Self-care tips to a joyous Christmas season

By Jacqui Tibbits, Director Consultivation

Tis the season to be jolly sharing good cheer and joy to those around us.

Christmas and the holiday season is a time to connect, reconnect, reflect and rejoice. It provides opportunities for us to mix with work colleagues outside the confines of a structured daily routine building relationships and networks; to catch up with old friends and send messages of joy and merriment to those in our social circles.
 
In what has been a busy year, I am enjoying the good cheer which abounds, carols playing and the lovely feeling in the air however it is also a time for many people to feel sadness, isolation and stress. 

​​The memories of family and friends no longer here to physically share in our days can bring a heaviness to our hearts; the pursuit of a perfect Christmas or meeting others expectations can bring with it mountains of stress, the impending disagreements and conflicts can drive anxiety; or the reminder of loneliness or loss in our lives may be heightened as pages, screens and shopping centres are emblazoned with images of happy people sharing in good times, merriment and joy.
 
At this time of year, practicing self-care as well as ‘checking-in’ with others is important so here are our top 10 self-care tips for the Christmas and holiday season. 
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​Self-care Christmas tips
 

1.  Eat, drink and be merry but remember everything in moderation.
2. Plan ahead, scrap perfectionism and know it is o’kay to say no.
   
3. Set and stick to a Christmas budget.
   
4. Try a present free Christmas, set a present price limit, make your own gifts or make a donation.
   
5. Set time aside for your own self-nurturing.
   
6. Practice random acts of kindness, check in with others and cherish small pleasures.
   
7. Exercise regularly and keep to your sleep routines.
   
8. Accept the past but look forward to the future.
   
9. Practice mindfulness and be grateful for the good in life and living.
   
10. Tell the people important to you that you love them. 

Set time aside for your own self-nurturing over Christmas.

​For people who need a little more help and support through this period including those in crisis or thinking about suicide, Lifeline crisis counsellors are available by phoning  13 11 14.

If you are concerned for a friend, family member or colleague it is important to ask them if they are o’kay and if you are concerned they may have suicidal thoughts that you ask, ‘are you thinking about suicide?’ These questions can save a life.

Our positive connections with others is an important part of the holiday season.

As people, we search for and embrace connections with others. We are inherently social creatures so feeling connected to each other and our communities is important for our wellbeing and mental health and for me, this is what Christmas is really about - connecting with others, honouring memories, building my traditions and enjoying the moments. Not the food, the excess, the gifts or the lights but our friendships, our emotional connections, our loves and our future.





​At Consultivation, we have had a great year with a variety of projects completed with great success, current projects progressing and new ones on the 2018 horizon. We continue to work with some amazing people and have met many new and wonderful people who inspire us and help us to do what we do. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you.
 
On behalf of the Consultivation Team, we wish you a Christmas abounding with health, wealth and happiness and safe and joyous New Year.
 
We look forward to working with you in 2018.

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Consultivation is an independent consultancy service driven by an ethical values base 
supporting businesses and people to flourish in the community, health and aged care sectors. 

Images courtesy of Pixabay.