Dealing with anxiety during the busy Christmas season

Christmas can be a difficult time for some, and one that can increase feelings of stress and anxiety. Here we take a look at five ways to try and reduce your anxiety during the busy season, so that you can enjoy a calmer and more balanced Christmas with a clearer mind.

1. Drink alchohol in moderation

With everyone in the festive spirit the party season can enourage more social drinking than usual, and while enjoying alcohol in moderation is ok, drinking too much can be counter productive and result in low mood and irritability. Staying within the recommended number of units allows you to enjoy alcohol responsibily.

2. Don't overindulge

Chocolate and sugary treats are in abundance throughout the December, and while it's good to treat ourselves, it is still important to try and maintain a healthy diet. Maintaining a healthy diet can improve mood and combat feelings of tiredness and irritability.

3. Keep active where you can

Physical activity and light exercise is important to maintaining a healthy mind. While the Christmas holiday is for relaxing, you can also stay active with some light exercise such as walking to keep your mood lifted.

4. Try some relaxing exercises 

Meditation, yoga and breathing techniques are all great ways to calm the mind and reduce stress. The NHS recommends this breathing exercise if you are feeling stressed, panicked or overwhelmed. It only takes a few minutes and can be done anywhere.

5. Get enough sleep

The party season can cause sleep routines to be disrupted. Being well-rested is a huge part of maintaining positive mental health, so it is important to prioritise rest and not over do it.