‘Tis the Season
Time of cheer? For a lot of people the festive period is anything but! Whether it’s shopping, wrapping, partying or dealing with relatives that leave you feeling more miserable than merry, follow these guidelines and you’ll put the X factor back into Xmas.

Where to spend it
This is what causes the most hassle for a lot of people and needs to be sorted out early so it’s not a weight on your shoulders. Look at how many days you have off work over the Christmas period and block out at least 1 day for doing what you want to do. List the people you would like to see and those you feel you should see. Write a list of pros and cons to fitting each in and then give them a mark out of ten. Take into account where they live and where you will be and slot them in place. If you run out of space it’s time to accept that you can’t be in 2 places at once and if you speak directly to them and explain that it’s difficult and arrange an alternative time for a visit in the new year, remember saying ‘no’ is not necessarily a bad thing if handled in the right way. It is important that you have time to rest and recuperate, knowing you have done the best you can, but not trying to please everyone will only make it easier to relax.
It’s party time!

Party hard in the weeks leading up to Christmas and you will be feeling tired, emotional and bloated before the year is out. It is important to keep exercising, even if you can’t fit in as much as usual. If you have engagements you must or want to attend in the evenings you would normally work out, then reschedule your training, this change in your routine could even give you a much needed motivational boost. Rather than waiting until January like everyone else, why not join a gym before New Year, there are often good deals available and you will be setting yourself up for a healthy 2010.

Don’t drink and be merry
It’s all very well being a festive social butterfly, but you don’t have to be a battered one. If you find the idea of going out without the crutch of a tipple unbearable then now is the perfect time to break this habit. The reason we think we need alcohol is because we are under the impression that we need it to relax – not true. Prepare yourself by relaxing on the way using positive affirmations to also increase your confidence. Try one night without drinking and you will be amazed at how easy it is. Once others start drinking their lubrication is contagious, meaning you are able to relax without the slurring and headache the following morning.

Silent Night
Sleep is so underrated, but if you struggle through the festive period, it probably has a great deal to do with sleep debt. Ensure you are getting at least 7 hours a night even if that means not staying until the party lights go out. Everything that comes with Christmas, extra work, relatives, shopping, are all easier to cope with when your sleep account isn’t in the red. You will find you can keep your exercise up, which in turn will keep your energy levels buoyant, and your immune system will be strong enough to ward off nasty colds.
Moderation may sound boring, but it will see you as the life and soul of the party. If your resolve starts to wane, visualising yourself fitting into that killer dress on New Years Eve will ensure it becomes a reality.