Festive Well-being Tips

This month we have the StressLess coach, Vikki Pratley, giving us her festive wellbeing tips.
“So the lead up to Christmas and all the festivities are going to be like never before… rather than a whirlwind of dark days, balancing client deadlines, glittery social events and Christmas shopping as we know it; this year the fun stuff is likely to be what’s missing.
The over-indulgence of Christmas’ past could leave us feeling sluggish and struggling to sleep. What will the effect of this year be?

This month: Festive well-being tips

Many people I speak to are reporting feelings of being over worked, stressed, lacking motivation and generally low. And it’s not even January yet!
So what can we do to look after ourselves during this period?
My top tip? Go back to basics. And what I mean by this is:

#1 Prioritise your sleep – we now know from science why sleep is so important. Check out Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep or watch this 4 minute clip, to inspire you to commit to creating an eight hour sleep window for yourself.

#2 Commit to moving – this doesn’t have to be grand gestures! Stand up and stretch to the ceiling every 25 minutes; get out for a walk every day. If you don’t feel you can justify the time, why not at least try taking some of your work calls whilst on the move? You might inspire others to do the same.

#3 Eat well – we know what’s good for us and bad for us yet when the pressure is on we tend to reach for the food that does us no favours. Instead plan to nourish your body – have healthy yummy snacks and meals planned and in grabbing distance. As much as we like the naughty stuff, we also like ease!

#4 Know your vision – when the pressure is on we can flap and panic and work in a reactive way, meaning long hours and high stress levels. The result? We feel tired before we’ve even started. Instead, get organised. Knowing your vision should also include the small steps to get us to our long-term goals. So know what you need to do each day, week and month. Prioritise your top three ‘must do’s’ each day and ensure they are your focus.

#5 Inject some fun! – block out time in the diary for other activities that are just for fun. For the sociable amongst you, physical distancing doesn’t mean social distancing so get creative! If you need accountability commit to classes or events that have set starting times, book in calls with your friends and family or set aside time for a good book or a bath with candles.
And LAUGH!… it is the best medicine after all.”
Vikki works with Senior Executives and professionals of all levels to support and challenge them to create healthy and sustainable high performing environments through leadership and self-management skills. If you’re interested to know more contact her at Vikki@skylark.life or check out the website.

We find it really useful to partner with Vikki as we can help you find the right firm to work in and she can help you find the right mindset and give you the leadership skills to make the most of the situation. In the meantime, enjoy the festive season whatever it brings for you and yours. Go back to basics and enjoy the simple things that not even covid can take away!