5 Ways to Stay Sane Over the Silly Season

If you are anything like me, I begin to feel very overwhelmed this time of year. My schedule starts filling up with school events, sport activities, social catch ups, Christmas parties, and family gatherings. I ask myself "How am I going to fit everything in on top of the everyday "mum life" and work deadlines I need to get done? Not to mention the Christmas presents I still need to buy and organise!!!" First world problems I know, but as these extra end of year activities take over my calendar, I can definitely can start to feel anxious and lose the joy I should be getting from the things I mentioned above. So how can we stay sane over the silly season?

Here are 5 key things that help me navigate the crazy seasons of life:

1. Prioritise time to yourself

2. Maintain your exercise routine

3. Get enough sleep

4. Maintain healthy eating habits

5. Staying present -enjoy the holiday season

I definitely have not mastered these 5 tools yet however as I keep consistent in practising them, I can see how each one brings more balance into my life - even in the craziest of seasons!

Prioritise time to yourself

“Carve out and claim the time to care for yourself and kindle your own fire.” - Amy Ippoli

Time to ourselves doing what we enjoy doing – journaling reading a book, going for a walk, watching our favourite tv show, playing sport, going to the beach, or even heaven forbid - having a nap! So often we put “me time” at the bottom of the list of everything else that needs to be done in our day.

I think as mums we do this more often than our partners. Mother’s guilt is so very real and this is the reason we so often don’t make time for ourselves a priority. We think that if we are the perfect mum, wife, friend, daughter, and sister (the list can go on), we will feel fulfilled, but often not taking time for yourself can lead to resentment and burn out.

I know in my life if when I am not prioritising time for myself, I start to get angry at my spouse and kids. More often than not I get angry for no reason except for my own frustration of not stopping to do something for me!

Again, this can feel even more difficult during the silly season when we have all the extra things stealing our time, but I challenge you to make a list of the things you LOVE doing and try to do at least one of them a week. Then, see how you feel at the end of the week? Hopefully more fulfilled and energised than if you hadn’t!

Maintaining your Exercise Routine

“A daily hit of athletically induced endorphins gives you the power to make better decisions, helps you be at peace with yourself and offsets stress.” (Lululemon Manifesto 2012)

Maintaining your exercise routine is also part of keeping time for yourself a priority.

Exercise is such an important part of staying energised and motivated especially when our lives get busier. It can be so easy to drop the hour you spend exercising 1-4 x /week when you have so many other things “to do” on your list. But keeping your exercise sessions as part of your routine is what will get you through the silly season.

One of the key things that keeps me motivated to workout when I don’t feel like I have time is remembering how I FEEL after I have FINISHED a training session! Someone once said you me “you may not always feel like doing a workout but you will never regret having done one!”

Exercise keeps your energised and refuelled with the endorphins to get your silly season “to do lists" checked off! Not only that - it will help to keep you fit and strong to carry all the holiday shopping you are doing to prepare for the holiday season!

If you haven’t established a fitness routine yet – don’t wait until the new year – start NOW so that you have a head start to feeling stronger and confident for 2023!!

IN2Life Personal Training runs classes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30am in the Ponds and Tuesdays at 9:30am in Kellyville.

Getting Enough Sleep

“Sleep is the best meditation” – Dalai Lama

Studies show that on average adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night. A good night’s sleep helps to improve your mood, stimulate your mind and prevent numerous other health problems. However, 40% of Australians (both men and women) are not getting this required amount of sleep. There are many things that can affect your sleep and quality of sleep especially when you are a women. These can include your menstrual cycle, hormonal changes, stress, and menopause.

If you are anything like me, my mind is constantly on overdrive thinking of all the things I need to get done, and it is hard to settle my mind before bed. I am also a night owl which doesn’t help in my profession when 3 mornings/week I need to be up before 5am to train clients.

No matter how many times I tell myself I will go to bed earlier, I always find myself mindlessly watching a tv show or falling asleep reading a book.

