adult women. PLoS One. 2017; 12(9): e0182013. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182013.
- Physical activity and your mental health. Mind UK. www.mind.org.uk, accessed 14 December 2022.
- Cox D, Shanahan D, Hudson H et al. Doses of neighbourhood nature: The benefits for mental health of living with nature. BioScience, 2017;67: 147–155, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biw173.
- Vleet M, Helgeson V, et Berg C. The importance of having fun: daily play among adults with type 1 diabetes. J Soc Pers Relat. 2019; 36(11-12): 3695–3710.
About our health information
At Bupa we produce a wealth of free health information for you and your family. This is because we believe that trustworthy information is essential in helping you make better decisions about your health and wellbeing.
Our information has been awarded the PIF TICK for trustworthy health information. It also follows the principles of the The Information Standard.
More discover articles...
Did you find our advice helpful?
We’d love to hear what you think. Our short survey takes just a few minutes to complete and helps us to keep improving our healthy lifestyle articles.
Legal disclaimer
This information was published by Bupa's Health Content Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals and deemed accurate on the date of review. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition.
Any information about a treatment or procedure is generic, and does not necessarily describe that treatment or procedure as delivered by Bupa or its associated providers.
The information contained on this page and in any third party websites referred to on this page is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment. Third party websites are not owned or controlled by Bupa and any individual may be able to access and post messages on them. Bupa is not responsible for the content or availability of these third party websites. We do not accept advertising on this page.
