The Festive Season
It’s coming up to that festive time of year! The silly season! While it can be a time of fun, cheer, happiness, and family time, it can also be a time of stress, busyness, guilt, frustration, sugar, alcohol, treats, lack of exercise and lack of self-care routines. We’ve all been there, over-committed, over-indulged and over-stressed during the festive season.
This month I want to talk about some strategies to help you to enjoy all that this wonderful season has to offer, without the fatigue and guilt. One of the best things I have learnt is to have boundaries, especially around busy times in our life.
One of the most powerful words in your vocabulary is “no”. “No” to that 15th Christmas party, “No” to that 20th Christmas cocktail, “No” to the guilt of not buying everyone 10 presents each, “No” to rushing around to keep everyone else happy. This one word can give you the time and space you may be needing for a happier and less stressful holiday season.
It can be important to think about what you need during the festive season. It helps to write a list of things that you would like to achieve. Having some really good self-care strategies in place already is also a great start. Even having a daily routine where you start the day with five minutes meditation or a 10 minute walk, just to gather your thoughts for the day. It’s important to remember there’s only so much time and only so much of ourselves to give.
Christmas doesn’t have to be an all or nothing occasion. There can be moderation in all areas. Moderation in what we eat, in the stress we have, in the people we see, in moving our bodies, and in the alcohol we drink. It can be handy to set yourself some goals so that you can come out of the festive season feeling better than when you started it.
It’s important to still enjoy all that the season has to offer. I often will take some colourful and nutritious entrees mains or desserts to Christmas parties, because it doesn’t have to be all sugar. It can also be helpful to take your own alcohol so that you’re in control of what and how much you drink. A bright and colourful fruit wreath or beautiful roast vegetables can be just as fun and exciting as the treat foods. Keep your eyes out for my e-book being released very soon with some of my best festive, nutritious and easy recipes.
The festive season is also a time to rest and restore after a busy year, and a new year ahead. Stay tuned for more about New Year’s resolutions and how to start the year well. Be kind to yourself and to others. Cheers to a happy and cheerful festive season for you and your families
Festive Fruit Platter
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
1 Rockmelon
1/4 Watermelon
2 Bananas
1 Orange
10 Strawberries and/or Cherries
20 Almonds/Nuts
20 Apricots
20 Blueberries
1 Packet Cookies/Slice/Fruit Minced Pies/Chocolate
Method
Slice rockmelon in half. Use one half as the center piece of the platter. Cut the second half into 2x2 cm pieces. Cut watermelon into 2 cm triangle slices. Slice banana into 0.5 cm round pieces. Cut orange into wedges (8ths). Wash strawberries and leave whole. Arrange fruit on a platter. Add Cookies/Slice/Fruit Minced Pies/Chocolate. nuts, apricots, and sprinkle blueberries over. Enjoy!
