The Christmas holidays are upon us, and for some it can be the most stressful time of year, juggling home and work, demands increasing from all sides and we don't know what to do first. Here are a few helpful ideas:
1. LIST all the things that need to be done.
2. PRIORITISE number them in order of priority, remembering that there can be a difference between something being important and something being urgent.
3. DUMP the things that really don't need doing (these could be things that can wait until the new year).
4. DELEGATE what you can to a willing volunteer; give them detailed instructions and an opportunity to ask questions, and agree on a time that you will check they are managing with this task.
5. DELIVER on the jobs that you still have!
Still stressed? There are 3 things you need to do:
1. Breathe: if you focus solely on your breathing you will be giving your brain a chance to rebalance and recover from the stress.
2. Feed yourself: you may not have time to sit down for a full meal, but keep grazing on healthy snacks like banana chips or almonds. And don't forget to drink lots of water!
3. Exercise: you need to regain some balance, and the best thing is to take yourself off for some exercise, be it walking the dog, an exercise class or a bit of Tai Chi in the park.
