Ways to keep happy and healthy during the festive season

We can all have a a feeling of being more tired as the winter kicks in with it being colder, darker much earlier and for some of us having a big family Christmas to prepare for. We may even suffer from s.a.d (seasonal affective disorder) and this can really affect emotional and physical energy levels. Here are some tips to perhaps boost the way that you may feel over the next few weeks.

If you suffer from s.a.d then light therapy will help. Light boxes retail at about £100 and will give you 10 times more light than you would get from normal home or office lighting. It may be necessary to have a few hours in front of it a day but, think long term, that it is to get you through the winter months only and as soon as the lighter brighter days appear the light box can be put away.
Think ahead to your next holiday that you may be able to plan. Have a look back at some holiday photos that were from one of your favourite destinations or a place where you were with some friends that you had lots of fun with. It has been shown that the brain responds with feel good chemicals by looking at pleasant images.
Although its tempting after a long day to curl up in front of the widescreen television, Keep exercising in some shape or form throughout winter. The colder weather and festive period makes us eat and drink more than we normally would, so we can feel good about the fact that the exercise will help us to get into shape for any extra indulgences we might have during this time.
The department of health says to stop depression and avoid the winter blues, aim for 20minutes of exercise 3 times a week. This could include a brisk walk, although jogging, cycling or swimming are better to stimulate the release of endorphins (our feel -good brain chemicals) Plan when you are likely to do the exercise and you will be far more likely to stick to a regular routine than say to yourself you are too tired, too hungry or too late!
If your hair is going a little limp and dull, try including more fruit, vegetables and oily fish in your diet. Seeds, oats and almonds will help and a vitamin B complex supplement will help keep the scalp healthy. If you want to condition hair naturally, without chemicals which can sometimes cause irritations, rashes and eczema. Although this is a little unglamorous, wrap a towel around your shoulders, mash a ripe avocado and browned banana to a paste and work it through the hair, leaving for five minutes and then rinsing off. This will bring moisture and shine to your hair
If you are feeling frazzled after Christmas shopping, aromatherapy and essential oils will help you to unwind and chill out. Choose the oils to suit the effect that you want. Lavender, neroli and rose are soothing, peppermint, cloves and ginger are good for re-energising and seasonal flavours are frankincense or myrrh. Add a few drops to a bath or combine with a carrier oil and massage into the body.
If you are starting to feel a little jaded and lacklustre, be careful that you do not become ill with cold or flu. Honey has therapeutic properties such as antiseptic qualities so can act as an expectorant and can boost energy, as it’s a combination of fructose and glucose. Bee propolis (bee pollen) can be bought from the health food shop in tincture or pastel form. Take this at the first sign of a sore throat for immediate soothing.
Treat yourself to a massage, this will release tension in the neck shoulders and back and if possible organise some time after to relax and meditate for a short while. Meditation does not have to be spiritual. You can take yourself to a calm and serene place in your mind such as a beautiful scene or place that makes you feel happy. Focus on your breathing becoming steady and easy and perhaps count the time that you are taking to breathe in and the out breathe count should match this or be a count longer. After a few minutes (as long as 20 minutes time permitting) gradually start to become more aware of your body and how everything now feels. All your movements are easy. Really notice this feeling because the next time you become stressed think back to how you feel right now.

Hope you all have a happy and enjoyable Christmas.