I have spoken to others mums who feel the same – it’s like once the kids fall asleep and all is quiet in the house, its time for me to watch my favourite show, catch up on folding laundry or scroll through my social media feeds.

However, every time I stay up late and don’t get those 7 hours minimum I regret it. I can feel the effects right away, moodiness, brain fog, lack of concentration, and no energy or motivation to do a workout.

These last few months I have been working on getting more sleep and here are a few tips from “Jean Hailes for Women’s Health”:

1. Reducing your caffeine intake through the day and especially after lunch

2. Avoiding heavy meals at night (allowing 2 hours after dinner before going to bed)

3. Limiting alcohol consumption (even though it’s a sedative, alcohol tends to decrease your quality of sleep)

4. Maintaining a regular bedtime and wake up routine to keep your sleep patterns in a good rhythm.

5. Turn off technology at least 1 hour before you go to bed. Screens stimulate the mind and can prevent you from falling asleep easily.

6. Try relaxation before going to bed – listening to a relaxing meditation or music to still your mind and prepare your body for sleep

During the busy seasons of our lives, sleep can also be put on the back burner, but it is even more important during these times to get your 7-9 hours of sleep. When we do, we can get more done as we are able to concentrate better, stay more motivated and have increased energy to be able to do everything on our to do list.

Maintaining Healthy Eating Habits

"Food may be essential as fuel for the body, but good food is fuel for the soul!"

-Malcom Forbes

Now this is a tough one during the holidays when there are events and family get togethers centred around food and drinks. Remind yourself that it's ok to indulge in the good foods that come around this time of year and to enjoy the times with your family and friends around the table. Finding a balance in what you eat is important any time of the year but let’s face it, its easier when you don’t have events and gatherings to go every weekend.

You NEVER need to feel guilty for eating what many in the fitness industry would deem as “bad” foods. Everything in moderation is a good thing and having a healthy relationship with all types of foods is part of maintaining healthy eating habits.

Something I do leading into the holiday season is knowing when I have events on and planning my healthy eating habits around them. On the days leading up to a party or event, I make a conscious effort to fuel my body with more nutritious foods when I am preparing my own meals so I know my body is getting what it needs. Eating a balance of nutrient rich foods like colourful veggies, low GI carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats. I also make sure I am drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated (especially if I know I may be having a few drinks at an event).

At the end of the day, food is our fuel and its important to make sure our body is getting what it needs to function at its best; however, it is totally okay to indulge now and again and I think socialising and spending time with loved ones over a meal is a huge part of our mental health and well being! So stop feeling guilty over the silly season! Make healthy choices when you can but enjoy the season for what it brings as well!

Staying Present

"Wherever you are be all there." - Jim Elliot

"How can I do this when I have soooooooo much to do in my day?!!" It does take practise and discipline but being taking time to pause and be present in whatever we are doing can ground and centre us giving us more headspace and energy to do what we need to get done in our day. When we have a million things on our "to do list", social media to "keep up with" and "mum life" tasks to remember to do when we get home, its no wonder our minds find it hard to be still and present. Add on extra end of year activities, Christmas shopping and Christmas wrapping and it can be very easy to be continually thinking about the next thing to be completed.

Again it is not something I have perfected yet, but when I take moments to be present and still my mind (even if for a minute) I can get clarity on what is important in my day and then stay more focused on the task in front of me. I am learning that when I take time to be present and I actually get more done in my day and enjoy what I am doing rather than feeling like its another “task” to be checked off my list.

In the craziness of the holiday season, we can get so caught up in all the things we have to get done and places we need to be that we can really lose the spirit of the holidays. We can be so caught up thinking about the next event on our schedule that we miss out on the moments right in front of us. This silly season let’s take the time to enjoy the memories we are making by being present in them.

Sources

https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/good-mental-health/sleep-and-your-health

https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/healthy-living/sleep-and-fatigue

https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/pdfs/surveys/SleepHealthFoundation-Survey.pdf