How to avoid overindulging and find a balance this festive period

AS fun as the party season can be, many of us are left with that dreaded sluggish feeling having overindulged a little.

Often we can enjoy a few too many Christmas parties and mulled wines during the first few weeks of December.

In fact, research shows that 83% of Brits think that they overindulge at Christmas and that over half (58%) are actually trying to avoid social events to make the festive season a little less extravagant!

Here are five top tips for finding balance this festive period from top psychologist Rachel Andrew.

Pace yourself

“The initial burst of excitement that is Christmas time gives our bodies a rush of adrenaline. The aim of this is to energise us to be at our best for a short period of time.

“That level of energy is completely unsustainable over a prolonged period. We need time for our bodies and minds to recuperate in between.”

Replace some of your ‘shoulds’ with ‘wants’

“‘Shoulds’ often relate to our sense of responsibility and expectation. List all the things you think you should be doing at Christmas time and in January, and then list all the things you actually want to do.

“You won’t be able to get rid of all your ‘shoulds’ but try to limit them where you can so your lists are equal.”

Recognise your feelings

“So many people can feel ‘over’ Christmas and it’s important to know that feeling like this says nothing about you as a person.

“It does not make you bad, abnormal or miserable. It sounds cliche to say that your feelings are normal and that others feel the same, but this research indicates exactly this. It is comforting to know that many others understand and feel exactly the same.”

Challenge your norm

“Ask yourself, “What gets in the way of me doing something different?” You may know what you want to do but something still stops you from choosing to do it.

“It can be difficult and complicated to make changes. If it wasn’t, we would be all living the ‘Christmas lives’ we want to. Just knowing what the obstacles are and trying to overcome them step by step can be useful.”

Practise saying, “No” and “I can’t”

“You may choose to offer an explanation or an apology but be confident that you don’t need to give one. This isn’t something that always comes easily so practise it each day like any new skill.”

From the pressures of things that you feel you ‘should’ do, to the feelings of self-remorse at resolutions you can’t keep, December and into January can be tricky to navigate, which is why psychologist Dr Rachel Andrew has created these top tips to find a better balance. Alongside this, Gordon’s has created the Gordon’s Ultra Low Down; a series of events with a twist to allow everyone, from health-conscious moderators to busy mums and dads juggling family commitments along with their own, to those who just want to try to drink more mindfully, to enjoy themselves in equal measure.