Winding Down for Christmas: Top Tips for a Restful Break

It’s not news that December has us all moving a little quicker, with Christmas parties, last minute shopping and festive plans filling our diaries. 

Although it may feel as though your schedule is well and truly full, it’s important to make time in the days before Christmas to wind down and switch off. Here are a few ways you can find some calm amongst the chaos this Christmas, so you can celebrate the festivities feeling content and well-rested.

Waking up a little earlier to give yourself a slower start to the day is a great way to make time for yourself. Rather than rushing around, why not treat yourself to a coffee in bed after waking calmly to your gradual Lumie sunrise. This change in pace not only sets the tone of your day, but also helps to alleviate any feelings of stress and anxiety that may be caused by a fast-paced morning routine.

Writing a to-do list when the year is almost over may seem like the opposite of winding down. However, this list is purely for tasks that need completing in the New Year. There’s nothing like having a brain dump of everything in your head and writing it down on paper, and doing this will help release any tasks from your mind and allow you to switch off ahead of Christmas. It also makes things so much easier when you return to work as you can pick up exactly where you left off.

While the lead up to Christmas is all about socialising, it’s important to remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. Make sure to charge your own batteries ahead of The Big Day and take yourself on a little solo date, the ultimate act of self care. This could be anything from grabbing a coffee and having a festive walk to clear your head, to taking yourself to the cinema to switch off from the outside world. 

Rather than looking ahead and creating a vision board for 2024 (you’ve got plenty of time to do that before the New Year!), a gratitude board allows you to look back at what you've achieved and recognise what you’ve been grateful for throughout the year. Gather images that showcase your feel-good moments of the year, and pair them with a couple of Pinterest images and quotes that represent how 2023 has made your feel.

It’s easy to slip out of your usual sleep schedule during the busyness of the festive season, but prioritising your sleep is important as it affects all aspects of your health and wellbeing. Try to keep to consistent sleep/wake times so your circadian rhythm isn’t thrown out-of-sync, as this can cause low mood and energy. A Lumie Bodyclock wake-up light can help keep your sleep on track, simulating the natural rising and setting of the sun that our body’s natural clock is tuned to.