It’s that time of year again where a great many of my patients confide that they are absolutely dreading Christmas.
Comments this year so far include ‘it’s the fake happiness’ ‘forced fun’ ‘the expectation for everything to be perfect on one day’
As well as all the anxiety about navigating tricky family dynamics, getting everything done and overwhelming social gatherings.
From a clinical perspective all these things can really turn the dial up on pain as well as hamper the best laid plans for exercise, rehabilitation and recovery.
So I want to invite you to create space where you can.
Even those micro pauses can be beneficial.
It could be 2-3 deep breaths with your eyes closed.
Listening to some music with headphones on.
Getting an early night to read a few pages of a book.
Taking the dog for a walk.
For me, it’s enjoying a morning coffee with no phone, no distractions and just 5 minutes with no decisions, no conversation and just quiet.
Yes we need to work on the big stuff - boundaries etc but whilst we do that, try to find those small spaces where you can.