Do you think anyone will notice if I don’t clean the windows? Read by top 10 ways to avoid stress this Christmas!

The main street of Young is packed full of cars all day long. A heat wave sweeps across the state so by lunchtime we take a break with friends in the coolest café and discuss if we are organised for Christmas. There is a sense of stress building as the grocery stores line with overflowing trolleys and the local ATMs hand out money all day long.

Some of us will have visitors over Christmas, others need to pack up and travel away to be near family and friends. At home we are hosting Christmas this year for both Howard and my family, so the girls and I sit under the air conditioner and explore recipe books for lovely salads and dessert ideas.   

The last of the straw will be stacked today and covered with huge tarps to keep it dry. Howards cup of tea sits here on the kitchen bench unfinished. It was a 6am start so he rushed off to meet the other men. Tomorrow Howard will get the shorts out and expose his white legs, as we do some final gift shopping together. He will be tired but his usual cheerful self.

I think about what lessons yoga offers during this time.

10 Tips to beat stress this Christmas.

1/ As soon as we get busy the usual pattern is to stop making the best choices. We might snack on things that make us feel sluggish and drink more than we normally do. So my first tip is to reduce stress by filling your body with nutritionally rich foods.

2/ Drink lots and lots of water!  It is hot and we have a lot of running around to do. Take a bottle of water on the run, it is refreshing and really important to stay hydrated. You skin looks better; you can prevent headaches and feel more energetic when hydrated.

3/Look out for ways to be kind; I have stopped to enter into every raffle going in town and have learnt about the local riding for the disabled association and met some lovely people doing so many great things for our community. It takes 2 minutes out of my time to stop and part with $2 or $5. It feels great to contribute and acknowledge the people doing so much for our town.

4/Don’t get caught up in the complaining. Keep a check on your thoughts and the way you talk about yourself. I could tell you all about the hard parts of my life or I could talk about this incredible morning. I open the front doors and the precious cool air refreshes the house. The children are sleeping and the sprinklers are on. This will be the coolest part of the day so if I savor it, this can be my focal point today.

5/Sit down and write a list. Get clear on the people who you haven’t purchased gifts for and what needs to happen so you feel a bit more organised.  Set some time aside to do those jobs and forget worrying about it. It all comes together in the end.

6/Be mindful – take in the detail even when the ‘to do’ list is ridiculous.  Notice good service in the shops and acknowledge the persons efforts. Notice when the children are being helpful or cheerful and thank them with a little surprise before Christmas. Notice the day, the red sky, the flavors in your food, the good song on the radio, the birds singing. Don’t miss one extraordinary thing or on some level you are missing Christmas and missing a big chunk of your life.

7/Notice your breath – if we run about feeling stressed for a few weeks tension builds up in the body and we can end up with a pain in the neck (and probably being a pain in the neck..ha..ha) Come back to noticing the breath and try to let it flow a little easier. When we start rushing about or worrying, our breath pattern may change. The whole body may respond to this change by holding tight and preparing for danger. Just relax a little and breathe well. There is another way to get everything done.

8/ How can we just enjoy December? I am not too worried, the windows are not sparkling, the dog keeps sleeping on the front sofa and the lawn is drying up in the heat but it is likely that no-one is going to notice so its not worth stressing about. Lets focus on what really matters. The people around us just want to have a laugh and some fun, why leave it all for Christmas Day.

9/Get some exercise – even if it is a stretch, the body loves to move. I have noticed that when fit people get tired they do some exercise and if your not feeling fit and get tired, the response is often a longing to lay down. A 15-minute deep relaxation after some exercise is the ideal way to lift the energy levels so we can manage our preparation for Christmas with enthusiasm and passion.

10/ Be grateful  -  I met with the Rainbow Warriors (the ladies who originally attended my Cancer Council Deep relaxation Classes) and we enjoyed our annual Christmas celebration lunch.  We are all really great friends and we live gratefully and mindfully so the conversation is delightful. Every birthday and every Christmas is a true celebration. Good health, good friends, the love of family and the little things in between become a part of the days we fill with all the things we do. Gratitude makes all the difference when stress is near, it feels good and a grateful person is good company. It seems like we all need a little Rainbow Warrior attitude to make this Christmas truly beautiful.