The human stress response to threat is well known. It's our fight, flight or freeze reaction. Which response we
adopt can vary though you may have noticed we quite often respond to a particular threat in a certain way.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way. It's time to look at how we can make Christmas, our holidays or
anything different to our normal routine easier and more enjoyable, simply by adopting a Brain Fit approach.
1
Be prepared.
While I was never a boy scout
(for the jolly good reason that I
wasn't a boy) taking the time out
to think about "how do I want
this to happen", takes away the
stress of running around like a
headless chook buying three
circles of Brie that you'll end up
eating until Easter and a pile
of unwanted "spare" presents
you bought in case you forgot
someone.
A couple of hours put aside to
think and talk over with your
other half (if he's interested or
vaguely listening) helps you to
clarify what you will need and to
start to plan accordingly.
2
Indulge in
moderation.
If like me you're wondering
why last year's cocktail dress
has managed to shrink in the
wardrobe and you've got
nothing else suitable for that
work event tomorrow night, it's
probably a reminder to travel
light (and suck it in). There are
only so many Christmas parties,
drinks and meals we can go to
without suffering a surfeit of
greasy sausage rolls, cardboard
mince pies and too much booze.
So make sure you keep your
exercise schedule happening,
even if that means walking to an
event.
Choose to alternate alcoholic
drinks with aqua pura. No one
will notice that that sparkling
beverage is actually water. Avoid
turning up hungry to an event, a
light snack before hand makes it
easier to forego that deep fried
wonton or bucket of chips.
3
Sleep easy.
With so much to do and so
much on, it’s easy to end up
exhausted and without enough
sleep. That makes surviving the
next day not just a headache,
but much harder to do things
well to the level you know
you're capable of.
We all need roughly 7-8 hours
of good quality uninterrupted
sleep every night for mood
regulation, better memory,
better decisions, greater insight
and time to flush out all the
trash that accumulates in our
brain during the day.
So, while it's fun to party,
be a Cinderella and make
sure you're up tucked in bed
in reasonable time, with or
without your shoes on.