At this time of year, many of us are able to look forward to enjoying an extended break, spending quality time with loved ones, and taking the chance to recharge for the year ahead. It’s an opportunity to reflect, relax, and prepare for the exciting opportunities a new year can bring.
At the same time, we recognise that many in the Armed Forces community are working tirelessly over the festive period, and we want to acknowledge their dedication and thank them for their service.
However, the festive season and the approach of January can feel a little overwhelming for some, with its mix of fresh challenges and possibilities. To help you navigate this time with ease we’ve put together some tips that we recommend to our friends, family, and colleagues for managing wellbeing and getting the most out of the festive season and the new year.
Do something you are good at:
What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. As busy as the holiday season gets, try and keep up the activities and hobbies you enjoy all year round. You could turn these into festive activities, like making gifts, cooking mince pies or playing your musical instruments to Christmas songs!
Keep active:
It’s no surprise that cold weather and short days are not the greatest motivation to get you out of bed and on a 5k run! But research shows that doing exercise releases chemicals in your body that can make you feel good. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and help you to concentrate, sleep and feel better. Exercise also keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy. So, use that Christmas spirit for physical health as well as mental health – take a regular walk and you might even enjoy the crisp air!
Keep in touch:
When putting the finishing touches on holiday plans, we can often become distracted from the support systems around us and lose our footing. Friends and family can make you feel included and cared for. They can offer different views from whatever’s going on inside your own head, keep you grounded and help you solve practical problems – enjoy this time to catch up.
Looking out for others:
Present-buying is not the only way of showing that we care about others. Christmas is the perfect time to reach out to loved ones who you haven’t spent much time with in the past year – ask how they’ve been and whether they have plans for the holidays. Caring for others is an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together and make you feel good
Accept what works for you:
Some of us make people laugh, others cook fantastic meals. Some of us share our lifestyle with the people who live close to us, others live very differently. Don’t feel under pressure to do more than you feel up to this Christmas.
Ask for help:
Donning a Christmas jumper can make us feel pretty special, but none of us are superhuman. At times, we all get overwhelmed by how we feel, especially when things don’t go to plan so don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Take a break:
The holiday season is a perfect time to take some time out of your day-to-day life and gain some perspective to reflect on the year. Whether spending time away from home or a stay-cation, re-energise by giving yourself a change of scene or pace. It’s good for you.
Plan for the future:
As you look to the New Year, you may well be planning the next stage of your career development or your business journey. If so, X-Forces Enterprise (XFE) is here to help.
For those considering starting a business for the first time, our Self-Employment Discovery Workshops are open to all members of the Armed Forces community.
If you are already up and running, our Business Masterclasses provide specialist knowledge, delivered by experts on a range of subjects from marketing to cyber security, and sales to social media.
At XFE, we’re huge fans of networking! We run regular virtual sessions hosted by our Ambassadors, all of whom are business owners from the military community. And if you’re looking for mentoring, look no further than our Knowledge Exchange Hub where you’ll find established entrepreneurs keen to connect and share their experience.
However you plan to spend your time over the break, we wish you all the very best – and remember, look after yourself.
