De-stress Your Festive Planning

Tags

12th hour, 2017, advent calendars, blow the budget, cards, Christmas, Christmas pudding, crackers, diary, drinking, Facebook, festivities, gravy, hot chocolate, lights, mince pies, mulled wine, New Ywar, online, politics, presents, roast potatoes, social, steps, stress, sunny, tears, turkey, water, wine, wonderful time of the year, worry, wrapped

There hasn’t been much festive chat on the blog yet, but there is no denying the fact that Christmas is creeping up upon us.

The shops are jam-packed with the goodies, lights are being turned on and advent calendars will be cracked open on 1 December.

Whilst Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, for many it also brings stress and worry.

Yes, it is lovely to sit on the sofa watching festive films and drinking hot chocolate, but with so many other things to do first, that moment can feel like it is a world away.

We a great believe that surviving the holidays without tearing your hair out, is due to three key elements:

Planning. This has to be the greatest stress-buster of all.

Delegating so you don’t have to do it all yourself.

Being realistic and lowering your expectations. Christmas is a time to relax with family and friends, not for proving you are best interior designer and cook.

So, first things first for a less chaotic holiday, take turns. We know that deciding where to spend the big day and with whom, can be a delicate matter but taking it in turns can help. If you hosted last year, let your sister take over this year. If the in-laws camped out with you at New Year, maybe they can return the favour when seeing in 2017. If you really don’t want the politics, get away from it all and have a break somewhere sunny.

Decide on a budget, and stick to it. Make a list of everyone you have to buy for, from mum and dad to school teachers and the postman, and work out what to get each one. It can be tempting to blow the budget, but be sensible and remember, it really is the thought that counts.

When it comes to groceries, shop online. It is so much easier to click your way through the aisles and by doing so you avoid brussel sprout wars and massive midnight queues. Things do still get busy in cyber space, so book your desired slot now and then unpack your turkey, mince pies and crackers in your PJs with a glass of wine, free of stress and other shoppers.

Another top tip when it comes to food is to cheat. Pre-made gravy, a ready to go Christmas pudding and frozen roast potatoes are just as good as the ‘real thing’ and lets be honest, with a glass of two of wine and the buzz around the room, no one will even notice.

Set yourself a target. If you want to actually enjoy Christmas Eve, plan to have all cards written and presents wrapped by 20th December. The worst thing is running out of tape and paper at the 12th hour and tears spoiling the festivities.

Keep a diary of where you are going and when and don’t be tempted to double book, or noses will be put out of joint.

Stay away from social media. There is nothing like scrolling through Facebook and Instagram to make you feel you aren’t good enough and this doesn’t change at Christmas. The main thing is you and yours have a great time. This doesn’t mean having the biggest tree, most presents or perfect make-up as you sit and open your presents, and putting it online, but rather enjoying the moment and making memories.

Don’t neglect yourself. Navigating the holidays can be a challenge so you need to be fighting fit and at your best. Try not to skip meals, get plenty of sleep, don’t over do the mulled wine and drink lots of water. These might be simple steps but they will help keep you smiling when those trying relatives are, well, trying.

Most of all remember to have fun and appreciate those you love.

Team Pure-Beauty

Fitness hacks that work

Tags

comfort zone, desk, drink, friends, gym, health, help, hydrate, inflammation, injury, medical, mojo, office, PT, rain, refresh, rest, run, sessions, shine, snooze, social, walk, water, workout

Hate the gym?

Lost your fitness mojo?

Don’t want to go out in the cold?

Wish you felt and looked better?

We can understand all of this and are here to help.

We’ve put together some easy fitness hacks that will keep you on track come rain or shine?

By starting your day with a workout you’ve got nothing to skip later in the day. This perfect for anyone who procrastinates and gets everything done other than their Pilates class.

Keep it short and opt for a quick, intense workout over a longer one where you don’t push yourself quite as much.

Make it a social event and exercise with friends. If you know someone else is depending on you for their run, you will be less likely to hit the snooze button and go back to sleep.

Make exercise part of your daily routine. Riding your bike to work, getting off the bus one stop early or parking further away from the school will all make a difference and add up over the weeks and months.

Keeping hydrated is key to success. You need at least eight glasses of water on an average day to be healthy. It is good to know that more water helps your body burn more fat, and being properly hydrated improves your workout performance. Sip on water during the day and add lemon or ginger for a natural zing.

Go at your own pace. No one says that you have to work out every day, and many professionals don’t advocate that anyway. The key is to give 100% when you do exercise so that you get as much out of it as possible.

If you feel as if you are just too tired to hit the gym, enjoy a caffeine hit. Caffeine has been linked to better workout performance so sip coffee or green tea and you’ll get your energy back on track. Just don’t over do it!

If you really cannot get motivated, think about getting some pro help. Sign up for boot camp classes or hire a PT for a handful of sessions at the gym. They’ll give you the encouragement and motivation to step out of your comfort zone and reach those goals you have wanted to hit for months.

If you have a desk job, make sure you get up and move every thirty minutes. Even if you simply walk around the office and stretch it will help you refresh. When you are sitting at your desk have your feet on the floor and check your ears, shoulders and hips are all in line.

Sore muscles? Apply ice to the affected area straight away to reduce inflammation then use heat later on to encourage an increased flow of blood to the area. If you do have an injury rest and seek medical help if needed.

If you work best with rewards, do it. There are no rights or wrongs when it comes to getting exercise done. Whether you buy yourself a magazine, save for a spa day or treat yourself to a new pair of trainers, if incentives work, go for it.

Whatever you do, pick something you enjoy and you are more likely to stick to it and even look forward to it.