Recover, recharge and reset: 12 days of Christmas must-do guide
2020 has been such a tough year for many, so the upcoming holiday should be an opportunity to recover, recharge and reset before we plunge into the new year. Here are 12 things you can do to take full advantage of the holiday period.
Day 1 Be grateful. Much of our attention over the last 12 months has been focused on the challenges and hardships. Even with the upturn in mood with the vaccine roll-out, it’s still a tough time with many families not seeing each other over the holiday (mine included). All the more reason to remember what we do have. Spend a few minutes each day writing down the things for which you’re grateful and feel your heart expand.
Example: Write down the what and then the why
Sitting on my garden bench so I can enjoy a cup of coffee, take in the fresh air and listen to the birds sing.
Day 2 Look up. We spend so much of our time looking down at our phones. While a total detox from small screens isn’t a bad idea, it’s more realistic to try and reduce screen time. So instead of looking down so much, try looking up and truly noticing what’s around you. A great place to start is by taking a walk round your local neighbourhood and seeing what you’ve never seen before. Check out Street Wisdom for ideas and inspiration.
Day 3 Be present. We read so much about meditation and mindfulness these days and how good it is for you. I do think that all the talk about it can put some people off. But even spending 5 minutes a day being more present can really change the way you think about the day. Five minute meditation
Day 4 Regular exercise. Spending long days cooped up at home working is no good for anyone. It doesn’t matter how you do it - get out there (or stay in!) and exercise. The NHS Couch to 5k app and podcast is an excellent start.
Day 5 The Great Outdoors. Spending time in nature is a fantastic stress-reliever. I love going for walks in the woods or forest. There’s something about trees that is incredibly calming. Maybe for me it’s a reminder of something older and wiser than us, something that was here before us and will be here long after we’re gone.
Day 6 Phone a friend. Connect with someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Get curious about them. Really listen to what they’re telling you. Get vulnerable yourself. Having an open and honest conversation with a friend, airing concerns that you might not have shared before (or listening to your friend doing the same) can be a really rewarding (and cathartic) experience.
Day 7 Eat healthily. Constant working from home has not been good for our diets. I’ve definitely been guilty over the last few weeks of not eating well. I can feel in my body the sluggishness that it brings. The holiday period is not normally known as a time for eating healthily, but a bit of moderation and a balanced diet will go a long way!
Day 8 Immerse yourself. The holiday is the time to immerse yourself in a good book or movie. It doesn’t have to be a classic, or something ‘worthy’, just a work that takes you out of yourself and feeds your creativity. When I was writing this post, the book that came to mind for me is ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’, an unputdownable reimagining of the Fleetwood Mac story. I loved it! What book would you recommend?
Day 9 Serve. Dedicate time to serving others. Most of us give money to charity, but giving our time to charity can be even more valuable. Each week, I spend an hour on the phone to an old lady I’ve never met (with whom I’ve now been speaking weekly for 5 years) through Age UK (previously The Silver Line). It’s a lifeline for my friend and incredibly rewarding for me. More than that, the act of service takes my focus away from my own life into a much more peaceful and expansive world of compassion, understanding and service.
Day 10 Laugh. Do you remember when you last had a proper, full-on laugh? Do you laugh enough? Can you remember when you last really laughed? For my 3rd day of Christmas post, I wrote about mindfulness. Here’s an alternative take – laughter as the new mindfulness. Go on, have a laugh! When meditation doesn't work | Medium
Day 11 Draw. Lockdown 1 was really hard with two young(ish) kids at home with us. Trying to keep them entertained (trying to keep them educated went out of the window early on) was hard. Trying to keep us sane was equally challenging. There was an unexpected activity that the kids and I could happily do together – drawing. I thought I couldn’t draw for toffee, but I loved it! I found it peaceful, relaxing and fun. And it turned out that if I was taught how to do it, my scribblings didn’t turn out too bad at all (artworks below – you can be the judge!)
Day 12 Sleep. We all know how important a good night’s sleep is. It’s the foundation for everything. For many, working from home has meant a blurring between work and family time. For those with children, it has also meant less time in the evening in which to unwind. The knock-on effect has been to go to bed later and to sleep less. Use the holiday as a time to catch up on your sleep. If you’ve managed to put into practice some of the tips I’ve shared, you’ll hopefully find yourself having a deeper, better quality sleep too.