Christmas is a fantastic time of the year. It’s something that many of us spend a long time looking forward to and preparing for – especially those of us with children. But it’s not always the happy time that we want it to be. At this time of the year, it’s common to suffer from colds, coughs, and other winter bugs, among other things, which can affect our mood, slow our preparations down, and of course, affect our health. It’s also normal to feel stressed at this time of the year when you’ve got so much to do. Money worries are common, many of us face seasonal depression, and as much as we want to enjoy ourselves, we can feel overwhelmed by it all.
Often, the key to a lovely family Christmas is taking the time to care for your health and wellbeing, and that of your family. If you want a healthy Christmas, without any colds, stomach bugs, or mental health issues, there are some things that you can do to protect yourself. Here’s a look at some of them.
Book a Flu Jab
There are some illnesses that you can’t avoid. Most of us will get a cold at some point over the next few months. If you’ve got young children, you’ll probably find that they are bringing sniffles back from school every other week. But there are other things that you can be vaccinated against. Colds are one thing, but the flu could leave you bedridden for days, or even longer. Even if you aren’t eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can pay for one at most pharmacies.
Visit Your Doctor
If you are worried about any symptoms, either physical or emotional, you should always make an appointment with your doctor or internal medicine physician. You can make an appointment with this internal medicine clinic for help with a range of health conditions, but Ruscio Institute specializes in chronic disease, gut health, and thyroid issues. They also offer telehealth appointments, which can be ideal when you are busy.
Share the Load
Stress is incredibly common at this time of the year. Many of us are guilty of trying to do everything ourselves, trying to please everyone, and not taking (or feeling as though we can take) any time out for ourselves. This stress can affect your own mood and enjoyment of the season, but it can also affect your family. Your children won’t enjoy the holidays as much if you are stressed, unhappy or ill. Taking some time out for yourself, sharing your workload with other members of your household, and asking for help when you need to means that you can enjoy the holidays, and will mean that the rest of your family do too.
Practice Great Hygiene and Set a Good Example
You can’t avoid colds entirely, but you can try your best. You can also reduce the risks of them spreading around your household and give everyone the best chance to recover quickly by practicing good hygiene and setting a good example, encouraging your family to do the same.
Make sure you are washing your hands regularly, that there are tissues available at home, and that you are washing things like towels and bedding regularly.
Keep Warm
You can’t entirely prevent illness by keeping warm but being cold makes everything worse. Your immune system will struggle more if your body temperature is cold. You’ll find it hard to get comfortable if your home is cold, and your mood will be low if you can’t keep warm. Keep your home well heated and take simple steps like closing your curtains when the sun goes down and closing internal doors when you are home. Make sure you and your family wrap up when you go out, prioritizing waterproof coats and boots, as well as hats and gloves, and if you do feel cold, do something about it.
Change Your Diet
What you eat has a big effect on how you feel both physically and emotionally. A well-balanced diet filled with vitamins and nutrients can boost your energy levels and your immunity, as well as reduce fatigue. It can even reduce inflammation, helping you to avoid winter aches and pains and swelling around your joints. Indulge in Christmas treats in moderation, and make sure you eat plenty of fruit and veg and drink lots of water.
Talk About Any Worries
Most of us worry about things at this time of year. We worry about getting sick, spending too much money on gifts or not getting people what they want. We worry about family members and especially elderly relatives. And most of us are guilty of bottling these worries up because we don’t want to trouble other people over the holidays. This usually just means that January is an incredibly depressing. Instead of bottling things up, talk about your worries. Confide in your partner or a friend and make a plan together instead of going it alone. Sometimes, to give everyone else the happy and healthy Christmas they deserve, you have to put your own needs first, and that’s okay.
Find more health and wellness tips in our archives.
We are not doctors and this is in no way intended to be used as medical advice and we cannot be held responsible for your results. As with any product, service or supplement, use at your own risk. Always do your own research before using.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.