Surviving Christmas

Whether you find it hard because you really miss friends and family that you can't be with, or the problem is having to spend too much time with your family – below are a few tips to get you through Christmas in one piece!

• Use the Christmas holidays to relax and enjoy yourself fully

• Leave your work at the office until after the holidays are over

• Put time aside to spend with your friends – catch up with old friends – this will give you something to look forward to

• Set yourself a budget when buying presents, and stick to it!

• If you're missing relatives or friends who can't be with you, try to think about the happy times together and dwell less on the fact they are not with you

• If you are feeling stressed or depressed, speak to friends or family and share your feelings - they might be able to help you. Bottling up feelings is never a good idea anyway

• Offer to help with the cooking and cleaning up

Over indulging

Christmas is a time for enjoying yourself and with all the family get togethers and parties it can be very difficult to watch what you eat! If you are dieting or simply trying to watch your waistline – don’t feel that you have to miss out on all the delicious party food and desserts, but also try not get too carried away.

If you eat and drink in moderation you'll be fine, but if you overdo it, make one of your New Year's resolutions to take some exercise and lose those few kilos you've gained.

With all the celebrations going on the festive period is also a time of year where it can be tempting to drink more than you normally would. However, always remember to drink sensibly and in moderation – enjoy yourself safely and never drink and drive.

Loneliness

Everyone enjoys the holiday season, but there are also many who find it to be a really lonely time. When family and friends get together it can be really hard for those people who are on their own and have no loved ones to share the festive season with.

If you know someone who will be alone over Christmas, one of the best gifts you can give them is to get in touch, even if it's just for a brief chat or to say "hello.” Better yet, invite them to one of your family get togethers, they would really appreciate the gesture.

Volunteering to help out at orphanages, hospitals and community centers can also be a great way of combating loneliness and you will be really helping those in need too. It is always very rewarding to help others.