3 Rules for a Calmer Christmas

It may be the ‘most wonderful time of year’ but for many people Christmas is far from joyful, so I want to share my techniques for avoiding the frazzled nerves and stresses which can accompany this time of year.

The other night I had a dream that I awoke on Christmas morning to the realisation that I had forgotten to buy my daughter a single gift! Because we have such busy lives, my brain is worrying about forgetting important things. So, to try and prevent any stress, I knew I needed to start following my 3 rules for a calmer Christmas:

Rule 1 – GET ORGANISED. It sounds obvious, but putting aside one hour to create a list of all the things I think I will need to do in the coming weeks stops me from worrying about things. I also find it helps ensure that I will not forget anything!

Rule number 2 – TRY AND STAY CALM. Easier said than done, I know, but this is really important. Staying calm helps us to stay in the logical part of our brain – the area where we can find solutions and think clearly. As soon as we start to worry or stress, we move into the emotional part of our brain. This causes us to become more worried and stressed, and prevents us from behaving or reacting logically. To help me achieve this state of calm, I often use the herbs Passiflora and Avena Sativa. Both have been used in alternative medicine for years to help promote calm relaxation, without any drowsiness.

Rule number 3 – DON’T FORGET D3! At this time of year, we can often find ourselves driving to work, and home again, in the dark. This – for me at least – can lead to the feeling that I never actually see the daylight. This lack of daylight can leave us low in Vitamin D (the vitamin we make on exposure to sunlight). Vitamin D is important in the health of our immune system and our bones. Many people also believe that low levels of vitamin D could be linked to low mood and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). For this reason I always take 1000iu vitamin D3 throughout this time of year.

Now you’re prepared, don’t miss our second festive blog – where we discuss how to tackle Christmas Over-Indulgence.

Written By Jenny Logan DNMed. (Jenny is a Nutritional Therapist who has worked with clients in Health Foods Stores and Private Clinics for over 20 years.)