Eat, drink and be merry.
When it comes to Christmas thatβs the mantra I live by, which is fine – until January rolls around.
Come Christmas – at the end of a busy year and with the prospect of a few days off – youβre pretty much guaranteed to find me with a glass of prosecco in my hand β whether weβre socialising or whether weβre not.
The thing is though, a mulled wine here, a cheeky sherry there, a glass of prosecco β or three: it all adds up.
So, how can you put the festive season behind you and start the new year as you mean to go on? With the new year on the horizon Harley Street hypnotherapist Fiona Lamb shares 8 ways to feel better after a boozy Christmas.
8 ways to feel better after a boozy Christmas
1. Sort out your routine. βIf every night you come home after work and reach for a glass of wine, itβs time to change things up,β Fiona says. βAvoid the kitchen for an hour when you get back, and donβt keep wine in the house.β
2. Find other ways to have fun. βIf youβre a social drinker, nowβs a great opportunity to pick up some new hobbies that donβt revolve around or involve drinking,β says Fiona. βFind a buddy and go to a yoga class, join an art group, or attend a sober rave (yes, such things do exist!)”
3. Build up your self-confidence. βMany people drink to deal with social awkwardness or out of what they perceive as obligation,β she says. βYou need to learn to feel comfortable and relaxed around others without the need for a mind-altering substance, and that means working on your confidence and self-esteem.β
4. Prioritise your mental health. βA lot of people lack the ability to manage the overwhelming feeling of having too much going on, resorting to drinking,β Fiona says. βInstead, try natural mood-lifters such as having a bath or going for a run.β
5. Try something new. βNon-alcoholic drinks donβt need to be boring, so find other beverages to enjoy when youβre out and about,β she says. βFor starters, try experimenting with different mocktails and teas.β
6. Donβt overthink it. βBeing sober isnβt a punishment, and you arenβt missing out by not drinking,β says Fiona. βThe more we feel deprived of something, the more we crave it. I teach clients to relax around alcohol as if it were any other drink.β
7. Stand your ground. βPractise being assertive, not only with yourself but with others,β she says. βGet good at saying no.β
8. Ask why youβre drinking. βMany people drink to forget the past or numb painful feelings. In the long run, it doesnβt work; in fact, itβll only make you feel worse,β Fiona warns. βIf you find yourself in this situation, it might be time to get help dealing with those past events and processing them fully so you can move forward.β
Do you like a drink β or two β at Christmas? Do you try and make January a detox month? Iβd love to hear about your experience!
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