01.12.2020
The lead up to Christmas and all the festivities are going to be like never before, rather than a whirlwind of dark days, balancing deadlines, glittery social events and Christmas shopping; this year the fun stuff is likely to be what’s missing. For those of us managing our mental fitness, Christmas can be a time of anxiety, loneliness, stress and unwanted pressure having to be ‘happy’ when we feel anything but.
Yet the impact of COVID has a silver lining for many of the beneficiaries that I meet during the regular mini-workshops I facilitate for Illuminate. The quieter streets are less intense, the pace of life has slowed, communities are pulling together, and mental fitness is put to the top of the agenda… for discussion at least.
But it’s still important for us to take care of ourselves and prioritise our needs. So what can we do to look after ourselves during this period?
My top tip - Go back to basics. And what I mean by this is:
#1 Prioritise your sleep – we now know from science why sleep is so important. Check out Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep or watch this 4 minute clip, to inspire you to commit to creating an eight hour sleep window for yourself. It might be that you suffer from chronic pain or other issues that prevent you from sleeping for long periods of time. But even then, can you commit to a corresponding window of time where relaxation is your focus?
#2 Commit to moving – this doesn’t have to be grand gestures! Create movement within your capabilities. It might be to stand up and/or to stretch to the ceiling every 25 minutes. Is it to go outside for a walk every day. Or it might be something else. But to get moving creates positive changes within our minds and body that benefit us.
#3 Eat well – we know what’s good for us and bad for us yet when we feel low the temptation is to reach for the food that does us no favours. Instead plan to nourish your body – have healthy yummy snacks and meals planned and in grabbing distance. As much as we like the naughty stuff, we also like ease!
#4 Know your vision – when we don’t have a plan we can mindlessly while away our time. The result? We can be left feeling unfulfilled, tired and sluggish. Instead, get organised. Knowing what you need to get done and want to get done each day can be a game-changer. For me, it reduces the risk of my old friend ‘self-sabotage’ coming along to stop me from getting things done. I like to prioritise my top three ‘must do’s’ each day to ensure they are my focus. Even if I get nothing else done, at least I have a sense of fulfillment at the end of the day.
#5 Inject some delight! – what is it that brings you joy, delight or pleasure? If you’re sociable then remember physical distancing doesn’t mean social distancing so get creative! Commit to classes or events that have set starting times, book in calls with your friends and family, set aside time for a cuppa and a good book. The key is to create opportunities for the good stuff.
In addition to working with Illuminate, Vikki works with Senior Executives and professionals of all levels to support and challenge them to create healthy and sustainable high performing environments through leadership and self-management skills. If you’re interested to know more contact [email protected] or check out the website.
