My list of 10 ways to boost well-being over Christmas/festive season
The holiday season should be a time of love, warmth, and joy in an ideal world. But more often than not, it is loaded with anxiety, tiredness, and tension. Let me tell you what I'm going to do this Christmas to restore some serenity at the end of a long and very challenging year. Remember, we are only humans, and it's ok if you are tired. Use this time to reclaim your life and feel better! That's what I wish for all of my Linkedin colleagues!
Practice saying no
Saying no and being assertive can be challenging, but it is a crucial skill if you don't want to overeat, spend time with the wrong people that make you socially drained or travel 12 hours somewhere you don't want to be. There is not much time left till the end of the year. Learning to say no, can help you save time, so you can spend it on other things. Remember, it's okay to prioritize your own needs and boundaries, and saying no is a healthy way to do so.
Connect with people
I will spend Christmas with my wife, kids and closest family on my wife's side. I will definitely miss my family in Poland, but I was lucky enough to visit them just a few days ago, while on a business trip to Warsaw. However, you don't actually need to travel, to connect with people. Young people understand it. I'm planning to send online greetings to the people I still consider close, but with whom I haven't spoken in a while. Christmas gives an amazing excuse to take a first step and send personalised greetings and maybe a photo. I try to manage my expectations, so I don't expect all of them to write me back. However, some of those acts of goodwill might convert into joyful talks over phone or Zoom. Isn't that what Xmas is all about?
Eat what you want, but fast
It's pointless to pretend that we're going to eat clean and healthy for the entire holiday season. Anyone who can stick to their dietary goals throughout the season gets a gold star, but for most people, it's simply too much to ask. What I'm planning to do is what I'm able to manage. I'm planning to skip breakfasts. It's something I'm already familiar with and do frequently, so it should be simple. It's important to note that while intermittent fasting may offer benefits like weight management, improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, it is not a suitable approach for everyone. It's always a good idea to speak with a healthcare professional before starting fasting. If you are clear to go, use an app to help you get into a habbit. My preffarable app has always been Zero.
Keep active
Exercise is an excellent way to sharpen the mind and improve one's mood. This is the time of year when we need a boost the most, but most of us avoid physical activities entirely. Allow yourself some leeway, but also get some exercise whenever possible. Even light exercise, such as walking, can help to alleviate the holiday blues. There is still snow in Lithuania, where I currently reside. I've managed to buy ski running shoes. The skis are here. I'm planning to run in the forrest. You will most likely not escape from some of the pictures or videos I may post, while doing it.
Meditate
When everyone is still sleeping in the morning, and you are already awake, try meditating. Meditation can help calm the mind and reduce the physical and emotional effects of stress. Everyone has had a stressful year. It can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, allowing you to better focus your attention on the present moment. Wouldn't you like to be present during this festive season, so you actually can feel it? Meditation can help you relax both physically and mentally, which can improve sleep, reduce fatigue, and increase feelings of well-being. If you are willing to give it a go, try one of these apps I have tested: Insight Timer (it's free!), Headspace (for newbies), Calm (for those who practiced mediation),?Ten Percent Happier (for those who don't believe in meditation),?Aura (this one is also good for falling asleep).
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Learn a new skill
Why not use some of the time you have saved by saying no, and use it to learn something you always wanted? When you learn a new skill, your brain forms new connections between neurons. This process is known as neuroplasticity, and it allows your brain to adapt and change in response to new experiences. Studies have also shown that learning a new skill can lead to an increase in brain volume, improved memory and decision-making abilities. Let me recommend you some of the online platforms I am personally subscribed to, where you can easily find amazing things to learn: Art for Introvert (Psychology and Social Arts), Masterclass (where famous people teach you stuff), CreativeLive and Skillshare (where you can learn virtually anything you want), Coursera and FutureLearn (some serious stuff with university grade teachers). I will pick MindValley this time, where I've already started learning the Silva Ultramind System. It's 11 hours of training and it's a highly optimized framework for awakening your mind’s fullest potential.
Read or listen to a book
Do I need to argue why reading is good? I guess I don't, but I will mention that it even helps you fight dementia or Alzheimer's disease - it's that good. I must admit, I don't like the act of reading. My brain shuts down after 3 pages and I fall asleep. That's why in my case, the best way is to consume books such as audiobooks. Also, my preference is for nonfiction books. Nonfiction is a rich vein to tap, no matter what you want to learn. Whether you want to overcome a personal challenge or begin to understand a global one, then nonfiction is your best bet for making headway. If you want to avoid the crowds at the bookstore, try one of these services, that I can vouch for.?
Take time from social media
It even has a name - a social media detox. It's when you take a period of time where you will use zero social media. This can be anywhere from 24 hours to a month. Those who eliminated social media for a week found their contentment levels rose from 7.12/10 to 8.12/10, whereas those who continued to use it had their happiness levels decrease. The end of the year, when we spend the Christmas Holidays and go straight to New Year is the perfect time for a social media break. Disable social media notifications and enjoy your time off.
Journaling
It's easy to lose sight of our well-being during the holidays because while it's a time to gather and celebrate, the events that lead up to that can be quite stressful. This is where journaling can help. Journaling is an extremely effective tool for managing our well-being, which is why it appears frequently in self-care advice. Journaling is popular because it is simple to implement while also being highly effective. You can write about what you would like to get from Santa, write down what you experienced over Christmas or what you remember from past holidays.
To-do and a stop-doing list
The holiday season can often be chaotic. Making a to-do list is one thing you can do to help manage the chaos and thus improve your mental health this Christmas. This is a very simple way to organize your tasks and thus feel less stressed. You could also make a stop-doing list to help you avoid doing things this Christmas that you don't want to do. If you write down what you want to do based on my recommendations, you will have a higher chance of doing it :)
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Head of Business Growth @ EDISONDA | Business Design
1 年Good list Dawid, thanks for sharing. My personal list is quite similar but I should definitely add the point about being more assertive. What I also got on my list is: try to make somebody happy and take some time to think about all the great stuff that we have around us. I also like to go through all the photos on my phone to bring memories from last 12 months. And it is always surprising for me how much can happen within 1 year.