It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

A different Christmas is on it’s way

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (But not everyone is feeling the joy).

The decorations are going up. Christmas shopping has begun. Are you getting excited? Or does it fill you will dread, stress, worry and anxiety?

Christmas is not a happy time for everyone! With Covid-19, lockdown, worries about money, fallouts between families and loneliness or the loss of a loved one – it is not surprising that many people are not looking forward to the festive period this year.

Regardless of how you feel about the upcoming festivities, you don’t need to feel overwhelmed or anxious. After all, anxiety isn’t something that happens TO you. It is something that you create.

Here are FIVE tips for how to keep your mental wellbeing in check though Christmas and how to keep your emotions and thoughts positive.

1. MAINTAIN PERSPECTIVE

While some people are running around with a glittery, magical view of Christmas, just take a minute to think about your perspective. It may not be the same as those people, but is your perspective true to the reality? Or do you have a thoroughly dark and gloomy perspective on it all?

The fact of the matter is – It’s just day. You don’t have to have a love it or hate it approach. It’s not about spending a fortune, buying mountains of presents, keeping everyone happy or having twenty people around the table. Who knows what it is going to look like this year really, but setting yourself unrealistic expectations or very high standards won’t help.

On the other hand, a gloomy perspective will just make you stir up unhelpful, unwanted emotions in you, so why not decide to be indifferent instead?

Decide on a more helpful perspective that is more in line with the reality of the situation. It doesn’t have to be one extreme or the other.

2. SELF AWARENESS (don’t self-sabotage or overthink)

Be aware of the thoughts and emotions you are creating around Christmas. Are thoughts like “I can’t cope” “What am I going to do?” “I hate this” helpful to you? Of course they aren’t. All they are doing is creating negative feelings and emotions. Just remember that these don’t impact anyone but YOU and they don’t change the reality either!

I’m not saying that you have to pretend to be excited. But constantly thinking about how terrible everything is, wishing that things would be different, comparing yourself to others and thinking about miserable you feel are only going to make you feel worse. These thoughts will not change things.

Instead, decide to take action! Think helpful, more in control thoughts “Christmas is whatever I chose it to be” “I am not going to put pressure on myself” “I am going to make the most of it by…” 

By doing this, you will be able to make more helpful choices and take action that will have a more positive outcome.

Your thoughts and emotions are your choice. If you are not happy with them – change them.

3. FIND THE POSITIVES

Instead of focussing on the Christmas going’s on to complain and grumble about (Bah humbug!), wouldn’t it be better to find some things to be positive and grateful for instead? I wonder which of the two will make you feel happier, calmer and more relaxed?

What do you mean there are no positives!? Of course there are! They are in the smallest things going on around us. We are just out of practise in finding them!

They don’t have to be Christmas related. They can be any small, tiny thing. Try looking for 2-3 things a day and spending time thinking about WHY they were positives.

Here are some examples –

I went out and did the shopping even though I didn’t feel like it.

I stopped obsessing over an unhelpful thought and took the dog out instead.

I decided to make brownies and share them.

I checked on a neighbour to see how they were getting on.

The more you practise looking, the more you will find 🙂

4. DON’T SHUT YOURSELF AWAY

Hiding from Christmas/family/situations is not the answer. Avoiding these things may fool you into thinking that your worries and anxieties have eased. But, the fact is that the problem is still there!

It goes back to the unhelpful thoughts I mentioned earlier – they can create all kinds of fears and anxieties that don’t need to be there. 

Set yourself a small, achievable challenge in the run-up to Christmas and start proving to yourself that when you step a small amount out of your comfort zone – you can achieve things you didn’t think you could!

Try this tip – when you have decided on a small challenge (remember, it has to be something achievable) imagine it going (realistically) well in your head. Shut your eyes and picture it!

It might take a bit of persistence because we are pros at imagining things going wrong! But keep at it and keep your imagination on track. When you visualise things going well, they are more much likely to happen!

5. MIND YOUR LANGUAGE

Okay, I don’t mean the “effing” and “jeffing” as such, but studies show that the language we say (and think) has a direct impact on our life! 

If you spend all your time making using words like “terrible” “awful” “unbearable” “hate” “can’t” – then just remember that scientific evidence shows that these words have a physical impact on your body, brain and mood.

It’s not about changing your words for positive ones when you don’t really mean them. Not every situation calls for positivity after all. But you can use powerful, in control language instead.

A good example is to imagine that you have a cold. There are two types of language you can use:

1 – “I feel dreadful. I’ve never felt this bad in my whole life!”

or

2 – “I’ve got a bit of a sniffle. It’ll have gone in a day or two and I’ll be fine!”

The impact these different sets of language can have on you physically is astounding! So, when it comes to the festive season. Mind the language that you say and think!

NOT SO EASY?

If you are thinking that these things are easier said than done and that you can’t help the way that you think and feel then maybe it’s time to seek support. All of these things are just bad habits that we have developed over time. They are not permanent features of your personality. But, as they say, ‘Old habits die hard’ and if you would like some training and support to help you to make these changes then find out more about I can help with a free 30-minute consultation.

You can learn how to change these thinking habits in just 3-7 sessions and be rid of feelings such as anxiety, worry and depression for good. Don’t believe me? Take a look at what our most recent clients have to say at Testimonials – Chanya Life