The annual “holiday season” is, for many, a great time that is much anticipated and even desperately awaited. It’s certainly a unique time for many of us – our days and our lifestyles tend to be quite different for a few weeks don’t they? This unusual time of year throws up a number of things, including some health & wellness considerations, so let us consider a few here…
Family – this is often the time of year when families come together. And that is wonderful for many of us. But not for all of us, and certainly not 100% wonderful for many. Families can be tricky. There can be various forms of conflict and argument. Emotions run high sometimes. It can feel a bit “pressurised” for some. This is hugely complex area but let’s just agree that families are rarely “perfect”. Think about it – how many “perfect” families do you know? Is it not true that most families have “issues” of some sort? Just accepting that this is really normal and common may be a helpful thought at this time of year.
Indulging. This is a time of feasting and celebration for many. That often means eating and drinking. Often excessively. The physical and mental damage can be serious. Trying to be a bit more moderate (even if not ALL the time – even moderation can be moderate) is often well worth it, and worth thinking about now.
Sitting. We always recommend leading an active lifestyle. This applies to every day of every week and every month and every year. The benefits are huge, and clear. Consistency really IS the key here. So please, do not spend your annual holiday on the couch, as tempting as it may be. Rather use the extra free time you have to stay active or t get active. Holidays can be seen as opportunities for active living!
Thinking. We often hear something like “…I want to relax now so I am not going to think about school, or work, or money, or or or….” Sounds pretty sensible does it not? But does it work? Is not a kind of “forced forgetting” or “insisted ignoring” that is akin to denial or almost a bit like telling ourselves lies for a few weeks? Sometimes it might be better to use holiday time to actively consider our lives, to review the year just gone, to plan for the next year, to plan for the future? As understandable as it is to “take a break from life” we are not sure that this really works well and we worry that it may become a form of “head in the sand” thinking that is ultimately counterproductive. Or maybe not. It’s a personal thing so you’ll have to decide what suits you best – we completely respect that but just ask that you consider these thoughts a bit, and then decide what is best for you.
We hope that some of these thoughts may help you to be well or to be more well. We wish you well at all times. We especially wish you well over your well-deserved annual holiday.
Written by Dr Colin Burns